The name of a press conference held in Warsaw last month and organized by the Polish Information and Foreign Investment Agency was 'Poland as an Attractive Economic Partner. The greatest successes of 2006'. During the meeting the Polish Minister of Economy, Piotr G. Woźniak, not only presented major achievements and investment projects for 2006 but also concluded that the country attracts more and more investors due to significant improvements of Polish economic situation. Thus, what are the signs of such improvements and what are the proofs of recovering of Polish financial health?
As the Minister suggests, foreign investments are strictly connected with the increasing economic growth, which is predicted at 5.4% for the current year. Chances are that the value of this year's foreign investments in Poland will exceed $10 billion. In his view, those figures support the country's good image worldwide and its promising chances for the development. The clearest consequence of the economic growth is the decrease in unemployment rate and emergence of new workplaces. By the end of October 2006, 147 000 new workplaces had been formed, which, as the Minister observes, is the sign of the economy positively generating itself.
The growing inflow of foreign investment contributes to the increasing status of Poland as the center of audiovisual production, bordering even on leadership. Due to world leaders in electronic manufacturing, such as Sharp or LG, whose factories have already been present in the country, new technologies are being widespread and begin to be commonly used, which is extremely important for modernization of the country's industry sectors. Andrzej Kanthak, a chairman of the Polish Information and Foreign Investment Agency, confirms that the character of the investments helps the country to obtain new useful technologies. However, new technological solutions are being introduced also owing to the increasing production of cars in the country, whose value may amount to 14 billion dollars this year, according to Financial Times.
More and more foreign investors decide on Poland as the policy of Polish government is oriented towards the assistance for the projects of those companies, who introduce new technologies, employ Polish workers and are willing to stay on the Polish market for a longer period of time. As Minister Woźniak states, they can count on the support from administration and the preservation by market.
Consequently, a great majority of the investors already present on the Polish market decide to stay and expand their activities. The reports of two major world consulting agencies confirm the high rating Poland gets, says Andrzej Kanthak and gives the instance of the ranking by KPMG, which states that 80% of investors present in Poland decide to reinvest there again and the report by A.T. Kearney, according to which Poland occupies the fifth position among the countries which enjoy the greatest trust with the investors.
There are other factors which make Poland attractive to
prospective investors in Poland. The stable economic situation, the high level of education among the Polish youth and convenient location within the excellent communication net gives the country good opportunities for development and equally promising future. After years of economic regression Poland has finally got back on its feet.
Aleksandra
