POLSKA POLAND POLSKA POLAND POLSKA POLAND POLSKA POLAND POLSKA POLAND POLSKA POLAND POLSKA POLAND NEWSLETTER February 5th 2009, number 108

NEWS FROM THE EDITOR President of The Gdańsk Institute for Market participate in projects geared towards local Dear Readers! Economics Mr Bohdan Wyżnikiewicz will discuss communities i.e. not only persons directly The Polish Information and Foreign Investment results of a survey measuring clients' satisfaction participating in projects' realisation but also Agency invites for a conference which is to take with services provided by PAIiIZ. At the end project concept designers or authors and co- place on February 9th (Monday) and will be economist Janusz Jankowiak will provide a authors of grant application forms. It is important devoted to projects conducted by the Agency in commentary. The conference may result that the realised project was granted financial 2008 and PAIiIZ's plans for 2009. For more especially attractive and interesting for support from EU funds i.e. was subsidized either detail go to the News section and in case you representatives of entrepreneurs' organisations, from programmes realised in the frame of the should not be able to attend the event, look for the economists, delegates from special economic National Development Strategy 2004-2006 meeting's account in next week's Newsletter. zones and Investor Assistance Centres as well as or the National Cohesion Strategy 2007-2013. This week we write about the UPM Raflatac Polish and foreign journalists.(PAIiIZ) Forms describing activists together with additional investment project being realised close to the city materials providing a better insight into the of Wrocław and about the common initiative of candidate's activity in the form of films, photos, the Italian Autogrill and Polish Impel. You will also presentations or articles may be sent in by natural find an article concerning the performance of the persons or institutions and organisations, provided Wałbrzych SEZ in 2008. the candidate agrees to participate in the contest. At the end information about the success of the There are three categories of potential candidates: Warsaw-based Le Meridien Bristol hotel which administrative workers at the level of local ranked high in a list of 100 top hotels in the world. authorities, NGO workers, co-workers and Pleasant reading. volunteers or simply people actively using EU funds to the benefit of local communities. PAIiIZ CONFERENCE „EUROLIDER” CONTEST Applications may be sent in till March 6th. PAIiIZ organises a conference to report on the The Ministry of Regional Development opens Certificates and training courses in EU funds Agency's performance in the year 2008 and to a EUROLIDER 2009 contest. People eligible for acquisition are to be granted to the winners at the present plans for the future. The meeting will the title recruit from among activists applying 2nd European Funds Forum which is to take place in take place at 11 a.m. on Monday, February 9th European Funds to effectively boost develop- Warsaw between May 7th-8th. at the PAIiIZ Press Centre. ment of local communities. For more information about the contest, At the conference PAIiIZ President Mr Paweł The contest aims at selecting and rewarding requirements and application form go to Wojciechowski will present projects realised by social activists for their creativity, initiative and www.mrr.gov.pl and the Agency in 2008 and the strategy for the work. Candidates eligible for the title recruit from www.funduszeeuropejskie.gov.pl Agency's actions in 2009. Moreover, Vice among people who managed to actively (Ministry of Regional Development)

INVESTEMENT IN POLAND

FINNISH UPM RAFLATAC BUILDS Europe, with good transport connections, company considers the possibility of extending its A FACTORY NEAR WROCŁAW (including highways) facilitating output export as field of investment by airports, railway and bus UPM Raflatac, forming part of one of the biggest well as easy access to qualified cadre in Wrocław stations. world manufacturers of paper-based label that helped the location outstrip other possible Georgio Meinardi, director general at Autogrill materials, is to build a factory in Biskupice destinations. Europe considers the Polish investment to be of key Podgórne near Wrocław. UPM is to invest round 90 million EUR and is importance for his company - Poland is one of the bound to employ 170 people. The new factory best developed countries in the region what will manufacture paper-based label materials makes the country a perfect investment used in the food, cosmetics, domestic appliances destination for our company. The country is also a and transport sectors. (UPM Raflatac Polska) natural connection between the West and East of Europe. IMPEL AND AUTOGRILL TO INVEST In turn, Impel's president Grzegorz Dzik TOGETHER emphasises that his company opted for co- UPM Raflatac factory in Biskupice Podgórne near Wrocław. The first meeting concerning the companies' co- operation with Autogrill mainly due to the Italian operation focused on the project of a restaurant partner's know-how. The project should contribute The project is to be realised within the territory of chain to be developed along the main Polish to Impel's development in the catering sector. At the Tarnobrzeg Special Economic Zone. After roads. The talks took place in the Italian the meeting, which was also attended by the new receiving a business activity permission, the Warsaw-based Embassy and were attended by Italian ambassador to Poland, Aldo Mantovani, company began construction in August 2007. The the Undersecretary in the Ministry of Economy Vice minister Rafał Baniak said that Poland needs factory's opening is planned for May this year. and the representatives of both firms. ambitious and big investment project which may The factory is to be the most technologically Autogrill Polska, a company set up in result of an play an important role in the era of economic advanced project of the company. In fact, the agreement signed by both investors, is to manage slowdown. enterprise stands a good chance of becoming the the project. By the end of 2010 11 restaurants are Autogrill Group is an international provider of most modern plant in the sector of self-adhesive planed to have been opened alongside the major food & beverage and retail services for travellers. label stock. From the very beginning UPM Polish roads. This year some 20 million PLN is to The Group operates in 42 countries and employs Raflatac assumed the project to be realised in a be invested. As a result 4 restaurants at Shell round 74 thousand people. (Ministry of Economy) special economic zone. It was the very convenient petrol stations located alongside the A1, A2 and location of Biskupice Podgórne, in the centre of A4 highways will be constructed. Moreover, the

Polish Information and Foreign Investment Agency www.paiz.gov.pl POLSKA POLAND POLSKA POLAND POLSKA POLAND POLSKA POLAND POLSKA POLAND POLSKA POLAND POLSKA POLAND MACROECONOMIC POLAND

CENTRAL STATISTICAL OFFICE: GDP 4.9% growth. Investment in 2008 rose by 7.9% in effects of the global financial crisis. GREW BY 4.8% IN 2008 comparison to 2007 and consumption by 5.4% y- The survey “Current problems and events” was Preliminary estimates of the Central Statistical o-y. (GUS, TVN24.pl) conducted by CBOS between January 9th-15th, Office (GUS) show that the GDP growth in 2008 2009 on a group of 1089 adult Poles. (PAP) accounted for 4.8% what coincides with the Government's estimates. PUBLIC OPINION RESEARCH CENTRE According to GUS preliminary estimates (CBOS): OVER HALF OF POLES WANT Exchange rates (as of 5.02.2009) concerning GDP growth in 2008, the increase EURO Buy Sell accounts for 4.8% y-o-y. The very same estimates 52% of the surveyed Poles accept the were expected earlier by the Polish Government introduction of euro to Poland . USD 3,5509 3,6227 while the European Commission's forecasts Since 2007 the approval of Polish entry into the EUR 4,5767 4,6691 hovered at 5%. euro zone has been on the rise. 19% of the Source: www.nbp.pl A slightly bigger increase was expected by some surveyed is of the opinion that euro zone surveyed economists who tended to expect a accession will enable Slovakia to avoid negative ANALYSES AND REPORTS MORE BUSES EXPORTED FROM POLAND increased number of orders realised by the three 2007. Among Scania's major target markets there Last year Polish factories exported a joint major manufacturers of urban buses i.e. MAN, are the UK, Sweden and France. The Słupsk-based number of 3321 buses, i.e. 28% more than a Scania and Solaris. It is MAN that has been on the company began also exporting chassis to Russia year earlier. According to a report by JMK Bus leading position for the last three years. Last year and is thus the only Polish bus exporter trading with Markets Analyses, export of Polish buses has the company sold round 1400 vehicles, mainly to the country. For Solaris Bus & Coach, classified 4th constantly been on the rise. Germany i.e.440 more than in 2007 what equals in the ranking, 2008 resulted very successful in Polish bus export has been on the rise since the to a 48.51% increase in the company's export that the company managed to export 544 buses year 2001 when the number of exported vehicles performance. Among other MAN's major trade achieving thus a 48% sales increase y-o-y. (JMK of the type accounted for 373. A year later the markets there are the United Arab Emirates (224 Bus Markets Analyses) export volume amounted to 677, only to get Neoplan Centroliner buses) and Sweden. The better in 2003 (949) and the following years company has not only been exporting completed (903 in 2004, 1 616 in 2005 to finally reach 2 vehicles but also bus frameworks and chassis for 599 in 2007). Last year for the first time ever the German and Turkish producers. number of buses sold abroad exceeded 3 000. At In 2008 Volvo came second with 725 buses the moment Germany tops the list of major exported mainly to Germany, Finland and recipient markets with 895 buses bought in 2008. Norway. The level of exported goods was similar The United Arab Emirates rank second as a to the one achieved by Volvo in 2007. Scania temporary trade area with 449 buses imported ranks third in the export ranking. The company from Poland last year. The UK and Sweden follow closed 2008 with 559 buses sold abroad, what with 309 and 266 vehicles. Export results equals to a 40.5% increase in exported goods achieved last year have much to do with the when compared to the volume of products sold in Source:MAN Source: Man FROM THE REGIONS WAŁBRZYCH SEZ REPORTS ON ITS 2008 500 million PLN), a company developing its was attended by the deputy prime minister and PERFORMANCE factory producing Diesel engine filters; Mahle economy minister Waldemar Pawlak and the The Wałbrzych SEZ “Invest-Park” presented Polska (118 million PLN), about to expand its under secretary in the Ministry of Economy Rafał a summary of its 2008 performance and the factory manufacturing components for internal- Baniak. The factory is bound to expand the activity of investors operating in the SEZ. combustion engines; Electrolux Poland (two company's production capacity by 120 thousand In 2008 the SEZ Management issued 37 business permissions worth 115 million PLN), expanding its engines a year. To date, Toyota covered the activity permissions for projects worth 2.6 billion domestic appliance factories in Żarów and project related investment expenses to the tune of PLN. The projects are bound to create 4,400 new Świdnica; Hoerbriger Automotive Sp. z o.o. (47.2 124 million EUR. The Wałbrzych Special workplaces. In 2008 new investors developed million PLN), producer of car transmission systems Economic Zone “Invest-Park” has sub zones in four 146 ha of the SEZ. Among the companies and comfort systems. regions i.e. in the Dolny Śląsk, Lubuskie, WIelko- investing in the SEZ for the first time it is worth to Last year witnessed also 12 companies polskie and Opolskie regions. Since the SEZ was mention, among others, Cadbury Wedel (two completing the construction phase and initiating established till the end of 2008 it issued 132 permissions for projects worth 960 million PLN), production in the Wałbrzych SEZ. On September business activity permissions resulting in 83 manufacturer of chocolate products with two 29th an official opening of the Toyota companies operating in the SEZ. The companies factories in Skarbierz and Wrocław; Advanced Manufacturing Poland gear boxes producing invested 9.63 billion PLN and created 30 Diesel Particulate Filters (permission worth over factory took place in Wałbrzych. The opening thousand workplaces. (WSSE “Invest-Park”) DID YOU KNOW THAT...

th WARSAW BRISTOL HOTEL classified 11 among the 50 best European Interestingly enough, the hotel managed even to AMONG THE BEST IN THE facilities of the kind. outstrip the Paris Ritz Hotel which was placed on the 18th position for Europe and 82nd in the world. WORLD Once again the Singita Sati Sand & Kruger The Warsaw Le Meridien Bristol hotel results to National Park from the Republic of South Africa be the only Polish hotel classified on a 100 top came top of the ranking with 97 out of 100 world hotels list published by the American possible points. (www.travelandleisure.com, monthly Travel&Leisure. Życie Warszawy on-line) The ranking, organised by American monthly Travel&Leisure, derives data from opinion polls conducted among its readers. The surveyed were asked to evaluate, among other things, services Polish Information and Foreign Investment Agency provided by the hotels, their catering offer, décor 00-585 Warsaw, ul. Bagatela 12 and location. tel. (+48 22) 334 99 49, fax (+48 22) 334 99 90 The Warsaw-based Le Merdien Bristol obtained The Bristol Hotel was designed by between 1899 and 1901 by e-mail: [email protected] 89 out of 100 possible points and ranked 57th Władysław Marconii and Stanisław Grochowicz. Public Relations Division among one hundred best hotels in the world and Source: Wikipedia Economic Promotion Department Polish Information and Foreign Investment Agency www.paiz.gov.pl