POLISH INFOMATION AND FOREIGN INVESTMENT AGENCY
NEWSLETTER
 June 10th, 2016,
 Issue 488

NEWS

Over 193,000 employees in BSS
The new investment location preferences, employee market, the dominance of Polish capital and ambitious projects in every part of Poland - this is the currently image of BSS in Poland. The "Business Services Sector in Poland 2016. Gaining Momentum" report published by the Polish Information and Foreign Investment Agency tracks and analyses trends of this new, however rapidly growing sector of Polish economy.

BSS (Business Service Sector) has become the fastest growing area of Polish economy and one of the largest employers in the country. The employment in BSS exceeded to 193,000 in 852 companies. The average headcount in a business services centre in 2015 is 227 people. “Poland has become an important player in BSS, even in a global scale. We are an equal partner for international companies. Solutions developed in Poland are very often implemented in the international market” - commented Bartłomiej Pawlak, new president of PAIiIZ.


B.Pawlak: "We focus on small towns, as we pay attention to the sustainable regional development of Poland"

According to Iwona Chojnowska-Haponik, Foreign Investment Department Director at PAIiIZ and the leader of the team which prepared the report, highly qualified human resources is the main factor shaping the rapid development of the sector. “90% of employees in BSS have MA degree. Nobody moves simple processes to Poland. Poles are engaged in ambitious international projects”, Chojnowska-Haponik, said.


The share of the companies from individual countries or regions in the total number of BSS centres

The employment in the BSS centres by type of centre and location

More information: www.paiz.gov.pl/20160607/over_193000_employees_in_BSS

Polish companies Go India
In the incoming years, India is expected to start big investments in energy sector. Therefore, the business opportunities for Polish technology companies were one of the topics discussed during the visit of Indian governmental delegation headed by coal secretary, minister Anil Swarup in the Polish Ministry of Development.


“The Indian market is extremely absorbent and perspective regarding mining equipment”, said Michał D±browski

During the meeting, Mr D±browski presented the offer of Polish mining industry to the Indian delegation. “This offer represents a vast variety of areas in which Polish companies can partner the Indian business”, D±browski argued. We are very experienced in machinery and mining equipment, innovation for this industry as well as in know - how that can be transferred from India to Poland easily”, he added. D±browski also said that due to the long-term focus on India by Polish government, as well as the recent visits of deputy minister of development, Radosław Domagalski-Łabędzki to India, now the negotiations of both sides regarding the implementation of exact projects are very advanced.


Meeting at the Ministry of Development

More information: www.paiz.gov.pl/20160606/Polish_companies_go_India

INVESTMENTS IN POLAND

Mondelēz in Bielany Wrocławskie
At a groundbreaking ceremony today, Mondelēz International officially began the construction of a new global Research, Development & Quality (RDQ) site in Bielany Wroclawskie. With a symbolic turn of the first shovelful of soil, company executives and local officials marked this important milestone for Poland and the company's RDQ network in Europe. The project was supported by PAIiIZ.

Mondelez

The research and development facility is expected to open in the first quarter 2017 and will support new products and technologies for beloved Power Brands like Oreao, Milka and belVita. Apart from office space, the new centre will be equipped with cutting edge laboratories, furnishings and appliances to perform necessary research. According to the investor, one of the most important factors in favour of this investment is location, ie, Wroclaw, a very important research and development centre in Poland.

The investment will not only boost the company's already innovative global chocolate and biscuit Power Brands, but it is also expected to host 250 scientists, engineers and other specialists.

Mondelez operates in Poland for 24 years; the company offers a well-known brands like Milka, Prince Polo, Petitiki, Alpen Gold or Pieguski. The company employs in Poland over 3500 people in seven plants located in Bielany Wrocławskie, Skarbimierz Cieszyn, Jarosław, Jankowice and Płońsk. The investment project in Bielany Wrocławskie was supported by PAIiIZ. (PAIiIZ / Mondelez)

EVENTS

Mission to Cuba
PAIiIZ, Ministry of Development and Polish Embassy in Havana invites all to join the economic mission to Cuba that will be arranged between 27 and 30 June 2016. The mission will be headed by deputy minister of development Radosław Domagalski.

The main highlight of the mission is Poland - Cuba Economic Forum, co-arranged by PAIiIZ with Chamber of Commerce of Cuba. One will have the opportunity to meet and talk to representatives of Cuban authorities and business there. Also B2B sessions will be arranged for Polish and Cuban entrepreneurs from such industries as: machinery, energy, food and food processing, household chemicals, pharmacy, cosmetics, clothing, construction, logistic, IT and maritime sector. Participants of the Polish mission will visit a Mariel Special Economic Zone (La Zona Especial de Desarrollo Mariel).

Admission to meetings as well as the access to translation, local transport and presentation in the business catalogues is free for all participants.

The organisers of the mission do not cover costs of flight, accommodation, insurance and other costs associated with the stay in the territory of Cuba.

All parties interested in applying to the mission should contact: Agnieszka Schütte from PAIiIZ: E-mail: agnieszka.schutte@paiz.gov.pl. (PAIiIZ)

Poland-Portugal-Angola-Brazil and Mozambique Forum
Poland-Portugal-Angola-Brazil and Mozambique Forum is dedicated to Polish companies interested in investment and trade with Portugal-language countries. The meeting will be held on 17 June in the Ministry of Development in Warsaw.

Forum Polska-Portugalia- Angola-Brazylia - MozambikThe event will focus on Portugal - Angola - Brazil and Mozambique markets and their business opportunities for Polish companies that will be able to meet those of their colleagues that has already benefited from trade cooperation with those countries.

If you wish to participate in the event, please confirm your presence until 13 June to Mrs. Małgorzata Goreń by e-mail: gosia@ppcc.pl or phone: +48 22 322 7667 or to Wojciech Baczyński. PPCC Managing Director. wb@ppcc.pl Tel. (22) 322 76 67.

More information: www.paiz.gov.pl/20160518/forum_polska_portugalia_angola_mozambik

Synergy Days - IT solutions in Poland
On 15-16 June, we welcome all to Synergy Days 2016 in Poland. It is a forum of decision-makers of large and medium-sized enterprises and IT solution suppliers.

Synergy Poland

During Synergy Days 2016, the event participations will have the opportunity to learn about advanced IT management systems. The event will gather several hundred managers from across the country, who plan investment in advanced IT systems.

The event will be held under the patronage of PAIiIZ. For any details go to http://synergia-it.pl/synergy-days-2016/

AutoEvent 2016 in Zawiercie
The twelfth edition of one of most important conferences for the automotive industry, AutoEvent 2016 will be held this year from 14 to 16 June in Zawiercie. PAIiIZ took the patronage over the event.

Every year, the two-day event attracts usually 250 participants from vast range of automotive sector. AutoEvent is the place to go for important contacts and contracts, as confirmed by the opinions of participants and the presence of esteemed guests, such as the managers of Poland’s largest vehicle factories, representatives from purchase departments, major manufacturers of parts and components, and service providers. (PAIiIZ)

More information: www.autoevent.pl

Towards Moscow
Trade and Investment Section of the Polish Embassy in Russia invites Polish companies to join Moscow trade shows this summer: Innoprom 2016 and MIMS Automechanika 2016.

During both meetings Polish companies will have the opportunity to present their catalogues, leaflets and other promotional material on the National Stand.

To join the event, please contact Polish Embassy in Moscow: Stanisław Pod¶ciański; VOIP +48 22 490-97-43; +7(495) 231-16-11; +7(985) 299-75-92.

More information about both events: www.innoprom.com and www.mims.ru.

THE GOLDEN SITE CONTEST

81 investment plots fight for the title of The Golden Site in 2016
The first part of "The Golden Site Contest 2016” (Grunt na Medal) has just been finished. 81 investment plots comprehensively prepared for production investments have been classified to the next stage of the contest.

In 2016, 142 municipalities took part in the “The Golden site Contest 2016". In total, they submitted 179 investment plots to the contest. Half of the candidates for the title of the best investment site in Poland (91) are attending to the contest for the first time. Now, they will be included in the PAIiIZ Greenfield Database and recommended to investors.

All 179 submitted plots went through primary assessment by the Regional Investor Service Centres (COI) in each of 16 provinces in Poland. 45% of them have been qualified to the list of semi-finalist of the “Golden Site Contest 2016”.

Now, the time has come for the final assessment of candidates. This summer, all 81 semi-finalists will be visited by the contest’s Jury, consisting of the experts of PAIiIZ, COI and local authorities expert. Basing on the results of the study visit, the jury will choose the best investment sites in a particular province. The list of the Golden Site 2016 winners will be published this Autumn.

The list of “the Golden Site Contest 2016” Semi-finalists: www.paiz.gov.pl/20160608/81_investment_plots_fight_for_the_title_of_golden_site_2016

FROM THE REGIONS

Kielce Career Hub
Kielce city has new institution supporting the citizens in professional development, from the earliest years of education until the retirement. The Municipal Labour Office, Practical Training Centre, Kielce Technology Park and ZSP 1 (high schools n*1) in Kielce signed the agreement creating the Kielce Career Hub.

The new institution is a response to the problems associated with a lack of qualified human resources and the outflow of the best employees to other Polish regions and abroad. Cooperation has an open character; anyone who wants to take part in the region's economic development can be involved in the activity of the Hub. The first task is to analyse the Kielce labour market. There are also plans to establish rules for the exchange of information between employers and schools and raising funds for the activation of the unemployed. The agreement creates new opportunities for young people and companies which can find the region as an attractive place for business. (UM Kielce)

ANALYSES AND REPORTS

The World Bank knows how to encourage Polish companies to grow
"Polish SMEs have hidden significant potential for innovation", states the authors of the World Bank's report "Toward an Innovative Poland: The Entrepreneurial Discovery Process and Business Needs Analysis". Discovering leaders or identifying the companies' needs, as well as providing public support should trigger their innovative and entrepreneurial potential, explain the experts.

In collaboration with Poland’s Ministry of Development (previously Ministry of Economy), in 2014-2015, the World Bank, conducted more than 630 interviews with companies in five regions, (Dolnoslaskie, Zachodniopomorskie, ¦wietokrzyskie, ¦laskie and Lubuskie). As it turned out that 40% of them can be called "champions” of innovations as they have a large innovation-based growth potential. The Polish “champions” are characterized by above-average revenue growth rates, high expenditure on research and development, a high percentage of export sales, large proportion of scientists and engineers among employees, and - above all - a specific “growth mind-set” among top management. This combination of factors is the key to deliver innovation to the companies. It also gives them the competitive advantage in the market, argue World Bank experts.

The survey also helped to identify “sleeping beauties,” companies that do not yet seem to fully leverage their growth potential. Among the barriers of innovation-based development the authors reports the limited access to financing and public support and to new markets, availability of skilled R&D personnel, mental barriers among owners and management boards (focused on short-term profits), risk-averse customers, management skills, a low level of networking, and weak support from the public sector. (The World Bank / Ministry of Development)

Read the whole report: www.worldbank.org/poland/innovation/edp

DID YOU KNOW...?

Iran - the chance to build a powerful brand
Opening to the world, Iran, is now on the spotlight of the global business. Also Polish companies look forward to new opportunities in this distant and challenging country. Who are Iranians today, how to do business with them, and how to start? Answers to those questions provide experts of Persepolis.love blog.

Iran creates huge business opportunities. After years of closing, it needs a strong injection of foreign capital - say authors of the blog: Polish journalist and her husband, a businessman from Iran who settled in Poland. In their opinion, there is a huge range of niches for business development in this country for both, large corporations and smaller businesses. Especially for the last ones, Iran gives a unique opportunity to build their own brand identity just from scratch and grow it very rapidly. "Brands from the west can refresh the Iran market. Inhabitants of this country have a huge hunger for all goods from Europe and the whole Western world.

So what Iran economy expect from foreign partners? Almost everything"- tells Persepolis.love. The list of current demands includes: forage for animals, chickens and sheep meet, milk powder, agricultural machinery, know-how including solutions for the gas and fuel industry or event cosmetics. "This country had been almost close to the foreign world for 30 years. Now, it offers money of new local middle class, and a desire to western style of life, say authors of the blog. There is a huge business gap in Iranian tourism sector waiting for foreign companies as it has not been developed since years - they add.

For those who are interested in making the first business steps in Iran, Persepolis.love advise to employ a local representative, as a door opener to this market. Secondly, self-confidence and decisiveness in extremely important in businesses negotiations. The first impression is the key to success, they say. (Persepolis.love)


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