COUNTRY PROFILES
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PolandCapital Currency Population EU status GDP Employment Government type Religions Languages Exports Imports |
COUNTRY PROFILE
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Poland |
Print article Downtown Warsaw |
Poland is one of CEE’s biggest economic success stories. With a rate of growth for 2006 predicted to be twice that of overall growth in the EU, of which it is a member, Poland is hoping to continue that success with a range of programmes to attract further investment. The Union of Industrial and Employers’ Confederations of Europe has described Poland’s proposed market reforms as “ambitious” — one of just four countries in the EU to be designated this way.
Top league investors
The business climate and availability of skilled labour is attracting major companies to make long-term investments in Poland, with Microsoft and Cadbury-Schweppes, for example, both planning to expand their presence in the country over the next few years. Cadbury Schweppes’ Director of Investment Programmes said that the country’s excellent road infrastructure was a major factor in the company’s decision to locate a new plant in the country. Other major investors include US real estate firm Apollo Rida, France Telecom, and a number of auto and auto parts manufacturers.
FDI support
Poland is aiming to attract a minimum of $10 billion in investments over the 12 months from March 2006, said prime minister Kazimierz Marcinkiewicz. For foreign investors, the amount of support available is dependent on the region in which the business is located, and also on the size of the enterprise — additional support is available for SMEs. Businesses locating to Warsaw attract the least support, those going to less developed areas of the country can apply for up to 50% of either initial investment outlay or the first two years’ salary costs. Further support is available under EU development schemes, and tax breaks are available for investment in areas outside major industrialised zones.
Business skills
 Poland is an increasingly popular location for business process outsourcing |
Poland prides itself on having one of the youngest and best-educated populations in Europe, with almost half of its young people going on to a university education. There are particular strengths in ICT skills, and Poland is becoming an increasingly popular location for R&D centres. The level of ICT skills is also making Poland a centre for business process outsourcing, with many companies choosing to locate call centres and other support services in Poland. As a result of this expansion, there are opportunies across the computer sector, from providing computer services to offering hardware, software and other equipment.
Industrial output
Poland has traditionally been known for the strength of its industrial and manufacturing sectors, and these continue to play an important role in today’s economy. Poland has clusters of aviation and automotive manufacturers. Auto engine and parts manufacture is a particular strength, and many plants cooperate with others in nearby countries with a different auto specialisation. There are now more than 350 companies involved in auto manufacture based in Poland.
The US Commercial Service cites the automotive, defence, and construction industries as major opportunities for US companies looking to invest in or export to Poland. Poland’s geographical position makes it an ideal manufacturing hub in logistical terms, as it has fast, direct links with some of the largest European markets, in addition to having a sizeable internal market in its own right. Poland is also keen to promote the cost advantage of setting up warehouseing and distribution operations here, rather than in neighbouring countries.
Facts in brief
Poland’s location is Central Europe, east of Germany
Its climate is temperate with cold, cloudy, moderately severe winters with frequent precipitation; mild summers with frequent showers and thundershowers
Natural resources include coal, sulphur, copper, natural gas, silver, lead, salt, amber, arable land
Agricultural products are potatoes, fruits, vegetables, wheat, poultry, eggs, pork, dairy.
Industries include machine building, iron and steel, coal mining, chemicals, shipbuilding, food processing, glass, beverages, textiles
Poland’s legal system is a mixture of Continental (Napoleonic) civil law and holdover Communist legal theory
Diplomatic representation in the US — Chief of mission: Ambassador Janusz Reiter
Diplomatic representation from the US — Chief of mission: Ambassador Victor Ashe
Contact Information
American Chamber of
Commerce in Poland
Warsaw Financial Center,
ul Emilii Plater 53
00-113 Warsaw
Poland
Tel: +48 22 520 5999
E-mail:
office@amcham.com.pl
Wubsite: www.amcham.com.pl
Useful websites
| warsaw.usembassy.gov | US Embassy in Poland |
| www.paiz.gov.pl | Polish Information & Foreign Investment Agency — includes information on immigration and business laws |
| www.investinpoland.pl | More detailed investment information |
| www.usinfo.pl/usinvestment | Map showing location of major US investments in Poland |
| www.stat.gov.pl/english | National Institute of Statistics |
| www.worldbank.org.pl | World Bank summary of Polish development |