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TABLE OF CONTENTS NEWS
INVESTMENTS IN POLAND
FROM THE REGIONS
FROM THE EDITOR In today’s edition we report on the Polish government’s planned privatisations and on the state of the economy in the light of the figures from the Central Statistical Office, relating to the figures for the first quarter of the year. Also we present the offer of the Kamienna Góra Special Economic Zone and the plans of the new investors who are moving into Gdańsk and Łódź. Finally, there’s information relating to which are the most valuable Polish firms. Pleasant reading! PAIiIZ’s editorial team NEWS CSO: A growth tendency in Poland’s economy - Over I Q 2008 the tendency for growth was maintained in the economy, however in March a slackening was noticed in various sectors - the president of the Central Statistical Office (CSO) Mr Józef Oleński, stated.
According to Mr Oleński, March’s slackening can be partly blamed upon the Easter festivities, which caused a lesser number of working days and a larger number of holidays over the Easter period. From the CSO report, it appears that in the first quarter the increase in sold production was slightly less than in IV Q of 2007. The positive business climate was still maintained in building and construction and to a large extent in market services. There has also been an increase in inflationary factors. The growth in retail sales was higher than in the second half of 2007. There was an increase in employment and the numbers of the unemployed are steadily falling. From the CSO figures, it was shown that in March unemployment fell to 11.1%, i.e. it was lower by 0.4% than in February. Similarly to the previous month there was a lower number of newly registered unemployed. Whereas there were more unemployed that had de-registered from the labour exchanges. More people than last year took part in active forms of counteracting unemployment. The highest levels of unemployment continued being recorded in the voivodships: warmińsko-mazurskie, zachodniopomorskie, kujawskopomorskie and świętokrzyskie. Whereas, the lowest were in: wielkopolskie, śląskie, and mazowieckie. From the CSO figures it also appeared that in the first three months of this year pay in businesses was higher than in the successive quarters of last year and amounted to 3,049.86 PLN. (IAR) Go to top...
The Polish Government are planning to privatise 740 companies - The privatisation programme for 2008-2011 accepted by the government will embrace 740 firms - the Prime Minister Mr Donald Tusk, stated at a press conference.
The leader of the government stated that the part of firms would be privatised this year. Furthermore according to the estimates of the state Treasury Minister, Mr Aleksander Grad, the income from the four years of privatisation could exceed 30 billion PLN. He stated at a press conference that the prospective size of the income would depend upon a favourable climate at the stock exchange. 40% of the funds from privatisation would be located in the Demographic Reserve Fund. Currently a project is being prepared for an amendment in the matter. According to the Prime Minister, the privatisation income could also be used to decrease the public debt, decrease the deficit and finance re-privatisation projects together with education. Mr Tusk, emphasised that the privatisation programme accepted by the government is also to assist against “economic corruption”, “bureaucratic arrogance” and the placement of “political appointees” in State Treasury companies. He assured everyone that the privatisations would be carried out in a transparent way. Among the list of the 25 companies not embraced by the privatisation programme, are the companies from the fuel sector: PGNiG, the Gas Transmission Operator Gaz-System, PERN "Przyjaźń”, PSE-Operator; together with the BGK Bank, the National Lottery, the Wieliczka Salt Mine, the Polish Security Printing Works, the Polish Information and Foreign Investment Agency, the Polish Press Agency and PKP the Polish Railways. (Rz) Polish-Spanish Enterprise Forum On the 7th of May 2008, a “Spanish-Polish Enterprise Forum” will be held at the Sheraton Hotel in Warsaw.
On the occasion of the visit of HRH the Prince and the Princess of Asturias of Spain in Poland, the Spanish Ministry of Industry, Tourism and Trade in coordination with the Spanish Institute for Foreign Trade (ICEX) and The Economic and Commercial Office of the Spanish Embassy in Poland, are organizing an Enterprise Forum. The seminar is one of the key elements of the Spanish government’s policy that aim at promoting Spanish companies outside its borders. The main objective of this forum is to facilitate contacts between Polish and Spanish entrepreneurs and detect potential local partners. Polish Information and Foreign Investment Agency is co-organizing this event. If you are interested in participating in this Forum, to which we kindly invite you, please contact: forum.warsaw@mcx.es INVESTMENTS IN POLAND A paper giant will enter the Warmińsko-Mazurska SEZ A Finish corporation was awarded tax exemption status in the Warmińsko-Mazurska SEZ and they also intend to apply for EU support. But it’s unclear if the new plant will be built in Ostrołęka, as was planned.
Last week representatives of the company - Stora Enso Poland, were awarded a permit to invest in the Warmińsko-Mazurska Special Economic Zone (WMSEZ). This was one of the conditions of the paper works investment in Ostrołęka. This concerns construction of a plant and a 1.2 billion PLN project, which will produce 93% of its paper by recycling. - As a result of the project, 100 new work places will be created - said Mr Adam Puza, President of WMSEZ. Unofficially there could be 600 jobs. The representatives of the company - which is listed in Helsinki, Stockholm and New York - stress however, that the investment is yet to be confirmed, but it is certain that the firm is only considering the location in Poland. - We’re preparing an application for support of the investment under the framework of the Innovative Economy Programme - Mr Henryk Mikołajewski, deputy president of Stora Enso Poland, said to “PB”. The initial applications for support of very significant investments (above 160 million PLN and 200 workplaces) may be submitted at the Ministry of Economy to 12th May.
Stora Enso is the second paper company to take a decision regarding a large investment in Poland. Mondi have also decided on an investment; the company entered the Pomeranian Zone at the end of last year, with a plant in Świecie, and is committed to invest 220 million EUR (750 million PLN) and establish 80 jobs. The project is certain to be even larger as the firm is seeking a 150 million EUR (511 million PLN) loan for a 350 million EUR (a 1.19 billion PLN) investment. In 2007 13 firms entered the WMSEZ (the leading Katowice zone had 36 investments), with commitments of 652 million PLN (in Katowice 1.8 billion PLN) and 1.5 thousand workplaces (Łódź the leading zone had 4.8 thousand). (PB) Acxiom to employ 500 IT staff in Gdańsk The American company Acxiom has chosen Gdańsk as the headquarters of their new global operations department.
Acxiom specialises in the supply and management of information for businesses. This year the company is to employ 100 people in its Gdańsk branch. In the coming years employment there may increase to 500 workers - mainly high class IT specialists. The initial opening date for the office is expected in July. The project has been dealt with by the local Investors Services Centre and the City of Gdańsk, have offered Acxiom various tools for support, which were finally decisive in attracting the location of the investment to the City. Among these - which are unique on a national scale - is a programme of scholarships for students, who will finally gain employment in the Gdansk offices of the US investor. In 2006 Gdańsk was the first and hitherto only gmina (local authority) in Poland, to activate a special scholarship programme for higher education students, preparing them for employment in the high technology sector. This programme covers the costs of re-training future employees and it allows a firm to employ professional personnel, without incurring further costs to prepare them for work. The training programme, their location and the composition of the lecturers, are all strictly related to the needs of future employer. Under the programme an employer is given the opportunity to employ graduates who are able to begin working productively; whereas the student has the chance of gaining professional experience and working in a large international corporation, often in its foreign branches. America’s Acxiom will be the third firm, following Zensar Technologies and Lufthansa Systems Poland to make use of this programme. Acxiom has branches on three of the world’s continents and employs almost 7 thousand people (inc. app. 100 people in the Warsaw centre). They cooperate with a large number of organisations, which are active in virtually all the business sectors, inc.: finance and banking, telecommunications, wholesale and retail trade, together with providing assistance for the activities of government organisations and institutions. (UM Gdańsk) Łódź’s Dell plant is to increase their capacity A doubling of the production capacity and number of workers - is the goal which Łódź’s Dell factory has set itself.
The corporation, which has chosen Łódź as the location for investment - won’t leave matters to the whims of fate. - In the third quarter of this year, a third production line will be opened and by the year’s end we also plan to begin work on a fourth. The new lines will be allotted to the production of laptops, with one of them also for the assembly of desktops. This will mean a doubling of our strength - said Mr Rafał Branowski, marketing director of Dell Poland. There current production capacity of the Łódź factory is unknown. Mr Branowski, only refers to one of the largest orders to date, a contract for 90 thousand laptops for a particular Russian firm. It should be added that the Łódź factory only produces laptops. - Our target is also to produce servers over the next two to three years - Mr Branowski added. This year as a result of the opening up of two new production lines, the number of personnel is to increase from 1,200 to 2,500. Dell’s move to Łódź has been followed by those of the company’s sub-contractors: RR Donnelley (whose products include computer keyboards and mice) and Flextronics (a logistics firm). Łódź’s vice-president Mr Stanisław Michalik, stresses that the greatest benefits from Dell’s investment are the increases in employment levels, promotion of the city and the increased awareness from other investors. The first computer was assembled at Poland’s Dell factory in November of last year. The firm’s Polish investment is estimated at 200 million EUR. (PB/Rz) MACROECONOMIC POLAND
Source: www.nbp.pl FROM THE REGIONS Kamienna Góra has something to be proud of Already 40 firms have begun trading, or are about to invest within the Kamienna Góra Special Economic Zone for Small Businesses. The funds invested have exceeded 1.2 billion PLN and the number of people employed has reached a figure of 6 thousand. The Zone continues to offer new opportunities to firms that want to run businesses in Jelenia Góra.
- The zone provides exemptions, in the form of tangible gains. We don’t pay income tax, as a result of which we can increase our production. The small rotation of personnel is also pleasing, which means that the firm counts on the labour market - said Mr Gabriel Stępień, director of the administration and trade department of Dr. Schneider Automotive Poland Sp. z o.o. The Dr. Schneider company, have been trading in the Kamienna Góra Zone (Janowice Wielkie) since 2006. Investments have also been undertaken by the producer of spices - Appetita of the firm Ziołopex (Nowogrodziec), Bo-Wa-De 2 - furniture (Kamienna Góra), safety belts - Takata Petri Parts Poland (Krzeszów), ceramic tiles - Ceramika Marconi (Piechowice), car parts and accessories - Autocam Poland (Kamienna Góra) and paper products - Wepa Professional (Piechowice). Now the “capital of the Karkonosze hills” (Jelenia Góra) offers attractively placed plots in the area of Spółdzielcza and Objazdowa streets, within a planned business district, which has been added to the Kamienna Góra sub-zone.
- An undeveloped area of foundations of 9.5 ha awaits investors. The site under our disposal is within reach of the electrical, gas, water and sewage networks. The communications access to this land will improve shortly, when new sections of roads are built in this part of the town - said Jelenia Góra’s President Mr Marek Obrębalski. The president of the Kamienna Góra Zone Mr Szymon Madera, encourages investors to cooperate not only with the attractive locations of the plots. The Zone also offers favourable public aid. - An entrepreneur investing in the Kamienna Góra Special Economic Zone for Small Businesses doesn’t pay income tax - Mr Madera stressed. Public aid at a level of 40% of the capital investments is available to investors, who decide to run businesses there for a minimum of five years. It may be at a level of 60%, or 50% in the cases of small and medium sized businesses, conducted over periods of at least 3 years. Also public assistance is given for the creation of new workplaces, maintained for a period of at least 5 years, and at a level of 40% of the value of 2 years of labour of the newly employed workers (60% or 50% the cases of small and medium sized businesses, on condition that the workplaces will be maintained for at least 3 years).
Irrespective of public assistance relating to investments in the Kamienna Góra Zone, an entrepreneur creating new workplaces in the Jelenia Góra area, may receive property tax exemption of a minimum level (de minimis). - Tax exemption relates to land for building, buildings and buildings or parts of them designated for commercial activities. It applies to each newly created workplace, and the joint period for withdrawal cannot be less than 5 years from the time of acquiring the benefit - Mr Obrębalski, said. We treat everyone individually - Mr Madera, said. - We assist the investor at every stage of the investment process. Gaining permission for running a business in the Kamienna Góra Special Economic Zone for Small Businesses isn’t a complicated process. We assist in recruiting professional staff. We use the help of specialist firms specialising in recruitment, and we cooperate with the Poviat’s Labour Exchange, we also organise meetings with job seekers. Operating together with the local authorities we try to provide the investors with the essential technical infrastructure so that the planning of the investment can be carried out with ease. Everything we do is to help investors to be effective. (“Mo-Ja” Multimedia)  Editorial office: Polish Information and Foreign Investment Agency, 00-585 Warsaw, Bagatela Street 12 Economic Promotion Department, tel: (+48 22) 334 98 15, fax: (+48 22) 334 99 98, e-mail: redakcja@paiz.gov.pl | ||||||||||||||
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