Polish Market No.10 (263)/2017

No. 10 (262) /2017 :: www.polishmarket.com.pl

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27th Economic Forum in Krynica

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7th Edition oF thE EuropEan SmE congrESS

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“we have

designed an innovation ecosystem – unique in Poland and one of the best in Europe.”

michał

ChyCzewski acting President of alior Bank

ONTENT

6. From The President’s Press Office 7. From The Government Information Centre OUR GUEST

8. JAROSŁAW GOWIN, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of

Science and Higher Education: THE ACT 2.0 THE CONSTITUTION FOR SCIENCE

ECONOMY

10. PROF. ADAM GLAPIŃSKI, President of the National Bank of Poland (NBP): THE FINANCIAL SYSTEM IN POLAND IS STABLE

12. KAZIMIERZ SMOLIŃSKI, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Infrastructure and Construction: BUSINESS MEANS COOPERATION

13. ON THE FUTURE OF EUROPE DURING THE 27TH ECONOMIC FORUM

15. THE POLISH DIASPORA AS CO-CREATOR OF BRAND POLAND 16. MICHAŁ CHYCZEWSKI, Vice-President and acting President

of Alior Bank: DIGITAL DISRUPTOR BECOMES A COMPANY OF THE YEAR

20. PAWEŁ ŚLIWA, Deputy President of the PGE Group: PGE OPEN FOR INNOVATIONS

22.

CONCENTRATE PRODUCTION AND SMELTING TECHNOLOGIES IN ONE PLACE

24.

TOYOTA – INNOVATION AFTER INNOVATION! AFTER THE HYBRIDS, THE TIME HAS COME FOR HYDROGEN

REGIONS

26. GOOD INVESTMENT ZONE 28. TADEUSZ DONOCIK, President, Regional Chamber of

Commerce and Industry in Katowice: 7TH EDITION OF THE EUROPEAN SME CONGRESS. WHY DO YOU NEED TO BE THERE?

29. WOJCIECH SAŁUGA, Chairman, Śląskie Province: THE ROLE

OF PROVINCE-LEVEL LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS TO LAY FOUNDATIONS FOR COMPREHENSIVE CO-OPERATION BETWEEN BUSINESS AND SCIENCE

30. MARCIN KRUPA, Mayor of Katowice: KATOWICE AS A MEETINGS INDUSTRY HUB

31. KATOWICE TO HOST COP24 AND WADA 32. WITOLD STĘPIEŃ, MARSHAL OF THE ŁÓDZKIE PROVINCE: THE ECONOMIC POTENTIAL OF ŁÓDZKIE PROVINCE

33. A JUBILEE EDITION OF THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC FORUM ŁÓDZKIE 2017

34. UNIEJÓW – POLAND’S YOUNGEST THERMAL SPA 36. GUSTAW MAREK BRZEZIN, Chairman of the Warmia and Mazuria Province: WARMIA AND MAZURIA THE PLACE TO WORK AND REST

38.

PODKARPACKIE REGION THE MEETING POINT OF THREE NATIONAL BORDERS

40.

GRZEGORZ BENEDYKCIŃSKI, Mayor of Grodzisk Mazowiecki: GRODZISK MAZOWIECKI - RAPID DEVELOPMENT

CONSTRUCTION 42. MACIEJ PROLIŃSKI: GOOD NEWS FOR POLAND FROM TARNÓW!

44.

GRZEGORZ KĄDZIELAWSKI, Vice-President of the Management Board, Grupa Azoty: WE ARE CONSTANTLY EXPANDING OUR RESEARCH AGENDA

46. MACIEJ PROLIŃSKI: 25 YEARS OF BUILDING! 48. BOGDAN S. CZAPCZUK – President of F.B.I. TASBUD S.A.

and D.Sc.Eng. ANDRZEJ M. CZAPCZUK – Vice-President of F.B.I. TASBUD S.A., Vice-President of the Polish Cluster of Construction Exporters: OUR TOP GOAL FOR TODAY AND TOMORROW: TO BUILD WITH FUTURE GENERATIONS IN MIND

52.

JANUSZ ZALESKI, Deputy President of the Management Board, PSMB: CYBERSECURITY IN CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES. HOW TO COUNTERACT THREATS. ARE WE READY TO DETECT AND RESPOND TO CYBERATTACKS IN TIME?

54. PRCH RETAIL RESEARCH FORUM H1 2017 REPORT 56. THE GRAND OPENING OF THE GALERIA PÓŁNOCNA SHOPPING MALL

HIGHER EDUCATION 58.

WALDEMAR SIWIŃSKI, President of the Perspektywy Educational Foundation: WE BUILD A CULTURE OF QUALITY AT POLISH UNIVERSITIES

59. HIGHER EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS LEAGUE TABLE 2017

67. CASTLE GROUNDS REFURBISHED 68. WE REMEMBER THE MASTER! 69. POLISH DESIGN FROM LONDON TO SAO PAULO! 70. YOUNG ARTISTS’ VIEWS

DEFENCE SECTOR 60.

THE 25TH INTERNATIONAL DEFENCE INDUSTRY EXHIBITION MSPO A DEMONSTRATION OF POLISH POWER

FOOD INDUSTRY

71. POLAGRA FOOD – NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE FOOD INDUSTRY IN A NEW TIME FRAME!

72. A NEW PRODUCT IN FIGA FARM’S RANGE OF ORGANIC GOAT'S CHEESES

CULTURE 64. CULTURAL MONITOR 66. MACIEJ PROLIŃSKI: A NEW SEASON AT THE OPERA GALLERY

73. ECONOMIC MONITOR

Cover: MICHAŁ CHYCZEWSKI, ACTING PRESIDENT OF ALIOR BANK Photos on issue: www.shutterstock.com

10/2017 Publisher: Oficyna Wydawnicza RYNEK POLSKI Sp. z o.o.

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Editorial

Krystyna Woźniak-Trzosek Editor-in-Chief President of Rynek Polski Publishers Co. Ltd.

WHO HAS SEEN THE WIND? THE TITLE OF A 19TH CENTURY ENGLISH POETRY CLASSIC PERFECTLY CAPTURES PRESENT DILEMMAS FACING POLITICIANS AND ECONOMIC ANALYSTS. FOR A LONG TIME WE HAVE NOT SEEN AS MUCH SPECULATION, SO MANY INTERPRETATIONS AND SUCH HIGH EXPECTATIONS. The general diagnosis by Euler Hermes global consulting company contained in its report entitled "A Breeze of Growth" reads: „While global GDP growth accelerated to its highest level in two years in the first half of 2017, some of the world’s economic engines are out of sync”. What exactly does it mean? Naturally, different engines rev up at a different pace. But it is hard to predict how long this particular gust of wind will last. On the one hand, growthstimulating factors are strengthening, such as the return of inflation (especially in terms of rising commodity prices), growing consumption and investment, livelier international trade, abundant money supply and government policies meant to stimulate the economy. One the other hand, fresh threats are emerging, including the risk of everyone being too eager to make up for the period of low profit margins, using loans to finance investment, rising interest rates, growing protectionism and policies guided by fear of the return of a crisis.

Europe, and notably the Eurozone, is a good example of this duality. It has clearly put most of the problems caused by the financial crisis behind. Even the prospect of Brexit and the most unpredictable election results in decades do not seem to have dampened the optimism of entrepreneurs. The bullish climate is highlighted not just by GDP and PMI growth indexes, but also by public finance surpluses not just in Germany, but also in the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, Cyprus, Malta, Luxemburg, Sweden, and next year… even in Greece. Yet all this may not be quite enough to put fears of another crisis to rest. European leaders such as Jean-Claude Juncker, Emmanuel Macron and Angela Merkel have come up with plans to deepen the integration of European economies, which are meant to offer the continent stability and allow it to maintain its global position. There are those who ask whether tighter integration, or – at the other end of the scale – greater independence of national states is the right way to go. This question lies at the root of the current debate. Interestingly, governments which favour a decentralized European Union tend to focus on centralization in their domestic policies. So where is the wind of change blowing from?

Of course, each of us mostly cares about our own back yard. When it comes to Poland, to say that there is a new air of optimism here, is actually not saying very much. We have all got used to optimistically-sounding government press releases, but things seem to be even better in other European countries. For the first time in years Poland has dropped a few places in the Doing Business ranking, while the Czech Republic has overtaken it in its race to approach average EU consumption levels. But there are still plenty of forecasts spelling a bright future, not just from such recognized forecasters as George Friedman, who predicts this country will become a Central European power sometime in the future. According to Goldman Sachs projections, Poland’s GDP growth in 2017 will reach 4.4%, to only slightly drop to 3.6% in 2018. Moody’s agency seems to have also changed its mind about Poland. It expects Polish GDP to grow 4.3% this year, up from the earlier predicted 3.2%. Fitch has also upped its GDP growth projections for this year from 3.3% forecast in July to 4%. S&P appears to be the most cautious with its 3.6% projection (up from an earlier projected 3.3%). More and more renowned analysts positively assess the performance of the Polish economy. FTSE Russell, a firm which compiles equity indexes followed by world investment funds, has decided to move Poland from the group of developing countries to the group of 25 developed countries.

Bearing all this in mind, it would seem that now is the time to smile modestly and accept congratulations. In fact, this is exactly what most meetings and conferences of Polish politicians and economists look like right now. But most does not mean all. It was all smiles at the renowned Economic Forum in Krynica, but at more modest regional meetings things were far less optimistic. It was pointed out that the unprecedented injection of social funding has produced higher consumption and higher GDP growth. But Poland’s economic engine still has problems sucking in investment and triggering genuine growth. Will the strategy of overcoming the middle-income growth trap be vindicated? To use the language of economic theorists – will it prove to be an attempt by the state to take over the ‘unconsumed’ part of the GDP and ‘relieve’ private investors of their decision burden? Is it just a correction of the mechanism implemented over the past 25 years or is it its contradiction? So what is the Polish model of a social market economy going to be like?

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5

President

PRESIDENTIAL COUPLE ON A VISIT TO KAZAKHSTAN P re sid e nt A nd r z e j Duda and First Lady Agata Kornhauser-Duda started on September 6 an official visit to Kazakhstan. Economic cooperation was the main point on the agenda of President Duda's visit.

President Andrzej Duda was welcomed by Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev at the Presidential Palace in Astana. After the welcome ceremony the presidents held a meeting.

"My visit to Kazakhstan is aimed at further stimulating economic cooperation", President Andrzej Duda said in a statement for the press, after talks with the Kazakh president.

President Duda thanked his counterpart for his last year's visit to Poland, which, in his opinion, gave impetus to entrepreneurs and resulted in huge trade growth in the first half of 2017.

According to the Polish president, exports from Poland to Kazakhstan increased by 50% during that time while imports from Kazakhstan to Poland went up by 80%. "This is a truly spectacular result", Andrzej Duda emphasised.

"Together with the president of Kazakhstan we carry out very important tasks that lead to stimulating economic exchange between Poland and Kazakhstan", the Polish president pointed out.

Andrzej Duda expressed the hope that joint actions would effectively reverse the downward trend triggered by the political situation, including the conflict in Ukraine and related sanctions. The president said that the interest on the part of entrepreneurs was high. Therefore, representatives of Polish companies came to Astana with him.

President Duda advocates that representatives of the Kazakh business can travel visa-free to Poland. As he added, Poland had raised the issue at the EU forum.

THE NATIONAL DAY OF POLAND AT ASTANA EXPO 2017 When opening the National Day of Poland at the Expo in Astana on September 7, President Andrzej Duda said that Poland showed in its pavilion the achievements related to the main theme of the Kazakh exhibition, i.e. “Future Energy”.

As he highlighted, we were demonstrating in Kazakhstan many novelties in the field of the energy of the future, including clean coal technologies, biomass utilisation for energy generation, innovations in mining machinery, the ways of digitising the energy market, the buildings of the future, and the ways of revitalising post-industrial sites.

He underlined that searching for energy sources in a smart and modern way was crucial for energy sovereignty, which could be built, not only on the energy sources held, but also on modern technologies. He reminded everyone that Poland was seeking the right to organise the Expo in 2022 in Łódź. “I believe that we will obtain this right, as the Polish candidacy was very carefully thought out and prepared,” he said. He also mentioned that the "The City ReInvented" theme proposed by Poland involved universal challenges to be faced by cities around the world.

“In order to become attractive, friendly and safe places for their residents and visitors, cities must be constantly reborn, renewed and developed, following the rule of social cooperation. These are the cities we want to talk about during the Expo in Poland, in Łódź,” he highlighted.

The Polish Pavilion, which the President visited with his wife, Agata Kornhauser-Duda, and the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Bakhytzhan Sagintayev, is the showcase for Poland’s participation in the 2017 Expo in Astana. It is composed of five zones, on two storeys, including “Technologies” and “Forest”, in which Poland presents the technologies connected with energy.

PRESIDENT DUDA: BEING PART OF EU IS A GREAT VALUE FOR MOST POLISH PEOPLE President Andrzej Duda said on September 5 that membership of the European Union mattered very much to the vast majority of Polish people, and had various benefits.

The president was speaking at the opening panel discussion of the 27th Economic Forum in Krynica, southern Poland.

"We, the Polish people, are the citizens of a state which worked for years to become a member of the EU. The work and effort we put in were eventually crowned with success", President Andrzej Duda said.

"And today, we are a European Union member. And let me emphasise strongly, for us, for a very decisive majority of the Polish people, it is a great value", he added.

6 polish market

"I believe we are all seeing the various benefits which come from us being a member of the EU", the president underlined. He conceded the Union was beset with problems.

"We have a crisis in the form of Brexit, a crisis in the form of a wave of refugees, we have the financial crisis still reverberating and these are facts which basically no one within the EU is disputing", President Andrzej Duda said.

He added that all of this continually begged the question: "How to take such action as to overcome these crises and prevent future ones?".

"Well, I will put it this way: in my view, crises are an unavoidable phenomenon", the president said.

Prime Minister

PRIME MINISTER BEATA SZYDŁO IS THE PERSON OF THE YEAR AT THE 27TH ECONOMIC FORUM IN KRYNICA “I am merely the captain of the team tasked with changing Poland,” said the Head of Government when being presented with the Person of the Year Award at the 27th Economic Forum in Krynica. The Programme Council of the Economic Forum gives this award to prominent individuals who have had the biggest impact on the course of events in Central and Eastern Europe, through their attitudes and achievements.

“We won because we were a team,” highlighted the Prime Minister. “Thanks are also due to all those who worked together on the Law and Justice programme, experts and colleagues from the Law and Justice Club. In fact, it is an award to everyone – my colleagues who are sitting here with us, working in the Government on a daily basis, and introducing individual projects and programmes,” said the Prime Minister.

Beata Szydło affirmed that the great commitment which this Government had made was to bring the entire project to completion. “To this end, this team must remain united, consistently striving for what it has committed itself to do,” highlighted the Prime Minister. “I would venture to say that now there is not a single minister in the Government who has had no achievements. All ministries work marvellously, which results in bringing about so much good,” she added.

The Head of Government underlined that she had already had an opportunity to visit the Economic Forum in Krynica in various roles, as a representative of local government and a Member of Parliament, and that she had always witnessed discussions about Poland and Europe, and about what should be done, and in what way, to make our lives better and to bring Poland to the vanguard of a modern Europe.

To conclude, the Prime Minister expressed her hope that the Forum would continue to unite everyone in a discussion about a secure future, which will give young Poles their peace of mind.

A MEETING WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF LITHUANIA, LATVIA AND ESTONIA On 5 September 2017, Prime Minister Beata Szydło met the Prime Ministers of Lithuania and Latvia, and the Ambassador of Estonia, at the Chancellery of the Prime Minister. The focal themes included European policy, regional cooperation and security.

Prime Minister Szydło said that today’s consultations with Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia united their common aspirations and interests in such fields as security, eastern policy, energy, and infrastructure. The Prime Minister also added that they perceived the key challenges and processes at the international level in a similar way. Moreover, the Head of Government stated that the talks concerned infrastructural connections in the region, such as Via Baltica and Rail Baltica. In the opinion of the Polish Prime Minister, the successful implementation of these projects would stimulate economic growth in the individual countries and the entire region.

“At the joint meeting, we addressed the major challenges in terms of regional security. We are closely monitoring events near the eastern border of the European Union,” said the Prime Minister. “Poland sees the need for closer cooperation on cyber security, and digital security at the EU, NATO and regional levels,” highlighted the Head of Government. Beata Szydło also expressed her conviction that the Tallinn Digital Summit would serve as an opportunity to talk about countering hybrid threats in, among other things, cyber security, and about combating misinformation.

PRIME MINISTER BEATA SZYDŁO AT THE ECONOMIC FORUM ON POLITICS, ECONOMY, AND FAMILY BUSINESSES

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Photos: premier.gov.pl

“Betting on 500+ was a risk. It turned out, however, that we were right. Expenditures incurred on this benefit are paying off, and already today the economy is benefitting from the programme,” said Prime Minister Beata Szydło during a panel discussion at the Economic Forum in Krynica-Zdrój.

Prime Minister Szydło started her speech on “How can you transform a family business into an international giant?” by describing what inspired her. She mentioned small companies and the experiences of her family, who works in the mining sector. She highlighted the importance of creating the work ethos and the values connected with it.

“Today, in the Government we are pursuing clear-cut policies. They focus on the family, and on family support in broad terms,” said the Head of Government. She mentioned the Family 500+ programme, which is the symbol of a specific philosophy of thinking. As she said, within this philosophy there is also a place for the development of family businesses.

“Poland’s economy is growing. The unemployment rate is at an unprecedented low. The budget, thanks to tightening the tax system, is in perfect shape. We are glad that indicators are improving,” underlined Beata Szydło. As indicated by the Head of Government, Moody’s has confirmed the forecast for this year’s GDP growth. According to this rating agency, the performance of the economy in Q2 2017 was better than expected, which prompted the agency to greatly revise its GDP growth projections for the whole of 2017, from 3.2% to 4.3%. The good economic performance, in the Prime Minister’s opinion, is the result of connecting social and economic programmes.

7

Our Guest

THE ACT 2.0

THE CONSTITUTION

FOR SCIENCE On 19-20 September, during the National Congress of Science, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Science and Higher Education JAROSŁAW GOWIN presented guidelines for the draft version of the so-called Act 2.0.

T

he National Congress of Science provided an opportunity for summarising the unique debate which had been going on for several months.

It started over a year ago with the launching of a competition for draft guidelines for the Act 2.0. Between October 2016 and June 2017 nine academic centres hosted programme conferences of the National Congress of Science devoted to individual problem areas connected with developing a draft version of the new regulations on science and higher education. These were accompanied by a number of auxiliary meetings, debates and consultations.

The National Congress of Science marked the beginning of an over-two-month period of consultations, following which the draft Act will be refined, and then submitted to the Government and Parliament.

The major aim of the Congress was to present the guidelines for the new Act on higher education and science, referred to as the Constitution for Science. It will cover all the issues related to this field, which to date have been governed by four separate Acts, i.e. the Act on higher education, the Act on scientific degrees and titles, the Act on financing science, and the Act on student loans. The ideas

8 polish market

behind the prospective Act 2.0 were outlined

by Minister Jarosław Gowin.

The reform was initiated by the academic community. Its proposals were broadly formulated in order to recognise the need for fullscope system reform, rather than introduce minor changes. We have achieved a lot since 1989, and we have every right to be proud of that. The academic community, facing substantial challenges in these difficult times, has successfully passed this major exam and contributed to the development of our country. However, the world does not stand still. Quite the contrary, it has undergone profound changes over the last 30 years. The potential of the current development model has been exhausted, and we need to reasonably and sensibly search for new solutions. This has given rise to the idea of “a new Poland,” reshaped and reformed through a concerted effort. The impulse to introduce reform came from the academic community itself.

Through a competition procedure, three expert teams were appointed. For several months, the Ministry cooperated with experts from the European Commission, and the wording of the Act was developed by a team of seven officials. General De Goulle once said that “Politics is too serious a matter to be left to the politicians.” Paraphrasing his words, I would like to say that

this great reform is too serious a matter to be entrusted exclusively to politicians. The reform of Polish science and universities requires close cooperation between the academic community and politicians, including in particular the Government. It also calls for mutual trust, without which any serious reform is likely to fall through. In addition, the planned reform must be fairly and meticulously discussed by the academic community itself. I have always known that the target is not the only thing that matters, and the road leading to it cannot be made light of. The working method employed for the Act 2.0 is by no means a 'Machiavellian' attempt, but it originates from the conviction that open and honest dialogue is the best way to reform the country. The style and method of working on the Act 2.0 reflects a deep respect for the academic community, as well as its experience, opinions and views. The reform can prove successful and guarantee the stability of regulations only if developed through joint action. We have spent much time on developing the idea and the reform basis, and we are now facing the challenge of refining the joint mechanism and solutions. Several months of work are still needed before the draft Act can be presented for governmental debate, which will be followed by the subsequent long-term

Our Guest efforts to be made jointly with the Sejm [lower chamber of the Polish parliament-ed.] and Senate. We are steadfastly hoping for the academic community's cooperation throughout the entire process.

Before we get down to implementation work, we need to clear the air. In line with the proposals presented, we have adopted a different logic. Considering the proliferation of unclear, inconsistent, overcomplicated and sometimes contradictory regulations, we have decided to put together the three currently binding system Acts, i.e. the Act on higher education, the Act on scientific degrees and titles, and the Act on financing science, together with the Act on student loans, as a result of which the number of provisions is likely to be halved. In addition, around 80 regulations have been introduced under the said four Acts, the number of which is also planned to be reduced by half.

A NEW MANAGEMENT MODEL AND A NEW SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION ESTABLISHMENTS The Act assumes a broad enhancement of the freedom of higher education institutions. They need to be autonomous, but not detached from their environment. By enjoying autonomy, universities will be able to flexibly respond to changes and expand their mission, structure and activities, in line with their actual needs.

The academic world is internally diversified, and this diversity is worth demonstrating. The Act will bolster the role of University Statutes, which also implies more responsibility for developing solutions appropriate for individual academic communities. Universities will be obliged to develop their Statutes within one year following the Act's coming into force, i.e.

by October 2019. So far, the subjectivisation of individual faculties has hardly fostered efficient management. Actually, universities have become federations of faculties with an array of frequently competing interests. Instead of the desirable synergies, we have witnessed a wasting of interdisciplinary scientific potential. The draft Act therefore assumes that the university will become the central focus in the higher education system. Universities, rather than their individual organisational units, will be vested with accreditations to offer courses and confer scientific titles. The Council will become a new university body, its members being elected by the academic community. Universities are also intended to become more open towards the economic environment.

Universities need to be co-funded, and the recognition of this fact should give rise to university financing reform. Our aim is to combine the budgetary resources allocated to higher education with those intended for science. To date, universities have been allowed to obtain

funds from as many as several dozen sources, while the Act will enable less than ten sources. Rather than reducing the financial resources available to universities, the idea is to foster an efficient and more flexible flow of resources within universities. The reform must be introduced along with increasing the funds for science. In the next year's budget, a sum PLN 1 billion higher as compared to the current year, is planned to be allocated to science. No further development of our country should be expected without strengthening universities and research activities. Polish universities and science are worth investing in. This additional billion is certainly promising, but it is merely the start.

STRENGTHENING THE ROLE OF THE POLISH ACCREDITATION COMMITTEE We are about to end the link between the formal conditions of conducting studies and their quality assessment criteria, and we are willing to introduce a new model of quality control. This will entail a comprehensive assessment, which will make it possible to verify which universities are capable of taking due care of the quality of education. This change will, on the one hand, contribute to increasing the autonomy of Polish universities, and, on the other hand, is likely to reduce the bureaucracy existing in the quality control systems. This comprehensive assessment will actually contribute to a better quality of education. Following in the footsteps of other countries, we are taking a serious approach to the need to deeply reflect on this comprehensive assessment. Nonetheless, we are planning to prepare the assessment and develop its criteria based on international standards within two years. The Accreditation Committee, playing such an important role in the Polish education system, must be carefully appointed.

A NEW MODEL OF DOCTORAL EDUCATION The new model will be based on two methods: education at doctoral studies and extended education. The former constitutes the most popular model of doctoral education, which fosters high quality, an interdisciplinary character, and advanced training in general competences. The scientists' role is not limited to working for universities and institutions, but also includes activities in all fields. Doctoral schools can be established for two disciplines, jointly by higher education institutions, Institutes of the Polish Academy of Sciences and research institutes. Our objective is to strengthen cooperation by introducing a general scholarship system, with the minimum scholarship amounting to 110% of minimum wage for the first two years, and, following a mid-term assessment, increasing the scholarship amount to

a minimum of 170%. Furthermore, we are improving the quality of doctoral studies, without which the Polish economy could not develop at the rate determined by its potential.

OFFERING DIFFERENT WAYS OF OBTAINING A DEGREE OF HABILITATED DOCTOR (POST-DOCTORAL DEGREE), AND HABILITATION CHANGES IN THE SYSTEM A general consensus is most needed. Habilitation will play a different role and serve as a licence to promote doctors [PhD, DSc]. The right to confer the degree of habilitated doctor will be retained by higher education institutions and scientific institutes which will obtain at least category A in their respective fields of activity.

However, it appears of essence to provide doctors with all the attributes of independent scientific workers, in addition to the right of promoting future doctors. The traditional way of obtaining habilitation will be preserved, but the related criteria and requirements should be made more stringent.

THE TEACHING PATH Through the statutory solutions envisaged, we wish to gradually restore the prestige of teaching. The current system solutions make teaching achievements definitely much less appreciated than scientific achievements. Considering that the quality of teaching determines the level of graduates, we seek to provide grants for exceptional teaching work.

These are the key guidelines for the Constitution for Science. Our intent is for the Act to come into force on 1 October 2018. In order for the reform to be successful, it needs to be implemented in a prudent way. The reform is most needed, given that Poland is rated 24th worldwide in terms of the GDP, while in the field of public and private expenditures on development we occupy the 36th position. In terms of scientific productivity, we are rated 19th, but in the Shanghai ranking [the prestigious Academic Ranking of World Universities, ARWU] Polish universities occupy the 35th position.

While these data expose both our strengths and weaknesses, they seem to mainly testify to wasted opportunities. We need to support the huge potential of Polish scientists and to restore the value of the degrees issued by Polish universities. We must not only stop the outflow of talented people, but also attract exceptional figures from all over the world. Without a sound reform of science and higher education, the whole of Poland will cease to develop, and find itself in a mediocrity trap. The Government's great ambition is to escape from this trap, which will be fostered by the gradual development of Polish universities and research insti• tutes.

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9

Economy

THE FINANCIAL SYSTEM IN POLAND IS STABLE PROF. ADAM GLAPIŃSKI, President of the National Bank of Poland (NBP)

I

n his report on NBP operations in 2016, presented in the parliament on 19 July 2017, Adam Glapiński said: "An assessment of the reasons behind the global economic crisis has led to a partial review of the approach to the correct way of managing our monetary policy. Now it is believed that keeping inflation low is crucial, yet insufficient, for ensuring a balanced economy. Indeed, macroeconomic stability requires monetary policy to be managed in a way which seeks to stabilise inflation at a certain level in the medium term, while also reducing the risk of growing economic instability, especially within the financial system. However, such a monetary policy management strategy requires a flexible approach to the inflation target. A flexible approach to the inflation target is necessary, especially when the global economy is affected by disturbances which exert a powerful impact on domestic pricing.

In 2016, such disturbances first included

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a fall, and then a rise, in global oil prices.

As a result of these fluctuations, global prices first dropped to very low, and in some countries even to negative, levels, and then surged back up. In addition, in 2016, the global GDP growth rate was the lowest since the latest global financial crisis, and in the developing countries, the slowest in the last 20 years, which reduced the global demand pressure. Still, the immediate environment of the Polish economy, that is the Eurozone, experienced a moderate upward trend, facilitated by the expansive policy of the European Central Bank. The economic situation in the USA, on the other hand, improved enough by the end of the year for the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates. This stricter monetary policy in the USA contributed to the increased profitability of treasury bills worldwide, drained capital from emerging markets, and devalued their currencies, including the Polish zloty. In Poland, the business climate was favourable.

Real GDP increased by 2.7%, and, despite some reduction in relation to 2015, remained at a growth level corresponding to that of the potential output. The major growth factor was the increasing consumer demand, fostered by an accelerated increase in household disposable incomes, associated with the continued boom on the labour market and an increase in child-support benefits. The boom on the labour market contributed to a systematic increase in employment and a reduced unemployment rate, which fell to the lowest level since 1991, and in December was only 8.3%. Now, the unemployment rate is continuing to fall, and is estimated at 7.2%.

Moreover, the increase in lending in 2016 and in early 2017 was steady, and accompanied by a boom on the real-estate market. The reduction in the GDP growth rate in 2016 was mainly due to a decline in investments associated with the end of the 2007-2013 EU financial period, and the delayed deployment of funds under the 2014-2020 EU financial

Economy

plan. A favourable business climate among Poland’s main trading partners, coupled with the improved competitive power of Polish products, encouraged Polish exports, which contributed to an increased international trade surplus. As a result, the current account deficit shrank to the lowest level since 1995, and the total balances on the current and capital accounts remained positive. This steady economic growth was accompanied by low, yet accelerating, price growth. In December 2016, it was 0.8% year on year, compared to -0.9% year on year in January 2016. The negative price growth, recorded for the greater part of the year, was mainly due to a sharp fall in fuel prices worldwide in late 2015 and early 2016.

The lower fuel prices had a favourable impact on the economic situation of both households and businesses, as a result of which deflation did not adversely affect the business climate in Poland. The continued negative price growth did not cause households to postpone their consumer expenditures, and businesses reported no significant impact on their sales, financial standing, or employment.

In view of these circumstances, in 2016 the Monetary Policy Council introduced no changes to NBP interest rates, and maintained the reference interest rate at 1.5%. In its decisions concerning interest rates, the Council took advantage of the flexibility of the inflation target strategy, which means that, on the one hand, it considered the external and temporary nature of factors restricting price growth, and, on the other hand, took into account the steady rate of economic growth, the systematic upturn on the labour market, and the steady increase in lending. The unchanged level of interest rates contributed to price stability, macroeconomic balance and financial sector stability. In addition, this historically low level of NBP interest rates supported the economy, which had been weakened during the previous year by the reduced investment levels associated with a temporary reduction in EU financing.

This year, price growth has approximated to the NBP target, and economic growth has accelerated, after a temporary slowdown in 2016. Moreover, employment is continuing to grow and lending is still growing at a steady pace”.

Low interest rates impinge on interest rates on loans, credits and deposits. While low interest rates might result in a decline in deposit popularity, the opposite is true for loans and credits, and especially consumer loans and credits. In a way, this is at the expense of the banks, although the cost of low interest rates is, to some extent, borne by the client.

In his report, President Glapiński added: “The banking sector was doing well (in 2016 - editorial note). The sector as a whole granted loans at levels similar to the nominal GDP growth, which supported economic growth, but did not produce any imbalance which would put financial stability at risk. At the same time, the banking sector held capital equipment commensurate with its operations. The total equity ratio at the end of 2016 was 17.2%, compared to the minimum

level, or Pillar I, which is 8%. The banks also satisfied the additional equity requirements in excess of the Pillar requirements and the buffers imposed by the Polish Financial Supervision Authority (KNF).

In 2016, the banking sector generated PLN 13.9 billion in revenue, which was 8.4% more than in 2015. This increase was possible largely due to one-off income in the form of proceeds from the sale of shares in an organisation dealing with payment cards (Visa Europe). It helped to mitigate the impact of the tax on certain financial institutions, as introduced in February 2016. In total, the tax paid by banks amounted to approx. PLN 3.2 billion”.

In early September, following its meeting, the Monetary Policy Council issued an announcement which everyone, and borrowers in particular, had waited for – interest rates would not go up.

The Council decided to keep the NBP interest rates unchanged.

• reference rate at 1.50%; • lombard rate at 2.50%; • deposit rate at 0.50%; • rediscount rate on bills of exchange at 1.75%.

Business prospects seem to be improving worldwide.

In the Eurozone, the GDP growth rate increased in Q2, and recent data have shown that a favourable climate is prevailing there. Q2 also saw an accelerated economic growth in the USA, where, based on the monthly indicators, the good business prospects are expected to continue. In China, on the other hand, the GDP growth rate stabilised in Q2. Despite the boom in global business conditions, international inflation has remained at a moderate level. This is due in part to the continued low inflation pressures in many countries, coupled with the relatively steady prices of raw materials on the global markets. The European Central Bank has been maintaining interest levels close to zero, and the deposit rate below zero, and buying up financial assets. The US Federal Reserve is continuously making its monetary policy stricter. In Poland, recent data has shown a steady growth in business activity. The GDP growth rate in Q2 was similar to that recorded in Q1. The main growth factor continues to be the growing consumer demand, supported by increases in employment and salaries and benefit payments, and growing consumer confidence.

The Council expects inflation to remain at a moderate level in the upcoming quarters. This will be supported by a gradual increase in the internal inflation pressure associated with improved domestic business prospects, the reduced import price growth resulting from the expected stabilisation of fuel prices, and low inflation pressures abroad. As a result, the risk of the inflation target’s being permanently exceeded in the medium term is limited.

Therefore, the Council stands by its assessment that, in the light of the available data and forecasts, the current levels of interest rates are supporting the Polish economy on its path to sustainable growth, and facilitating macroeconomic balance.

•

A FAVOURABLE BUSINESS CLIMATE AMONG POLAND’S MAIN TRADING PARTNERS, COUPLED WITH THE IMPROVED COMPETITIVE POWER OF POLISH PRODUCTS, ENCOURAGED POLISH EXPORTS, WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO AN INCREASED INTERNATIONAL TRADE SURPLUS.

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Economy

BUSINESS MEANS CO-OPERATION KAZIMIERZ SMOLIŃSKI, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Infrastructure and Construction

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elf-regulatory organisations of entrepreneurs and business organisations which facilitate co-operation and the building of common values are fairly new to Poland. So is the Polish Association of Building Managers (PABM), which is just 25 years old. Over this relatively short period of time inspiration has been sought in the best traditions of Polish science and business activities.

The best Polish companies and brands have always been built through honest and hard work. Polish entrepreneurs and business organisations also draw on these traditions.

The construction sector is now developing at a rapid pace. New technologies and innovative solutions are being introduced. The Polish government offers good investment conditions. The budget of the roadbuilding programme has been increased. The authorities also make sure that the railway construction programme is implemented according to a new schedule. For the first time a National Housing Construction Programme has been introduced, which will make it easier for entrepreneurs to take part in the implementation of state policies in this respect. Entrepreneurs have been invited to build housing on land owned by the Treasury, and made available by the National Land Reserve.

Prospects for housing construction are the best in years.

According to housing construction data until August 2017, published by the Central Statistical Office, in the January August period 108.9 thousand housing units were commissioned – 2.8 per 1000 Polish residents, the highest number since the corresponding period of 2003.

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I HOPE THAT ALL PABM MEMBERS AND THOSE WORKING WITH THE ORGANISATION TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OPPORTUNITIES OFFERED BY THE RAPID DEVELOPMENT OF THE POLISH ECONOMY. The Polish Association of Building Managers is an organisation which facilitates co-operation between companies, with a beneficial result for business activities. The cabinet of Prime Minister Beata Szydło focuses on the development of the Polish economy, Polish companies and the Polish construction sector. I hope that all PABM members and those working with the organisation take advantage of opportunities offered by the rapid development of the Polish economy. We can now achieve a lot of things that have so far been deemed impossible.

•

Economy

ON THE FUTURE OF EUROPE DURING THE 27TH ECONOMIC FORUM A record-breaking number of registered participants and accredited journalists, over 200 thematic debates and special events, the presence of Heads of States, top representatives of governments and parliaments, presidents of major companies, members of local and regional governments, experts, academics and researchers. The 27th Economic Forum was held in Krynica-Zdrój from 5 to 7 September 2017.

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Beata Szydło, Prime Minister of Poland, was chosen as the “Person of the Year”

uring the Forum, almost 4,000 guests discussed the latest issues regarding the world economy and political and social affairs. The media coverage of this year’s Forum was provided by nearly 650 media representatives from several dozen countries around the world.

The leitmotif of this year’s edition of Central and Eastern Europe’s largest international conference was “Project Europe – In Search for a Recipe for the Coming Decades”.

The guests of the kick-off plenary session of the forum entitled “Unfinished integration and the aspirations of European countries” were seeking solutions to these issues. The Presidents of Poland, Macedonia and Georgia concluded that European integration had to be maintained, but without being divided into multi-speed Europe, as the fathers of the 10/2017 polish market

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Economy European community saw the EU as a union of equal States. “We, the Poles, are the citizens of a State which for years had aspired to become a member of the European Union. Our attempts were successful and the vast majority of Poles consider our membership in the EU as being of great value,” stated President of Poland Andrzej Duda. President of Macedonia Gjorge Ivanov thanked the Visegrad Group for assistance during the refugee crisis. "We appeal to the European countries, not only the EU Member States, to stick together and cooperate in facing up to the challenges of the 21st Century,” continued Ivanov. “EU’s success is its model of the State’s management, fundamental rights, economic freedom and security,” stressed President of Georgia Giorgi Margvelashvili. He claimed that maintaining the European perspective for the countries neighbouring the EU was the key to the Union’s continued success, and its primary challenge. “The European Union should remain open to new Members,” summarised Andrzej Duda.

As in the previous years, important economic declarations were made during the 27th Krynica Economic Forum. Prime Minister Beata Szydło declared that in the nearest future, her Government would propose the appointment of a council of advisers to the Government which would consist of entrepreneurs. In turn, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Development and Finance Mateusz Morawiecki announced the plans of his Ministry to make the whole of Poland a special economic zone. President of the Polish Investment and Trade Agency (PAIH) Tomasz Pisula said that by the end of the year, PAIH intended to open 20 trade offices abroad.

Minister of Energy Krzysztof Tchórzewski announced in Krynica that the first block of the nuclear power plant in Poland would be commissioned at the turn of 2030. “In 2022, Poland’s gas supplies will come from other sources than currently is the case,” Government’s representative for strategic energy infrastructure Piotr Naimski said in Krynica. The Minister added that in 2022, thanks to the LNG terminal and the Baltic Pipe gas pipeline, we would be able to import around 16-18 billion cubic metres of gas a year, which would meet the whole of Poland’s demand.

Piotr Woźniak, President of PGNiG, added that then Poland would be able to completely stop buying gas from Russia. “The development of the gas hub in Świnoujście might be completed by 2021, and the regasification capabilities of the terminal are to increase by 50%,” stated the President of Gaz-System Tomasz Stępień. During the 27th Economic Forum an agreement was signed under which the European Investment Bank would lend

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From left: Gjorge Ivanov, President of Macedonia, Andrzej Duda, President of Poland and Giorgi Margvelashvil, President of Georgia.

Poland almost a billion euro for strategic energy and research projects.

The first day of the 27th Krynica Economic Forum traditionally closed with the Official Award Presentation Gala. Prime Minister Beata Szydło was chosen as the “Person of the Year”. The Programme Council of the Economic Forum presented the award of the “Company of the Year” to Alior Bank SA. The award was collected by Michał Jan Chyczewski, acting President of the Management Board. A special award of the 27th Economic Forum in Krynica went to President of Georgia Giorgi Margvelashvili, while the “New Culture of the New Europe” award went to Svetlana Alexievich, an outstanding Belarussian writer and journalist.

An important integral part of the 27th Krynica Economic Forum was the International Conference on “The Europe of the Carpathians”, initiated by Speaker of the Sejm of the Republic of Poland Marek Kuchciński.

This event serves as a forum for discussion and setting the directions for collaboration among the Carpathian countries, and for talks about the future of the European Union, security on the border of the EU and NATO, and about the development of regions. “We must strengthen the importance of our region within European policy and reinforce the sovereignty of our countries,” said Speaker of the Sejm during the conference.

Krynica also hosted the Forum of the Regions, during which representatives of local and regional governments spoke about the importance of local government, as well as the changes they were facing. “The most important task for us is to strengthen and guarantee the autonomy of local government at all levels,” emphasised Jacek Krupa, Marshal of the Małopolskie province, during the Forum.

“This is about independence from governmental administration, regardless of its political affiliations. The maintaining of a strong

legal and social position by local authorities is a guarantee of Poland's further development.”

Another major event was the Healthcare Forum, which for more than 7 years now has provided an opportunity to share experience and present new ideas related to healthcare management. The event also showed how important healthcare was in the public debate. “Investing in innovations in medicine is an opportunity, not only for Polish patients, but also for scientists, who, thanks to the development of, among others, the Early-Stage Research Department, dedicated to oncology, are able to carry out early-stage clinical trials in our country,” said Wiktor Janicki, CEO of Roche Polska.

In 2017, for the second time, the Polonia Forum took place in Krynica, organised by the Senate of the Republic of Poland and the Economic Forum. The aim of Polonia Forum is to engage Poles living far away from their homeland in important events in this country.

The event also serves as an opportunity to debate the issues relevant to Polish communities and Poles living abroad. “We strive to build the future of Poland, taking into account the interests of Polish communities abroad,” said Speaker of the Senate Stanisław Karczewski during the Polonia Forum. He added that Polish communities abroad had a huge potential for Poland which could not be wasted.

During the 27th Economic Forum, the “Economical Local Government 2017” awards were presented. It was the first edition of a ranking prepared by experts from the Nicolaus Copernicus Economic Centre and the Institute for Eastern Studies. In addition, a report was published during the Forum in Krynica entitled “The Healthcare Sector in Poland in 2016”.

The organiser of the Economic Forum in Krynica-Zdrój is the Foundation Institute for Eastern Studies, and its main partner is the • Małopolskie Province.

Economy

THE POLISH DIASPORA AS CO-CREATOR OF BRAND POLAND

From Left: Maciej Woźniak, Deputy President of PGNiG , Radosław Domagalski-Łabędzki, President

of KGHM Polska Miedź, Stanisław Karczewski, Senate Speaker, Mirosław Kochalski, Vice-President of PKN Orlen, Konrad Szymański, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and Jacek Karnowski.

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ccording to Senate Speaker Stanisław Karczewski, who opened one of the debates during the recent Economic Forum in Krynica Zdrój, the Polish diaspora seeks contacts with Poland, and the Polish authorities intend to establish contacts with Poles living abroad. “This appears very promising,” said the Speaker, adding: “Unfortunately, the financial resources for supporting the Polish diaspora pose a significant barrier, because they are simply too scarce. Last year we allocated PLN 85,000,000 from our budget for this purpose, while the amount applied for by the Polish diaspora reached PLN 270,000,000.

This forced us to turn down a large number of applications.”

Mr Karczewski further claimed that concluding the issue of the repatriation of Poles living in Kazakhstan and Russia had continued to pose a major challenge for the Polish Government. “We should facilitate and accelerate the repatriation process,” he said.

“However, this mainly concerns the eldest generation of our deportees' descendants. In addition, the younger and middle-aged generations of the Polish diaspora should be better organised and more engaged in the political life of their countries of residence. To date,

Poles living abroad have been represented in the Romanian and Hungarian Parliaments, to name a few, but having a Polish Senator in the U.S. Congress would also seem beneficial,” he added.

As claimed by other debate attendees, the Polish diaspora could play various roles, including those of international staff in branch offices of Polish enterprises, and entrepreneurs cooperating with Polish companies.

In recognition of their role in the cocreation of Brand Poland, the idea has been brought forward to distinguish representatives of the Polish diaspora institutionally. According to Stanisław Karczewski, the relevant Act of law could include a provision regarding their permanent presence in the Polish Senate. “I am going to discuss this matter with the President,” said Mr Karczewski.

In the opinion of Konrad Szymański, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, the potential of the Polish diaspora is underestimated, which calls for strengthening its relationship with Poland. This objective could be achieved through the projected and implemented changes regarding the location of Polish diplomatic and consular posts. Moreover, with a view to successfully promoting our country, we should make better use of the Polish brands of mass consumer products. “Unfortunately,

we are still lacking in such brands, especially in the agri-food sector,” complained the Deputy Minister.

The issue of creating Brand Poland abroad, in cooperation with the local diaspora, was also discussed by the executives of the following Polish corporate groups: KGHM Polska Miedź, PKN Orlen, and Polskie Górnictwo Naftowe i Gazownictwo (Polish Oil and Gas Company, abbreviated as PGNiG).

As stressed by Radosław DomagalskiŁabędzki, President of KGHM Polska Miedź, his company, which is currently conducting business in such countries as Chile, China, the USA and Canada, benefits from the presence of the Polish diaspora by minimising the culture-related risks connected with employing the local workforce. “We are cooperating with Poles living abroad, including mainly in Chile and Canada, especially as regards the CSR resources. Our offices operating abroad organise meetings with local businesses, including those run by representatives of the Polish diaspora.

This brings us added value,” added Radosław Domagalski-Łabędzki.

Maciej Woźniak, Deputy President of PGNiG, stressed: “We conduct our business worldwide, including in such regions as Pakistan, Iran and Scandinavia, and we have had our major successes in Norway. Having operated in that country for over 10 years, we are recognised and treated as equal to the largest global groups.

Also, in Pakistan and Iran PGNiG is viewed as a good-quality Polish brand.” According to Maciej Woźniak, the integration of PGNiG staff with the international teams working in the United Kingdom or Germany would hardly be possible without the Polish diaspora's support.

Mirosław Kochalski, President of PKN Orlen, said that the Polish diaspora could work for the good reputation of our country by purchasing products or services of Polish origin, as is the case with over 570 Orlen petrol stations operating in Germany under the Star brand. “We seek to establish synergy in the professional competencies displayed by Poles living abroad, whom we often employ in our branch offices, with the successes they achieve,” added Mr Kochalski.

“The Polish diaspora constitutes a huge potential which Poland should exploit for the benefit of both the diaspora and the country itself,” concluded Mr Karczewski.

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Economy

MICHAŁ CHYCZEWSKI, Vice-President and acting President of Alior Bank, talks to Marcin Haber about the Company of the Year title for Alior Bank, and its strategy, openness to innovation and development ideas.

DIGITAL DISRUPTOR BECOMES A COMPANY OF THE YEAR 16 polish market

Economy

Let’s begin with the latest successes of Alior Bank. During the Economic Forum in Krynica Zdrój you were awarded with the Company of the Year title. It is a very prestigious distinction. But it also exposes the bank to more intense attention from the competition.

For sure, this award honours what the bank has achieved since it began its operations, that is since 2008, including a recent successful merger with a BPH Bank spin-off. As a result of this deal, our balance-sheet total has exceeded PLN60 billion, we are the sixth largest bank on the Polish market in terms of the number of clients and the ninth largest in terms of assets. This represents a remarkable growth considering that the bank has been present on the market for less than 10 years and began its activity as a startup. Over this period Alior Bank has become the undisputed leader in some segments of banking services in terms of the pace of portfolio growth and the quality of services provided. One of the segments is financing small and medium-sized businesses. Importantly, since its inception the bank has set market trends instead of following them.

The Company of the Year title is an obligation for the new Management Board to raise Alior Bank to another level.

PM

You have mentioned your leading position in the segment of solutions for small and medium-sized businesses. Why has the bank taken an interest in this segment?

It is not associated with big money.

Small and medium-sized businesses will be a driving force behind the Polish economy. It is a very attractive market segment and it now offers potential for the highest profitability. The bank’s strategy calls for achieving a return on equity of 14%. This is why we are focusing on the most profitable market segments. This concerns clients, products and sales channels. It is also very important for us that the segment of small and medium-sized businesses has a huge digitization potential. And Alior Bank, with its technological advantage, can effectively automate lending processes and develop virtual channels for building relations with clients. For example, we already have the fastest lending process on the market: it takes no more than 30 minutes in the segment of loans worth up to PLN500,000. Small and medium-sized businesses mean a lower risk weight and de minimis guarantees offered by Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego (BGK), guarantees in whose distribution our bank already ranks second in Poland. Additionally, our strategy is to become even better at what we already are very good. And one of such areas is the segment of small and medium-sized businesses.

PM

You have mentioned the automation of banking processes. Today, even retail clients have access to highly automated processes, online accounts and mobile apps.

Where is the limit of innovation?

It is very difficult to delineate because innovations, by definition, mean going beyond the limit. With the available technologies and models based on Big Data analytics we are still able to go really far. In the retail segment, we have implemented behavioural segmentation. We no longer look at clients in terms of their income, but in terms of PM

AS PART OF OUR DIGITAL DISRUPTOR STRATEGY, WE HAVE DESIGNED AN INNOVATION ECOSYSTEM – UNIQUE IN POLAND AND ONE OF THE BEST IN EUROPE. WE WILL SOON START IMPLEMENTING IT ON THE BASIS OF A VERY STRONG INNOVATION MANAGEMENT PROCESS WITH A STRONG CROWDSOURCING COMPONENT.

their behaviour and preferences on financial markets.

Thanks to modern marketing techniques, we are able to find clients in the virtual world and present them solutions meeting their specific needs. This is the direction in which banking is moving. The automated banking models which are at the same time personalized on the basis of not only internal but to a growing extent also external data which may be linked with a client will be increasingly popular. A contact with a banker will be more of a contact with an adviser rather than a seller, meaning a very intuitive, simple and personalized sales service through a mobile channel and the Internet plus a contact with a person responsible for providing assistance and problem solving.

It is already visible in our latest commercials: the bowler-hatted man becomes an adviser helping clients while the mobile channels become the main place for banking.

This is what our vision for the bank is based on and we will be pursuing it as part of our Digital Disruptor strategy. It means switching to a new way of thinking about banking, something which can be afforded first of all by the banks which have successes in the area of innovation and technology. And here Alior Bank has a very strong position in Poland. And within three years we want to have one of the strongest positions in Europe.

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Economy

So it means departing from the traditional model of packaging of services, doesn’t it?

We want to create personalized and modular offerings and give clients an opportunity to configure services meeting their needs. A good example is the Konto Jakże Osobiste account, which we have offered just recently. The clients themselves configure its features virtually in real time. The future bank will be an automated and robotized institution. At the same time, it will be customer-friendly and will be taking care of the clients’ individual needs, with an easy contact with a banker – adviser. Banks operating in this way will be oriented at providing individualized offerings and the speed of their delivery. And this requires processes of really high quality with the use of advanced analytical methods and an appropriate technology.

PM

How would you define the Digital Disruptor you have mentioned? Is it you or your clients?

It is both us and our clients, who increasingly use digital services. At Alior Bank, there is a group of managers, more than 700 people, working every day on development projects and setting trends. Now, we want to be an even more innovative institution, releasing the energy of our whole team. We want to inspire our employees and develop their ideas. As part of our Digital Disruptor strategy, we have designed an innovation ecosystem – unique in Poland and one of the best in Europe. We will soon start implementing it on the basis of a very strong innovation management process with a strong crowdsourcing component. All our workers are involved in the process. We plan to open more to external innovations by looking for them in the global fintech sector. We have a team of over 700 IT specialists. And now we have developed our own methodology for managing these resources. It is based on the world’s best practices using the way of work organization, involving the business and IT side, and based on what is called tribes. The methodology is called Agilor. The name is a reference to Alior and the agile model. Thanks to the new methodology, we will be able to respond to the changing environment even faster and enhance our competitiveness. It is extremely important because our strategy operationalization plan for coming years envisages around 50 strategic initiatives closely connected with technological development.

WE WANT TO CREATE PERSONALIZED AND MODULAR OFFERINGS AND GIVE CLIENTS AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONFIGURE SERVICES MEETING THEIR NEEDS.

PM

Setting up incubators for start-ups has been quite popular in recent years. Is it because of the need to find solutions by firms with a fresh look at challenges of the banking sector?

Popularity does not always go hand in hand with efficiency. An incubator, or iLab, is not enough. Of key importance is the process of innovation management in a firm and its innovation strategy resulting directly from the firm’s business strategy. For the past three or four years innovations in financial services have been developed mainly in the fintech sector. Modern financial institutions have to be open to this sector. We look at it in a very pragmatic way. We have defined our strategy, designed an PM

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innovation ecosystem and innovation management process and, which is very important, we have also defined a list of around 15 problems, with which we will deal for a start. We will be setting our employees to seek solutions and will actively approach the fintech market. On the basis of open-API solutions and our accelerator, we will be working with the companies which, in our view, have good ideas or offer ready-to-use solutions which may be an answer to the problems we have defined. We want to be an open and increasingly democratic institution. Our tribes will be involved in managing the innovation funnel.

They will be taking decisions as to the implementation of specific projects, which means we will delegate decisiontaking and budget management to the people who are real specialist in their domains to make them even more committed to the process of changing the bank. This process is also an opportunity for innovators because we will introduce career paths based on innovation. For example, if an Alior Bank employee comes up with a scalable solution and will want to become an entrepreneur the bank, by means of its accelerator, will invest its capital in the development of the business set up by the employee. However, it is not the only path. Some ideas can only be developed internally and their originators will be able to work on them in an innovation laboratory and then base their career on the implementation of the ideas. By adjusting the wage system we will be creating in this way internal entrepreneurs. We believe in our employees and want to open new opportunities for them. We also base our success on cooperation with mature fintech companies. For this purpose we have appointed a team to deal with global scouting. If we want to set trends on the Polish market we have to suck innovation in from across the world. Ultimately, by 2020 we want to pick around 20 fintech firms, with which to establish partnership. We have the best starting point to become a truly innovative institution in Poland in systemic terms. I hope that Alior Bank will become a Google of the banking sector.

•

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Economy

PGE OPEN FOR

INNOVATIONS

PAWEŁ ŚLIWA, Deputy President of the PGE Group, talks to Ewelina Janczylik-Foryś about innovations, start-ups and the Group's contribution to the progressing revolution.

You attended the “Innovation ‒ a key to the competitive advantage of energy corporations” panel discussion during the recent Economic Forum in Krynica. Is it true that none of the Polish companies can be competitive without giving their attention to innovations?

It is very hard to provide definitive answers to questions containing such expressions as “always,” “none” and “every,” as you can usually come across certain exceptions.

My statement in Krynica referred to the prevailing trends, the rapidly-evolving business environment, digitisation, changes to the social behaviour patterns, and the transition from “the culture of having” to “the culture of using.”

According to PGE, companies like ours can promote such changes through innovations, and they can emulate or buy innovative solutions developed by other entities, and then introduce them to their own business models. The choice PM

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of strategies, that is a number of specific decisions which are consistent with one another, depends on the company's abilities and resources, and ‒ most of all ‒ on the determination of its managers and owners. As clients continually expect to be offered better products, companies not seeking innovations and failing to introduce novel solutions are likely to go bankrupt sooner or later, or at least become niche suppliers of products or services.

During the panel discussion, you said that your company was mining for innovations in the fields of extraction, generation, distribution and sales. What specific innovations did you have in mind?

The extraction of fuels, and the generation, distribution and sales of electricity constitute the principal areas of our activity. This is where we make money. We perceive PM

Economy innovations as an opportunity to facilitate these processes, to reduce costs, and, last but not least, to market new products. How do we do that? For instance, by implementing innovative solutions developed by our staff with the aim of improving ongoing activities. We also take an “open innovation” approach, being willing to accept external innovative solutions. Practically speaking, virtually anyone can present his/her innovative idea by filling in an on-line form available on our website. Such an idea is then checked in terms of the actual needs of the Group members. If considered interesting, we contact the person who has proposed the idea and continue comprehensive analyses.

Has PGE followed in the footsteps of other large companies by developing the activities of specialised companies in cooperation with start-ups?

PGE has two special-purpose vehicles. The task of PGE Nowa Energia is to cooperate with start-ups at the early stages of their activity, and to foster their acceleration, while PGE Ventures is an investment fund dealing with advanced projects.

PM

Innovations are hardly possible without money. How much is PGE going to spend on new technologies?

Our objective is to support innovations with a yearly sum of PLN 50,000,000 from our own budget. An additional amount of PLN 50,000,000 per year will come from external sources. By 2021 this will amount to PLN 400,000,000 to be spent on innovations, start-ups, and research and development.

PM

Michał Kurtyka, Deputy Minister of Energy, said during the Forum that innovations in energy companies were, to a certain extent, forced by the clients themselves, who were becoming increasingly aware of their needs. Is this really so? Or would you rather say that your clients are still primarily keen on energy prices’ being as low as possible?

Among non-professional clients, using the most common tariff G, there is a visible trend indicating the need to provide clients not only with energy, but also with other products. The number of clients benefitting from additional services is on the rise, and so is the portfolio of our products and services. All clients have certain expectations and free choice, whereas we, as the supplier and seller, need to meet those expectations. Ideally, we should foresee them.

PM

Are start-ups the only sources of new technologies?

By no means. New technologies are not synonymous with start-ups, as a large number of novel solutions are developed by well-established technological companies which have satisfactory capital, workforce and infrastructure. Start-ups, in turn, can be compared to guerrilla fighters who might be poorly armed, and yet are very mobile and extremely determined. Nonetheless, wars are usually won by regular armies. This also holds true for business, as only well-developed corporations are suited to revolutionise existing business models, also with solutions devised in the backroom.

PM

PM

How does your company select the start-ups with which it intends to cooperate? What is the basic selection criterion?

A MAJOR POSITIVE IMPACT ON THE GROWING POPULARITY OF ELECTRIC CARS IS ALSO BEING EXERTED

BY THE NOTICEABLE TREND OF SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION FROM “THE CULTURE OF HAVING” INTO “THE CULTURE OF USING AND SHARING.”

PGE gathers inspiring ideas through the company's website, a network of contractors, and cooperation with universities. Innovative projects are always assessed by specialised staffs in our companies, supported by industrial and scientific experts. At the same time, we analyse the business potential of the individual solutions proposed. Once the evaluation is completed with a favourable outcome, we make a decision on the actual mode of engaging in the project.

Electric Mobility is a topical issue. What are the major barriers to its development?

The price of electric vehicles is still the most significant barrier, which prompts the offering of certain financial incentives. Secondly, their limited range makes electric vehicles unattractive to people travelling on both short and long journeys. Finally, the protracted battery-charging process, and the limited access to infrastructure, also inhibit the development of electric mobility, not only in Poland, but also worldwide.

PM

So, how can you persuade the average Pole to purchase an electric car?

Time is certainly working for us. Electric car prices are strongly dependent on battery prices. Luckily, it is projected that around 2022, due to advanced electric cell production technologies, the prices of electric cars will come close to those of fuel-engined vehicles. Regulatory support appears equally important. In Poland, the Ministry of Energy is currently working on the Electric Mobility Act, which is certainly very good news. A system of subsidies, discounts and organised convenience is reasonably expected to accelerate “breaking through” the profitability threshold, and to increase the attractiveness of electric vehicles.

A major positive impact on the growing popularity of electric cars is also being exerted by the noticeable trend of social transformation from “the culture of having” into “the culture of using and sharing.” Let me refer you to the electric car sharing service, in which users do not have to buy a car, and only pay for the distance covered, whenever they need to rent it. In such cases, the vehicle price is no longer a critical factor. We are witnessing a true revolution, and PGE very much wants to be part of it, and to contrib• ute to its ultimate outcome.

PM

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Economy

CONCENTRATE PRODUCTION AND SMELTING TECHNOLOGIES IN ONE PLACE Zakłady Górniczo-Hutnicze ”Bolesław”S.A. mining and metallurgical plant in Bukowno is the largest company of the ZGH Bolesław Capital Group, which also includes the Huta Cynku Miasteczko Śląskie Shareholding Company (HCM S.A.) zinc smelting plant and the Gradir Montenegro mine situated in Montenegro. ZGH Bolesław Capital Group is Poland’s only zinc producer. Its current output stands at 161,000 tonnes a year, which accounts for 7% of European zinc production and 1% of world output. ZGH Bolesław Capital Group is the main zinc and zinc alloy supplier for the markets of Poland and the neighbouring Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria and Hungary.

Z

inc production within the Group is based on own concentrates coming from zinc and lead ore mines Olkusz Pomorzany and Gradir Montenegro and own concentrates obtained during the processing of electro arc furnace dusts and other materials, some of which are imported. The Group’s strength lies in the fact that within its own structure it has all available concentrate production and smelting technologies. Plants operating within the Group use floatation and Waelz process technologies to produce concentrate. Roasting Leaching Electrowinning and the Imperial Smelting Process are applied to obtain pure zinc.

Given that zinc and lead ore deposits are shrinking at the last Olkusz Pomorzany zinc mine, in the past few years the ZGH raw material policy has been the prime focus of the company’s strategy. It is based on perfecting smelting technologies that rely on secondaries, while at the same time securing required primary raw material supplies. Parallelly, the production of specialised zinc alloys is being developed for demanding customers in Poland and other European countries.

Consistency in the implementation of those strategic goals has enabled the company to become fairly independent in terms of securing raw materials. It has also allowed it to adhere to world standards of metal recovery in the production process and score the world’s best results in the share of recycled materials in smelting input. ZGH is an excellent example of a metallurgical plant which builds a closed cycle in the zinc industry. This perfectly fits into European Union policies that favour sustainable use of resources in the economy, i.e. using raw materials wisely while increasing the share of recycled materials.

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The following are some examples of the closed cycle approach: • The use of dust, which is the waste product of electric steel melting, in zinc production through electrowinning. The dust, with an over 10% zinc content, is used in the earlier mentioned Waelz process to produce zinc concentrate. Since 2003 it has been applied on an industrial scale as one of the

Economy

CONSISTENCY IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THOSE STRATEGIC GOALS HAS ENABLED THE COMPANY TO BECOME FAIRLY INDEPENDENT IN TERMS OF SECURING RAW MATERIALS.

materials in zinc production. However, in classical methods it is only possible to use 10% of this concentrate without worsening process parameters.

In 2013 ZGH Bolesław S.A. in Bukowno launched a dechlorination and defluorination concentrate refining installation with the use of a trail-blazing technology patented by ZGH Bolesław. This process enables the use of 35% instead of 10% of concentrate in zinc production.

• 2017 saw the launch of a new Post-Flotation Waste Processing Plant where zinc and lead minerals are recovered in the making of graded concentrate. The concentrate is used in zinc and lead production at Huta Cynku Miasteczko Śląskie S.A. The innovative technology applied at the plant was patented by ZGH Bolesław. The plant’s construction was co-financed through a PLN 42 million loan from the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management as part of the Rational Waste Management programme. Research work is underway into the possibility of producing selective zinc concentrate which could be used in the electrowinning process at ZGH Bolesław.

• The construction of an installation for the processing of waste sludge from electrowinning to optimise zinc, lead and silver recovery. The floatation process product, a zinc concentrate with an increased lead and silver content, provides valuable input for Huta Cynku Miasteczko Śląskie where the three metals can be recovered. The company has won a PLN 5 million grant for the implementation of this innovative

process from the National Centre for Research and Development as part of the Innovative Recycling Programme. The investment is scheduled for completion in 2018.

• The construction of a new electrowinning process line, which will be a pilot line with an increased use of recycled input. The success of this project will mark a breakthrough in zinc production technology. It will enable the use of 50% of recycled materials in zinc production through electrowinning. This will make ZGH Bolesław the world leader in this respect. Other metallurgical plants only use about 10% of recycled materials. Estimated investment outlays for the project will amount to over PLN 300 million. A PLN 39 million grant was obtained for the implementation of this innovative undertaking from the National Centre for Research and Development as part of the Demonstrator + Programme „Support for research and development on a demonstration scale.”

As outlined above, ZGH Bolesław has stepped up R&D studies and investment to maximise the recycling of zincbearing materials used in zinc production and the recovery of metals from various waste products. Working in partnership with academic institutions and R&D institutes, as well as securing funding from EU and national programmes, creates favourable conditions for the implementation of innovative undertakings.

The consistent implementation of the company’s strategy and policies is the reason why ZGH ranks very high on the list of the most dynamic, effective and innovative companies in Poland. Proof of this are numerous awards and cer• tificates won by ZGH. 10/2017 polish market

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Economy

TOYOTA – INNOVATION AFTER INNOVATION!

AFTER THE HYBRIDS, THE TIME HAS COME FOR HYDROGEN

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oyota is an automotive brand which focuses on innovation. It is among the first automotive producers to unleash the potential of hybrid cars. For the average Joe, hybrid equals Toyota.

The hybrid models from this make also enjoy great popularity in Poland. By mid-2017 the total sales of Toyota hybrid cars had exceeded 25,000 in Poland, with the final 5,000 having been bought over the last 5 months.

This year Toyota will sell nearly 18,000 new hybrids (under Toyota and Lexus), which will amount to more than 30% of the total sales of this company in Poland. Currently, the most popular hybrid models are the Toyota C-HR Hybrid, the Auris Hybrid and the RAV4 Hybrid. This growing trend can be observed not only in Poland, but also in Europe. As presented in data for the first half of 2017, the sales of hybrids increased by 44% year-on-year, reaching 208,300 units. Hybrids now constitute 40% of the total sales of Toyota Motor Europe, while in Western Europe this proportion has reached 50%.

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While Polish roads mostly see the Auris Hybrid, which had its debut in 2010, one should also mention here the Toyota Prius – a hybrid of 20 years standing. The history of mass-produced hybrid cars began in 1997 with the debut of the Prius. Since then, drivers around the world have bought more than 10 million hybrids by Toyota and Lexus.

When compared with conventionally fuelled cars, this has enabled us to reduce CO2 emissions, by more than 77 million tonnes, and gasoline consumption by 29 billion litres.

Currently, Toyota offers 34 hybrid models in 90 countries.

DOES ELECTRICMOBILITY ALSO INCLUDE HYDROGEN? Recently, the development of electricmobility has become an increasingly popular topic. The Government even wants it to become a Polish brand worldwide. Hearing the announcements of the authorities and wanting to set new trends, during this year’s Economic Forum in Krynica,

Economy Toyota presented a path of development for Polish electricmobility parallel to the one involving cars charged from external electric networks. This path focuses on electric cars powered by hydrogen and automobiles with a hybrid drive. We hope that this event will provide food for thought for the Government. In the Government’s Electric Mobility Development Plan, whose principles were presented in 2016, the decision-makers focus mainly on electric cars. It is, however, worth noting that an electric automobile with a hydrogen energy tank was presented at the event. Hydrocar Premier is a project implemented jointly by Riot Technologies, a spin-off of the AGH University of Science and Technology and the Military University of Technology in Warsaw. The energy needed for the car to move is stored in two types of batteries and in a specially designed hydrogen tank. The construction of a car with a hydrogen drive was carried out to demonstrate the technology. On the other hand, the fact of such a vehicle’s being presented might prove that the Ministry of Economic Development is conducting an analysis of the hydrogen economy. It appears that Michał Kurtyka, Deputy Minister of Energy, has dispelled doubts in this respect.

“A hydrogen-powered car is an electric car. This means that the electricmobility project takes hydrogen into account,” said Michał Kurtyka at the Economic Forum in Krynica. “It is an interesting and promising fuel,” he highlighted. “It is not in opposition to the electric technology,” added Mr Kurtyka. Consequently, the success of this technology will depend to a large extent on economic efficiency. However, the solutions proposed in the Government’s Electric Mobility Development Plan omit hydrogen and hybrid cars.

In Krynica, Toyota presented its first mass-produced hydrogen car – the Toyota Mirai – and with it an interesting way of using hydrogen technology, which takes into account the nature of the Polish economy. Poland already produces 1 million tonnes of hydrogen a year as a by-product of, among other things, the food and chemical industries. As underlined by Witold Nowicki, Commercial Director at Toyota Motor Poland, Polish industry is not the only potential source of this energy carrier. Hydrogen can also be produced from Polish coal. Poland has an extensive capacity in terms of producing and processing this universal and environment-friendly energy carrier.

WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF CARS USING HYDROGEN TECHNOLOGY? Hydrogen technologies eliminate barriers, i.e. flaws inextricably associated with the use of electric cars charged from external sources – the short range and long charging times. In the presented Toyota Mirai, refuelling the hydrogen used to generate electricity for the engine when the car is in motion takes only several minutes, and its range extends to more than 700 km.

The Japanese group wants to participate in the launching of the first hydrogen-refuelling stations. Negotiations with potential partners in this investment are under way.

We have heard that all 4 of these companies are Polish giants – PKN Orlen, Lotos, Grupa Azoty and Tauron. Toyota will supply technological solutions, based on, among other things, the experience obtained during the construction of such a station in the Toyota Motor Europe R&D Centre near Brussels.

WILL HYDROGEN-POWERED CARS SUPPLANT HYBRID TECHNOLOGY? “This year alone, the company will sell more than 18,000 Toyota and Lexus hybrids. At the same time, in 2017 the sales of electric automobiles of all makes will amount to only several hundred,” Witold Nowicki underlined in Krynica.

“This clearly shows that we need an intermediate phase between cars with combustion engines and fully electric ones.

This gap is perfectly bridged by hybrid automobiles, which are currently offered by most car producers. According to data collected by Toyota, in urban traffic our hybrids cover 50-70% of the distance using the electric engine, which makes them semi-electric”.

There is still time to introduce relevant changes in the provisions concerning the rules for Electric Mobility Development in Poland. This is why it is worth considering the inclusion of “semi-electric” hybrids and hydrogen-powered cars in the programme. The former are already drastically reducing emission levels in urban traffic, while the latter will constitute a very strong element in “zero-emission” car packages in the near future.

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Regions

GOOD

INVESTMENT ZONE More than 200 companies, EUR 6 billion of investment outlays and over 51,000 new jobs – those are the results of two decades of activities of Wałbrzych Special Economic Zone (WSEZ) INVEST PARK. The anniversary of WSEZ was celebrated at the 27th Economic Forum in Krynica Zdrój.

WSEZ was one of the partners of this prestigious event which brought together some 4,000 participants from the world of business, politics, science, culture and media.

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uring a panel under the patronage of WSEZ the focus was on investment attractiveness of individual regions. Taking part in the discussion were, among others, Wiesław Janczyk, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Finance, Pavel Fedorov, representative of the Kalinigrad Regional Duma and WSEZ President Maciej Badora.

Preferential investment terms are not the sole reason why the zone has dynamically developed over the past 20 years. Other factors include its advantageous position on the map and the rich industrial traditions of south-western Poland. Proof of the region’s investment attractiveness is the fact that companies operating within the zone stand out among their counterparts in Europe and elsewhere, Maciej Badora explained during the panel.

Over the 20 years of its activities, the zone has increased its area fifteenfold, attracting more than 330 investment projects. Among companies operating within WSEZ are Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, Toyota, IBM, 3M and Mondelez. In 2017 alone, some 30 companies are expected to make fresh investments in WSEZ. •

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This is what investors have to say about WSEZ INVEST-PARK: Jens Ocksen, President, Volkswagen Poznań ‘May I extend my best wishes and congratulations to the Wałbrzych Special Economic Zone on the occasion of its 20th anniversary. I trust that you can observe with pride and satisfaction how companies that operate here are developing along with you. I wish you every success and I hope new investors will come in bringing major investment.’

Andreas Schenkel, President, Mercedes-Benz Manufacturing Poland ‘Poland is a country with potential.

Lower Silesia has particularly much to offer foreign entrepreneurs. We experience this in our daily work. The WSEZ site in Jawor has turned out to be ideal to place our investment project. Thanks to the commitment of a number of people, institutions and of the authorities, including WSEZ representatives, project preparation took place in a friendly atmosphere in a very professional manner.’

Dariusz Mikołajczak, Vice-President for Corporate Affairs, Toyota Motor Manufacturing Poland ‘Toyota was encouraged to invest in WSEZ INVEST-PARK because of its advantageous position at the heart of Europe, proximity to academic centres and the strong industrial traditions of Wałbrzych and Jelcz-Laskowice. Of no small importance was also the positive attitude of both central and local authorities, which offered well prepared investment areas complete with all the amenities, as well as a system of incentives which those operating within the Wałbrzych Special Economic Zone benefit from. Both at the stage of construction and over the period of the plant’s operation co-operation with WSEZ INVEST-PARK has been smooth. We appreciate the zone’s assistance in securing permits for new projects and its prompt reaction to our day-to-day needs.’

Regions

7TH EDITION OF THE EUROPEAN SME CONGRESS. WHY YOU NEED TO BE THERE TADEUSZ DONOCIK, President, Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Katowice

18-20 X 2017, International Conference Centre in Katowice The participation in the Congress is free of charge, it requires registration on www.ekmsp.eu only.

RELEASE THE BUSINESS

This multi-layered demand of entrepreneurs is the motto of the 7th edition of the Congress. It expresses their readiness to accept changes in the law, to adopt new postures toward enterprise, to open up to new technologies and expansion to foreign markets.

To free business also means to overhaul the legal system and the business environment as well as to carry out a self-assessment of the economic environment in order to boost productivity.

The European SME Congress is a place for all those who genuinely wish to work for the development of their own company and of the entire economy. It is also an opportunity to start a discussion on the Constitution for Business and its consequences for entrepreneurs.

SCIENCE – BUSINESS – LOCAL GOVERNMENT

TOGETHER FOR THE ECONOMY

The Congress fills a niche which has long needed to be filled in Europe.

We prove that reflection on cooperation among the three sectors is vital both at the national and international level.

Poland has 1.7 million enterprises, including 3,800 large companies.

The Congress is meant as a platform for them to present their individual stands to public and local administration, government and Parliament. The mission of the Congress is also to prove that the world of academia and business cannot function in separation.

PRACTICAL KNOWLEDGE, USEFUL INFORMATION

Information has become the mother of success. Up-to-date and reliable information forms the basis in the world today, where business must, on the one hand, keep pace with the dynamics of public life and technology, and on the other, itself generate changes affecting the quality of the environment in which it functions.

To know means to act successfully. That is why the 7th edition of the European SME Congress focuses on presenting information in areas which are of vital importance for the day-to-day operation of small and medium-sized enterprises: innovation, law and taxation, labour market and education, securing funding for own activities, as well as broadly conceived marketing and communication.

SUCCESSFUL MEETINGS, REAL BENEFITS

For seven years now the Congress has been a place to make new contacts and build long-term relationships. It is an excellent platform for networking, enabling synergy between business, science and local government.

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We want the Congress to provide a venue for an exchange of ideas at the meeting point of a number of platforms. We want it to be a place where intensive development is the fruit of dialogue.

The success of these undertakings is best evidenced by the presence each year of numerous representatives of European Union countries, the United States, China, Egypt and other countries who are clearly aware of Poland’s potential and who seek reliable partners during the Congress.

KNOWLEDGE VITAL FOR BUSINESS

Among the many worries of Polish business is financial stability. It is particularly evident among representatives of the SME sector. They often do not know where to look for information on available sources of financing or are not sure how to apply for funding. That is why during the Congress its participants will have access to specialists from renowned institutions which have both EU and non-EU instruments of providing support to business at their disposal. This year the list includes the Polish Agency for Enterprise Development, the Province Employment Office and District Employment Offices.

MAKE YOURSELF SEEN! BUSINESS EXPO FAIR

Several hundred exhibitors from dozens of branches present their products and services at individual stands. They also actively take part in B2B meetings, networking sessions and workshops held in the Presentation Zone, which this year will focus in particular on marketing tips for SMEs. The Business Expo fair is undoubtedly a major marketing event showcasing a wide range of services and products which help in the development of one’s business.

MARKETING? LEARN FROM THE BEST

A key issue for SMEs is the selection of communication means and their use in a manner that guarantees the best returns on investment. How to achieve spectacular results? During the Congress this will be explained by experts from such technological giants as Facebook and Google, as well as by Polish experts in web use and mobile communications. There will be no shortage of time for one-on-one consultations and conversations.

METROPOLIS. WHAT’S NEXT?

The Silesian Metropolis, which is now emerging, is a subject we cannot afford to miss. Together we will be discussing short- and long-term prospects regarding its emergence. We will also look at how, in the new reality, links between particular sectors should be developed to the maximum benefit of the region.

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Regions

THE ROLE OF PROVINCE-LEVEL LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS TO LAY FOUNDATIONS FOR COMPREHENSIVE CO-OPERATION BETWEEN BUSINESS AND SCIENCE WOJCIECH SAŁUGA, Chairman, Śląskie Province

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he 7th European Congress of Small and Medium-sized Companies (SME) in Śląskie province provides an opportunity not just to pinpoint economic problems encountered on a daily basis on the scale of the province, Poland and Europe. Above all, it allows us to take stock of all the positive trends we have been able to trigger in the economy since last year’s congress.

The motto of this year’s edition "To free business" rightly suggests that, on the one hand, the legal and organisational foundations are laid by local and government administration. But it is up to entrepreneurs to give further substance to this mechanism, to fill it with developmentoriented and technological challenges. That is why synergy between those two worlds is so important, as is the need to find a platform for joint work for the benefit of local inhabitants. Śląskie province (Silesia) is a region where intensive changes are underway. This is evident in the current transition from the traditional industrial era and heavy industry to modern challenges and technologies. The region, whose perception has long been affected by the fact that it used to be home to obsolete industries, is now changing its image. Its strength depends on its people who are open to fresh challenges. They are active, competent and eager to work.

This region currently stands out on the map of Poland. As well as supporting SMEs, it offers the best promise for those keen to develop modern technologies, foster co-operation between business and science and to become involved in revitalisation. The province is now

the best place to invest in Poland. We will manage to keep up this offer to entrepreneurs at the highest level as long as we are geared toward modern solutions.

We are half way through the implementation of the European Union’s 2014-2020 financial plan. This plan has set the framework within which we should operate. When it comes to spending EU funds, we have focused on enterprise, innovation, renewable energy sources and transport, including rail transport. IT technologies constitute an important factor of the economic and technological development of the province.

As broadly defined by the EU, the financial plan has also allowed us to transcend narrowly defined administrative boundaries. Integrated Territorial Investment and community-led local development, offer a new platform for joint work of local government bodies co-financed from EU funds. This mechanism provides for partnerships between towns and cities, communes and provincial authorities.

Having at our disposal a vast potential, namely profound knowledge about the most urgent needs of towns and cities, communes and districts, as well as considerable means allowing us to satisfy those needs, we can jointly work on the steady and sustainable development of the entire province.

An important role in maintaining the attractiveness of the region and preventing crises, for instance in the mining industry, is played by the Programme for Silesia developed by a team for strengthening Silesia’s industrial potential appointed by the Polish Prime Minister,

and involving experts from several government ministries. Measures proposed by the team include moves geared toward making the region more attractive for investors. This includes taking stock of our investment assets, matching them to investor needs, boosting innovation in mining and in other branches of industry, as well as implementing projects that could allow the region to take a leap forward in terms of technology. Other areas include the drafting of retraining programmes and schemes meant to lessen unemployment.

We have the potential to offer young people education which will give them better opportunities of finding an attractive job. They will not be the only ones to benefit from it. So will their employers for whom human capital is the key to success.

As the chairman of the province I would like to stress that the role of local government is to lay foundations for comprehensive businessto-science co-operation, if only through initiatives and platforms that facilitate relations between the two worlds. An important role in fostering business activities is also played by chambers, institutions, business incubators, technology parks and clusters. We want to be a full-fledged partner in shaping policies which will make our local, regional and, consequently, national economy, more competitive.

I trust that the proceedings of the 7th European SME Congress will give impetus for the further development of our region. Thank you for coming here and I hope you will have a fruitful and enjoyable stay in the province.

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KATOWICE AS A MEETINGS INDUSTRY HUB MARCIN KRUPA, Mayor of Katowice, talks to "Polish Market".

The European Congress of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (the ECSME) will be held for the eighth time already. What does cooperation with this sector look like in Katowice?

Last year’s 6th Congress had about 6 thousand guests and this is just the kind of impact we want our policy to have in terms of business tourism development. We’ve arrived at a point in which we can say that we are a genuine meetings industry hub. The subject matter of the congress, which focuses on small and medium-sized enterprises is also significant. Supporting the MSE sector is one of the foundations for the local community to grow.

To facilitate the city’s sustainable development, we should strive to make it a magnet for not just large investments, but also those of smaller local, often family-run, companies.

We ought to recognise their contribution to the city’s development and creating brands that make for great showcases of our region.

In Katowice we put a strong emphasis on cooperating especially with this sector, which is why we have a special section for small and medium-sized enterprises in the City’s Department of Investor Services.

PM

A lot of businesses are noticing Katowice’s potential and launching their ventures here. What did it take to become both a significant hub for big business and the ideal place for small and medium-sized enterprises?

Katowice has become a well-established brand in the eyes of entrepreneurs due to a number of factors, such as access to highly-qualified human resources, good location and an extended support system. As the major PM

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city of a metropolitan area with a population of over 2 million, Katowice is a perfect hub for business. It’s a genuinely European city, where modern ideas creatively develop and intermingle with tradition. Today we speak about the academic, economic and infrastructural potential of the whole metropolis. The companies choosing Katowice as their primary location confirm the fact that this city is a good place for business. Katowice has over 450 thousand square metres of office space and it’s constantly growing. According to a report on commercial property by Colliers International Poland, Katowice ranks 5th (before such cities as Poznań). This creates a good climate for entrepreneurs who open their offices in Katowice in large numbers, creating new jobs.

What benefits does the ECSME bring for Katowice?

Our goal is to develop business tourism in Katowice. An event like the European Congress of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises definitely helps us promote our region and city. Business tourism has become an important driver of development. It affects various areas of economic and public life and is an important component in the promotion of Katowice on both domestic and international markets. According to the “Market for business tourism in Katowice in 2016” report, last year we had as many as 762 thousand guests at various conferences and trade shows. This is 180 thousand more than in 2015, an increase of 31%. Katowice hosts sporting events, including the largest event in Poland Intel Extreme Master, which attracted over 170 thousand visitors this year. Katowice is also home to a great number of cultural events, congresses PM

and conferences. I’m glad that the ECSME is one of them.

On a final note, what places in Katowice would you recommend to guests who come here for the ECSME? The cityscape of Katowice, which has metamorphosed from an industrial town into a dynamic hub of a metropolitan area, amazes everyone who hasn’t seen it for some time.

We’re in a completely different place than 10 years ago. The Culture Zone established in the area of the former hard coal mine features the impressive buildings of the Silesian Museum and the historic “Warszawa” pit shaft, which affords a scenic view of Katowice, and also the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra. Right next to it, near the Spodek arena, there is the International Conference Centre (MCK), a meeting place for business, science, culture and sports. MCK’s green roof with a viewing terrace has become a new meeting place for Katowice residents and the favourite place for wedding photo shoots. Katowice attracts numerous tourists with its events, both in the Culture Zone and the renovated Market Square, where they can take a rest under the Sztuczna Rawa fountain and its palm trees. The whole city has something extraordinary about it. On the one hand, it’s a very modern place which has changed a lot in recent years, on the other it is a green haven in the heart of Silesia. Not everyone knows that nearly half of its area is covered by green areas – forests, parks, squares. This is an excellent way to spend time with your family. That’s why I encourage you to come here not only for the conferences, but also as tour• ists.

PM

Regions

KATOWICE TO HOST COP24 AND WADA In the near future, the eyes of the world will be on the capital of a nearly 2-million-strong metropolitan area. First, in December 2018, during the UN Climate Summit, and then again in 2019, during the World Anti-Doping Conference.

UN CLIMATE SUMMIT

As the hosts of the summit, Katowice and its residents will enjoy a number of benefits, as representatives of the City authorities stress.

The thousands of visitors will generate handsome profits for local companies, restaurants, hotels, taxi drivers, and conference service providers. In addition, Katowice will benefit from some priceless global publicity.

“The UN Climate Summit (COP24) in December 2018 is taking place in Katowice, Poland. The climate-change conference in the heart of Silesia is a perfect opportunity to show the world how much we are doing to protect the climate and what successes we have achieved in this field over the last dozen-or-so years. We have demonstrated that Katowice, as the capital city of this metropolitan area, is well positioned to host such an event. We have an excellent transport

infrastructure and accommodation facilities, the largest conference centre in Poland, and experience in organising major international events. As a wonderful example of dynamic transformation from an industrial region into a modern metropolis, Katowice is a unique place on the map of Poland. The key to our success has been our determination and success in implementing a strategy based on such sectors as culture, sport, business tourism, the revitalisation of degraded areas, and the development of new recreation facilities,” says Marcin Krupa, Mayor of Katowice.

But first, Katowice needs to face some major challenges and prepare for the event. In early September, the City was again visited by representatives of the UN, who addressed the issues of security, logistics, and the promotion of the Summit, which is to be attended by some 18,000 delegates.

WORLD ANTI-DOPING CONFERENCE

In 2019, Katowice will be the capital of the global fight against doping. It is expected that during the World Anti-Doping Conference organised by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), Katowice will be visited by around 2,000 representatives of all the circles involved in combatting doping in sports around the world. The Conference will select new management for the WADA and accept some amendments to the World Anti-Doping Code. The meeting organised in Poland will be the fifth edition of this regular event. The previous editions took place in Lausanne, Copenhagen, Madrid and Johannesburg.

“We’re facing a major challenge here. But I’m proud that the WADA appreciated Katowice and that we are hosting this prestigious event. This is an excellent opportunity to introduce Katowice to some leading figures in global sport, and to promote our region worldwide,” says Marcin Krupa, Mayor of Katowice, who, together with Minister Witold Bańka, presented the City as the Polish candidate in Montreal. Katowice has already hosted many international events, such as the European Economic Congress, the FIVB Volleyball Men's World Championship, and the Intel Extreme Masters tournament, the largest business event in Poland.

In connection with the event, the representatives of the WADA and the Ministry of Sport and Tourism paid a visit to Katowice on 25-28 September. The delegates visited such key facilities as Spodek arena, the International Conference Centre (MCK), and the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra building (NOSPR), and audited local ho• tels.

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Defence Sector

THE ECONOMIC POTENTIAL OF ŁÓDZKIE PROVINCE WITOLD STĘPIEŃ, Marshal of the Łódzkie province

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ódzkie prowince has a good location in the very centre of Poland, an excellent transport infrastructure, and enormous human potential. And there is much more to tap into. All this makes the region the preferred place to organise the Economic Forum, which has set economic development trends for regions and countries.

Located in the heartland of Poland, with its expanding transport and business infrastructure, including an airport, a network of road and rail routes, and one of Eastern Europe’s largest transloading terminals and logistics centres, our region is looking at new opportunities to invest and increase the competitive edge of its businesses. Being covered with a network of national and provincial roads, our region is one vast and wellconnected investment area, with particular appeal to shipping companies and logistics projects. The province also has a welldeveloped rail network, with massive transloading stations – including the region’s largest stations in Łódź-Olechów and Kutno – popular among companies which distribute their products to all of Europe, and, notably, to China.

The transport system would not be complete without its modern and well-equipped Łódź Władysław Reymont Airport.

The developments it has undergone now enable it to handle not only passenger, but also cargo, transport.

Its highly-qualified labour force and well-educated and open-minded young people create enormous human potential.

The capital of the province, Łódź, is also becoming a hotbed of start-ups and innovations. Why? More than 100,000 openminded young people are being educated in Łódź. In order to stay competitive in business and keep afloat, each company, whether dealing with new technologies, ICT, or simple, more traditional services, needs to be innovative. By embracing new technologies, a business can perform better and become easier to manage, and the employees are more satisfied with their job.

What is important is that innovations are universally effective – they work well not only in the high-tech industries, but also in the textile industry, agriculture, and commerce. This insight has prompted us to compile a list of the Łodź region’s key industries. The list includes the power industry, the medical, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries, innovative agriculture, the advanced construction materials industry, the advanced

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textile and fashion industries, and IT. The Regional Innovation Strategy for Łódzkie province lists not only the industries of key importance to the region, but also a whole catalogue of key technology groups, i.e. mechatronics, nanotechnology and functional materials, biotechnology and information technology.

Micro and small enterprises make up 98% of all businesses in the province. This is the reason why we, as the local government, have supported their development. In our new Regional Operational Programme, we have allocated almost EUR 500,000,000 for entrepreneurship support, which is 36% of the entire funding allocated by the European Regional Development Fund. You will not get any better than this in Poland – no other region in the country has committed such a high percentage of its funding for entrepreneurship support.

On top of that, for the entire programming period, which ends in 2020, we have been allocated EUR 2,256,000,000, which puts the province fourth in the country in terms of the amount of funding obtained. Given these figures, it is our obligation to stay creative.

Consequently, our region has been providing vigorous support to both active and would-be entrepreneurs. It is for them that the incubator project run by the Province Entrepreneurship Centre is intended. These incubators are places where young people who are starting companies can receive technical support and help from experienced entrepreneurs, as well as accounting and legal services. Our local government has implemented measures to support the creation of industrial clusters to facilitate cooperation between science and industry, and technology transfer, and to step up international economic cooperation, as well as to break down barriers to entrepreneurship. It is also worth noting that the region has implemented the “entrepreneurial discovery” measure to involve entrepreneurs in regional development policy-making. As this is the latest global trend, we have engaged with regional entrepreneurs and business-affiliated institutions, including universities, public research institutes, such as the BioNanoPark, and independent innovators, in the process of identifying the most promising fields in which the • region can develop in the future.

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A JUBILEE EDITION OF THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC FORUM

ŁÓDZKIE 2017 Two days of meetings, 31 industry-related panel discussions, 100 personages from the world of business and politics, and around 3000 guests. On 16-17 October 2017, the Łódzkie Region will host European economic debates for the 10th time.

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articipants in the jubilee European Economic Forum – Łódzkie 2017 will focus on the most important topics for the Polish and European economies. The planned panel discussion will touch upon the themes of the future of modern business, cooperation between local governments and entrepreneurs, business ethics and cutting-edge technologies, etc. All participants will have an opportunity to listen to lectures delivered by renowned Polish and foreign experts, including the special guest, Günter Verheugen, European Commissioner for Enlargement and European Commissioner for Enterprise and Industry. The confirmed illustrious guests include: Włodzimierz Cimoszewicz, Henryka Bochniarz and Prof. Grzegorz Kołodko.

A PLATFORM FOR THE EXCHANGE OF EXPERIENCE, KNOWLEDGE AND INTEGRATION The European Economic Forum – Łódzkie 2017 is a two-day, cyclical international event, which serves as

a global experience exchange platform.

“It is organised by the Marshal’s Office of the Łódzkie Region with support from the Lodz Agency of Regional Development and, under substantive partnership, major businesses and institutions from all over Poland. The forum acts as a platform for dialogue and integration for regional and European business circles and facilitates new, and strengthens existing, business relations,” said Witold Stępień, Marshal of the Łódzkie

Region. Owing to financial support from the EU (the European Regional Development Fund) and from the budget of the Łódzkie Region (Zmieniamy Łódzkie z Funduszami Europejskimi [Changing Łódzkie with European Funds]), participation in the event is free. The proportion of participants representing small and medium-sized enterprises, which are looking for partners for their businesses and new development ideas, grows incrementally every year. •

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Regions

UNIEJÓW POL AND’S YOUNGES T THERMAL SPA

Uniejów geothermal water is one of the most precious natural resources hidden at the depth of two thousand metres underground. It is a local natural asset thanks to which this little town is again able to flourish.

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ater coming from Uniejów mineral springs has a temperature of about 68 degrees Celsius and contains 8 grams of minerals per litre. Laboratory tests confirm its medicinal properties. In terms of composition, it is chloride-sodium water which contains such minerals as calcium, magnesium, hydrocarbons, sulphur compounds, iron, bromide, iodine, potassium, fluoride and metasilicic acid. Due to its salty taste, it is colloquially described as brine. Water from Uniejów mineral springs is broadly used in balneotherapy (or hydrotherapy). It is used for bathing and inhalations. You can also sip

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it as spa water. This mineral-rich water also finds application in the production of a wide range of cosmetics and grooming preparations for pets.

But Uniejów mineral water does not just have medicinal uses. The commune also uses its natural resource in other ways. Some 80% of buildings in Uniejów are connected to a geothermal heating network.

Hot water is supplied to public utility buildings, sports facilities, office buildings and housing. It is estimated that more than 2,000 residents of detached houses and blocks of flats (70% of the town’s population) benefit from this form of heating.

Regions The use of geothermal water in Uniejów is based on a cascading energy supply system. Water that finds its way to the surface first gives off some of its heat energy in heat exchangers which are part of the central heating network. This is to avoid the risk of minerals contained in the water damaging the installation and the entire central heating network. Fresh water heated with the use of geothermal energy then flows through radiators in individual rooms and is used for heating potable water. In turn, slightly cooled mineral water is used for water therapy, recreation, under-soil heating of the grass surface of sports stadiums and walkways. Finally, geothermal water is pumped underground where it heats up again and can be re-used in the future. In this way the cycle is repeated time and again, making geothermal water a renewable energy source.

The network includes three wells and more than 13 kilometres of pipelines that form the hot water supply system. Geothermal water is also used in power generation. 3.2 MW of energy is produced in this way. Thus ecology blends perfectly with economy.

Uniejów is now the youngest spa in Poland and the first one in the Łódzkie province. The town has long campaigned to be granted that status and it finally succeeded in 2012.

In the modern Termy Uniejów thermal and swimming complex you will find everything you need to feel healthier and stronger. The Wellness&SPA zone offers various forms of rejuvenation therapy and relaxation. The sanarium (also known as biosauna) invites you to take

a dry bath in humid hot air at a temperature of 40-60 Centigrade, sometimes with the addition of herbal aromas. In a UV room you can enjoy beneficial ultraviolet light therapy. During a visit to a snow chamber, where temperatures of 5 to 13 Centigrade below zero are maintained, you can experience therapeutic thermal shock. Especially following a session in the sauna it produces a number of beneficial reactions in the body. It relaxes your muscles, boosts your immunity and metabolism.

One of the most attractive places to visit is the luxury Medical Spa Hotel**** Lawendowe Termy situated near the Warta river. The hotel boasts 17 wellness and rehabilitation rooms, where under the watchful eye of a specialist you can enjoy facial and full body treatment with the use of Klapp Cosmetics quality products. One of the favourites of those staying at the spa hotel is unique lavender treatment, which combines aromatherapy with skin care. The hotel’s other attractions include a large indoor and outdoor thermal pool, fitness room, gym, two beach volleyball courts and a tennis court. The scenic surroundings of the hotel, including meadows and woodland, are perfect for cycling and Nordic walking. The nearby river is ideal for canoeing. Based on regional products in line with the Slow Food philosophy, Kuchnia Lawendowe Termy cuisine has won the praise of the prestigious Gault &Millau gourmet guide, which awarded the restaurant a Gault&Millau toque.

Another spot on the Uniejów map which is worth recommending is the Uzdrowisko Uniejów Park health resort. The healing properties

of its geothermal waters are proved by certificates granted by the National Institute of Public Health. Thermal brines have excellent therapeutic values, boosting vitality and immunity.

They act as trouble-free solariums, leaving your skin slightly tanned. Bathing in thermal waters is one of the world’s oldest treatments. It is believed that they stimulate the body producing a great many beneficial effects. Hot tub treatment is used to calm you down, to alleviate cramps and pains, to fight insomnia and as a beauty treatment.

The Uzdrowisko Uniejów Park health resort boasts an excellent diagnostic and therapeutic team, which includes medical consultants, therapists, psychologists, physiotherapists, dieticians and nurses. All of them make Uzdrowisko Uniejów Park a perfect place of preventive care where you can feel safe 24/7 under the eye of medical professionals.

An interesting way to use local mineral water has been discovered by Wiatr brewery. Using its own spring, it produces four kinds of beer: Pilsner, wheat, lager and brown ale, all of which can be sampled at a restaurant attached to the brewery. High standard hotel accommodation is available at the brewery, where social events can also be organised.

Apart from attractions involving the use of thermal waters, Uniejów also features several historical monuments. The landmarks include a 14th century castle, a manor house built in 1845 and a Russian orthodox church erected in 1885. Uniejów is thus a perfect place for all those who are keen to get away from it all.

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Medicine

WARMIA AND MAZURIA

THE PLACE TO WORK AND REST GUSTAW MAREK BRZEZIN, Chairman of the Warmia and Mazuria Province, talks to “Polish Market.” „Warmia and Mazuria, a region worth living in” – is the motto of the Warmia and Mazuria Province strategy of social and economic development until 2025.

That’s right. Let me add, it does not matter how old and how educated you are, what your financial status is, where you come from, where you live and what sex you are. People are the focus of all the local government activities. Our aims are predominantly measures geared toward economic growth, innovation, better investor relations, co-operation with self-government bodies and with the world of science. Not forgetting looking after for the environment.

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Warmia and Mazuria are famous for their unspoilt nature, healthy living, investment in green technologies, tasty and healthy food and organic farming. Is this where your another slogan „Warmia and Mazuria.

Healthy living. Clean profit” comes from?

It stems from the analysis of our strengths and the needs of those who already live in Warmia and Mazuria, and those who want to make the region their home and invest here.

In line with this slogan we show that in our region the environment facilitates harmonious and effective work. We make investors at home and abroad aware of economic incentives offered in terms of state aid by special economic zones and science and technology parks. We also support the development of key smart specialisations. Sustainable development based on manufacturing, processing and services is the direction in which the region is currently headed.

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The smart specialisations of Warmia and Mazuria are water economy, quality foodstuffs and the wood processing and

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furniture industry. Why have these sectors been selected?

The concept of specialisations is based on a simple idea: to develop what we are already good at. We did not have any problem selecting the areas which are our strengths. Pride of place goes to furniture production and the wood processing industry, which stems not just from the abundance of natural resources in the region, but also from tradition. This region has Europe’s highest concentration of wood processing plants, as many as 1164. Between them they employ more than 12,6 thousand workers. Another specialisations – water economy – does not just mean water sports, tourism and transport, but also boatbuilding.

Small and large boats and ocean-going yachts are built here. They are in demand the world over. We maintain a strong position in food processing, notably in the dairy and meat industries. Companies producing farm machinery also operate in the region. The growth of the sector is supported by specialist academic institutions as well as research and development institutes. While selecting these specialisations we were aware that by perfecting already developed branches, we have triggered a domino effect. As one sector moves forward, so do the others.

Besides the advantage of being able to harmoniously combine work with recreation and comfortable living in an unspoilt natural environment, what are the region’s other attractions for investors?

We have two Special Economic Zones : the Warmia-Mazuria and Suwałki SEZs. More than 180 firms currently operate there. Their boundaries are constantly being expanded.

Three science and technology parks are in operation in Olsztyn, Elbląg and Ełk. Support PM

for investors is also provided by chambers of commerce and industry, enterprise incubators, regional development agencies, technology transfer centres, advisory centres and financial institutions. Communes from the Warmia and Mazuria province are the first in Poland to take part in a pilot project entitled ‘Investor services standards in local government.’ We have at our disposal excellently educated cadres, graduates of seven universities, including the University of Warmia and Mazury. Vocational schools in the region more and more frequently forge links with local employers. We are a region of young people. 63% of our inhabitants are in the productive age group. Our Regional Operational Programme is primarily geared toward supporting enterprise and innovative projects which bring business and science together. We want the programme to help make the region’s economy even more competitive. This is where vast opportunities lie for entrepreneurs.

Is the vision outlined in the strategy substantiated by facts?

Definitely. More and more frequently we are finding that all we need in life is right here.

We work and rest here. Unlike people in other regions who need to travel long distances to go on holiday, we are only minutes away from places where you can relax. Warmia and Mazuria are ideal for culture lovers, from dynamic repertory theatre companies to a philharmonic. We have a broad educational offer. Our region invests in infrastructure to make living conditions even better. A lot has been invested in transport infrastructure. The opening of Olsztyn-Mazury airport has vastly improved access to the region. All this is proof that the strategy we have adopted is a correct one.

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Intimate holiday and tourist resort, picturesquely located on the Krutynia trail, surrounded by Masurian woods and the river

www.perlakrutyni.pl Holiday-tourist centre ”PERŁA KRUTYNI” in Nowy Most phone/fax + 48 87 423 60 45 mobile: +48 605 046 605 e-mail: info@perlakrutyni.pl

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PODKARPACKIE REGION THE MEETING POINT OF THREE NATIONAL BORDERS

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he meeting point of three national borders: Poland, Slovakia and Ukraine, external border of the European Union, EastWest transport corridor – these are only a few of the assets of Podkarpackie, a leader among the regions of Eastern Poland.

The economic growth of Podkarpackie is inseparably linked with the construction of the Central Industrial Region started before World War II. This development program was the origin of numerous industrial plants operating today, such as Pratt & Whitney Rzeszów, PZL Mielec a Lockheed Martin Company and Huta Stalowa Wola SA., to mention only a few. Because the world’s first oil well was built in 1854 in Bóbrka near Krosno, the region is also recognized as the cradle of the oil industry. Today, the Podkarpackie Region is favoured by investors seeking location for their business in the macro-region of Eastern Poland. Such a choice is encouraged by the availability of areas designated for investments and the existing economic zones offering preferential conditions for business operations. What is more, the area is easily accessible: the A4 Motorway linking western and eastern border of Poland, S19 Expressway currently under construction, modernized railway lines, including broad-gauge LHS line, as well as Rzeszów-Jasionka International Airport with a consistently growing number of passengers.

The region stands out for a large concentration of aerospace companies (accounting for approx. 90% of domestic production in this

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sector), numerous science and research centres, and well developed educational and training facilities. Yet, the strength of the local economy does not depend only on the aerospace industry, which is considered as the region’s main smart specialization. The IT sector is also of considerable importance for the economy, as it is one of the most rapidly growing industries in the region, just like the automotive industry - a number of global leaders in this sector have built their plants here. The region’s economy is also defined by the “life quality” sector, mechanical and electrical engineering sector, chemical, glass and wood industries. Innovative forms of business support are effectively implemented here, and in terms of R&D expenditures the Podkarpackie Region holds high-ranking position in Poland. Podkarpackie is also known for rapid development of the Meetings Industry, which serves both domestic and international business entities in the region. All of this is possible thanks to the construction of Podkarpackie’s multipurpose and modern “Exhibition & Congress Centre - G2A Arena”. It is here, that the second edition of “Congress590” – Poland’s most important economic event in 2017, will take place. On the 16th and 17th of November, Podkarpackie will assume the role of the Polish centre of the economy, where the representatives of world of business and science, politics and public administration, will discuss key national and international mat• ters.

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GRODZISK

MA ZOWIECKI

RAPID DEVELOPMENT GRZEGORZ BENEDYKCIŃSKI, Mayor of Grodzisk Mazowiecki, talks to "Polish Market".

It the Central Airport to be located close to Grodzisk Mazowiecki? Does that mean good news for you? What benefits and drawbacks can you name?

As I am not familiar with the investment details yet, I cannot give you a definite answer. To make any reliable evaluation of this plan from the perspective of Grodzisk Mazowiecki, I would first need to thoroughly examine the airport concept. For instance, the location of the runways appears one of the crucial aspects for us, as this will determine whether planes are to be flying right above our heads.

There are a number of uncertain issues which will hopefully be clarified soon. I sincerely hope that those behind expressway this idea will be ready to meet local-government representatives, present the details, and allay the doubts.

PM

The planned construction of the Central Airport opens up huge regional-development prospects. The prospective transport hub, integrating air and rail transport, will certainly attract new investors.

The establishing of any transport hub brings both great opportunities and serious threats to the neighbouring localities. Due to its convenient location between the Katowice route and the A2 motorway, as well as the access to Polish PM

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Regions OUR LOCATION HAS HAD A POSITIVE IMPACT ON THE NUMBER OF RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES. EACH YEAR NEW FAMILIES COME TO SETTLE IN GRODZISK, AND AN INCREASING NUMBER OF RENOWNED COMPANIES ARE CHOOSING OUR TOWN AS THEIR OPERATING LOCATION. ITS POTENTIAL HAS GONE BEYOND POLAND'S BORDERS, EARNING INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION.

State Railways (PKP) and the Warsaw Commuter Railway (WKD), Grodzisk Mazowiecki has been undergoing rapid development. Our location has had a positive impact on the number of residents and businesses. Each year new families come to settle in Grodzisk, and an increasing number of renowned companies are choosing our town as their operating location. Its potential has gone beyond Poland's borders, earning international recognition. In this year's fDi Financial Times ranking, we were awarded the “Polish City of the Future” title, having competed against other towns and cities with up to 100,000 inhabitants. Our road and rail transport connections perfectly complement one another but, as it should be stressed, they are nothing like the prospective Central Airport. It is hard to foretell to what extent this investment might be troublesome to the residents of our commune. Will it attract new investors? Perhaps. However, let us not forget that the A2 motorway already provides efficient and fast access from Grodzisk to Chopin Airport in Warsaw, while that airport is far enough from us to enable us to avoid the nuisance it creates for residents.

Will the campaign entitled “Don't commute! Work in Grodzisk!” still have any sense in view of establishing an international transport hub and attracting new investments? Are you expecting new jobs to be created?

The “Don't commute! Work in Grodzisk!” campaign is in response to the demand by both entrepreneurs seeking well-qualified workers and residents wishing to save time on commuting to work. New jobs are continually being created in Grodzisk, and the local unemployment rate remains very low. Considering that development in a certain area is likely to act as the driving force for development in other fields, we might be right to expect that the Central Airport will generate additional employment prospects. However, in order for new jobs to be created, the airport itself must be built first, and there is a long way to go. As for the “Don't commute! Work in Grodzisk!” campaign, it is conducted under the supervision of the Entrepreneur Service Centre, which is a separate unit of the Grodzisk Mazowiecki Town Office, dedicated to supporting business development in our commune.

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For Grodzisk economic prospects are not the only thing which matters, but the cultural development of the residents appears equally important. It what way are Grodzisk residents provided with access to culture?

Our residents enjoy unhindered access to culture. The efficiently-operating local cultural institutions offer diverse opportunities, catering for all tastes and age groups. The Central Cultural Institution (Ośrodek Kultury), comprising the Culture Centre (Centrum Kultury), two other facilities (Willa Radogoszcz and Poczekalnia PKP), and village community centres, makes every effort to meet the expectations of Grodzisk’s residents, by organising concerts, outdoor parties, reviews, exhibitions, various activities, and the like. In the summer season, residents can take part in a variety of outdoor events, while the local cinema features premiere nights and film cycles. The activities of the library are not limited to statutory duties, but its staff are also successfully engaged in the popularisation of culture and residents' activation. Grodzisk Mazowiecki is home to a music PM

school, a plastic-arts centre, dance schools, choirs, and numerous non-governmental organisations, which undertake a variety of inspiring initiatives in our town. Just visit our website (available on www.grodzisk.pl) and read “The Calendar of Events” to see that Grodzisk Mazowiecki is really keen on culture. I am sometimes approached by residents who regret not being able to attend every cultural event because they are simply too numerous. With the older generation in mind, we have set up the Active Senior Zone which organises workshops, training courses, trips, and the like, with the aim of combatting the social exclusion of seniors, and inspiring them to lead an interesting and pleasurable life, despite their age.

You have served in the capacity of Mayor for many years.

What have been your most successful endeavours?

The greatest source of satisfaction for me is the numerous companies we have managed to attract to Grodzisk Mazowiecki, which has led to a substantial reduction in unemployment, and an increase in the commune’s budget, enabling us to invest in culture and sports. I feel that the completion of the hospital-building project was a major success, as it has significantly raised the status of Grodzisk within the region. In my opinion, the Culture Centre and the town’s cultural package in general has made Grodzisk a place worth visiting to see a good film or attend an interesting concert. Moreover, we have succeeded in encouraging people to stay in Grodzisk for weekends instead of going to Janki [shopping complex ed.]. This is the best way to • show that Grodzisk is a fine place in live in.

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Construction

GOOD NEWS

FOR POLAND FROM TARNÓW! The cornerstone-laying ceremony in the southern city of Tarnów has initiated the construction works for the new Grupa Azoty S.A. Research and Development Centre. The ceremony, held on 23 August, was attended by such special guests as Jarosław Gowin, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Science and Higher Education, and Jadwiga Emilewicz, deputy Minister of Economic Development.

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Maciej Proliński

he project is being implemented with financial support from the Ministry of Economic Development as part of the measure “Support for investments in the R&D infrastructure of enterprises” within the Smart Growth Operational Programme. A grant agreement for financial support amounting to PLN 20 million was concluded between the Ministry of Economic Development and Grupa Azoty in September 2016. The Group obtained a final environmental permit specifying the conditions for implementing the project in November last year. The building permit was issued in March 2017 by way of a decision by the Mayor of Tarnów. At the same time, a construction design was prepared and tender procedures were concluded. The works are due to be completed by the end of 2018.

The project involves the construction of a new twostorey building (with a total area of 5.5 thousand m2) housing laboratories and office premises on the site of the Grupa Azoty facility. It also involves the construction of a hall with a total area of 2.4 thousand m2 connected to the main building. The investment project includes fitting

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Photos: Grupa Azoty

Construction

out the premises, purchasing state-of-the-art laboratory equipment for conducting tests and analyses, installation works, and equipping the hall with auxiliary utilities, including purchasing appliances and equipment used for conducting research. The activities of the new Centre will be developed around the Chemical Technology Research and Development Centre, an existing unit within the structure of Grupa Azoty.

The Centre will mostly focus its operations on such areas as state-of-the-art materials, and cutting-edge fertiliser products and technologies, as well as on pro-environmental products.

“It is an important date for Grupa Azoty, for Polish science, and for Tarnów. This project of strategic importance to the company is also crucial from the point of view of the region’s development and the implementation of the Responsible Development Plan. We have been trying to foster cooperation between the world of business and science for 2 years. If Poland is to take its growth rate to a higher level, it needs to have an economy based on the discoveries of Polish scientists, innovation and new technologies.

I am glad that Grupa Azoty is willing to cooperate with

the world of science. I am certain that numerous groundbreaking scientific discoveries will be made at the innovation centre, which will enhance the company's development and create space for comprehensive collaboration with science institutions and start-ups.

I believe that the Grupa Azoty R&D Centre will become a driving force in the development of Tarnów, the Tarnów region, and the Małopolska region,” stressed Jarosław Gowin.

“The construction of the Grupa Azoty S.A. Research and Development Centre in Tarnów is another project which has been granted financial support from the Ministry of Economic Development as part of the Smart Growth Programme. We believe that the grant will help increase the innovation performance of Polish companies and will contribute to improving the competitiveness of Poland’s economy. I hope that harnessing the potential of science for the benefit of business will deliver useful solutions and will strengthen the position of Grupa Azoty among European and global modern chemical industry leaders. I am counting on the dynamic development of Grupa Azoty. Chemistry is a driving force for numerous industries. We need new materials. I hope that such new materials will be created in Tarnów thanks to this investment,” said Jadwiga Emilewicz.

Wojciech Wardacki, President of the Grupa Azoty Management Board, noted that the beginning of the construction works on the Centre is a major event in the 90year history of the plant in Tarnów. “You might ask why we are doing this. The answer is simple. It is necessary for such a large entity as Grupa Azoty to allocate as many resources as possible to research and development activities and to search for new solutions which will allow us to operate more effectively in this field. We place great emphasis on innovation. We wish to encourage innovation within the entire Group, so that the research is not carried out for the Tarnów plant only, but also for the Puławy and Kędzierzyn plants. We wish to coordinate it instead of carrying out competitive research within the Group. Grupa Azoty does not wish to be only the beneficiary of domestic research and educational initiatives, but to be actively involved, or even to become the leader, in this field,” he • asserted.

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Construction

WE ARE CONSTANTLY EXPANDING OUR RESEARCH AGENDA GRZEGORZ KĄDZIELAWSKI, Vice-President of the Management Board, Grupa Azoty, talks to "Polish Market".

In the Polish public debate, we are increasingly often emphasising the necessity to create an innovative economy based on knowledge and professional management. The commercialisation of scientific research, being among EU requirements, is now a must.

We are still in the process of learning, but we’ve made substantial progress, haven’t we?

Indeed, in the field of research results commercialisation, more and more actions are being taken to streamline the process of transforming selected research projects into innovative market solutions. Among the examples let me mention the success of Olga Malinkiewicz, who, together with the Saule Technologies Company, succeeded in commercialising solar cells based on perovskite, a completely new solar technology. In Grupa Azoty we are also working on solutions with a real chance of finding practical applications. In cooperation with the SatAgro Company, a start-up dealing with automated satellite data processing for the needs of individual farms, we have launched a pilot programme informing farms about changes in the condition of crops on the basis of satellite observations. We are also interested in the design of a mobile DNA laboratory created by the NEXBIO start-up, which makes it possible to identify the species and a number of factors causing plant diseases, facilitating the personalised selection of plant protection products. We are currently discussing its commercialisation.

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In your opinion, what is the most important asset which Polish science has to offer to Polish and foreign companies?

Polish science today means first of all globally appreciated scientific staff, increasingly aware of the value of their discoveries and inventions, and of their significance in the process of raising the innovativeness of Polish economy. I’m convinced that many legislative initiatives taken by PM

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the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, aiming at intensified efforts for research commercialisation and partnerships with the business sector, will make it possible to use this potential to the fullest.

What does combining science and the economy look like in the case of Grupa Azoty?

The key directions of your updated strategy include research and development. You are planning to spend 1% of your revenues on this sector. Is it a lot, or still not enough?

In my opinion, changing the way of thinking about innovation in the entire organisation is more important than specifying the level of expenditures, and the former is currently taking place in Grupa Azoty. We are creating a suitable structure, procedures and rules which will enable us to optimise and operationalise research and development activities in the entire Capital Group. We are continuously expanding our research agenda with new areas, which will contribute to broadening the Group’s product portfolio, and will make it possible to diversify our revenue sources. We aim at becoming the country's leader in this area, not only acting as a beneficiary but as an active participant in such activities.

plant scale, and expanding the potential of Grupa Azoty's R&D personnel. The project also brings added value to the region itself, as it opens up new opportunities for cooperation between Grupa Azoty and the scientific community of the Tarnów subregion.

PM

The Research and Development Centre in Tarnów, the construction of which started in late August, is a tool with a decidedly beneficial impact on scientific development at Grupa Azoty. What would you cite as the main benefits flowing from creating the Centre?

The main outcome of expanding the research and development infrastructure in Tarnów will be raising the competitiveness level of our products by increasing the scale of proprietary research work, enabling the verification of the results of such work and research on the pilot PM

What thematic areas will you primarily focus on in the activities of the Centre?

We aim at extending the value chain with new high-margin low-tonnage specialised products, state-of-the-art fertilisers and new polyamide-6-based products.

PM

A modern company, in addition to infrastructure, must invest in human capital.

The Centre is to be a place for cooperation with start-ups and young entrepreneurs.

In cooperation with the region and the city, how are you going to attract them and what kind of incentives have you prepared?

We are both actively cooperating in this area with the Presidential Palace within the “Start-ups in the Palace” programme, and also independently searching for an undertaking with potential and promising prospects.

In Grupa Azoty work is under way on a programme reviewing Polish start-ups in terms of solutions which will enable us to launch activities in new directions, e.g. services for agriculture, new products in the existing segments, and those which have not been so far directly associated with the company's profile. We are certainly going to intensify efforts in the field of cooperation with start-ups, research organisations and NGOs. We offer not only financial support but also experience, laboratory facilities and access to end users. We hope that these activities will bring innovative solutions thanks to which Grupa Azoty will become a leader in the European chem• ical industry.

PM

W ciągu 70 lat działalności PROCHEM S.A. stał się wiodącą polską spółką inżynierską, projektującą i realizującą złożone inwestycje w różnych sektorach budownictwa.

Wykorzystując bogate doświadczenia, konsekwentnie udoskonala nowoczesne metody oraz wprowadza innowacyjne narzędzia pracy. Stosowanie wyspecjalizowanych rozwiązań i nowych technologii jest gwarancją wysokiej jakości usług. Dzięki temu PROCHEM znajduje się w czołówce najnowocześniejszych rm inżynierskich.

Zdobyta przez 70 lat specjalistyczna wiedza i doświadczenie to potencjał, który Spółka wykorzystuje dostarczając swoim Klientom najlepsze rozwiązania.

PROCHEM S.A. e-mail: prochem@prochem.com.pl www.prochem.com.pl

Construction

25 YEARS

OF BUILDING! From left: Jan Mikołuszko, Piotr Kledzik, Marek Michałowski, Józef Adam Zubelewicz, Edward Szwarc, Janusz Zaleski, Witold Zaraska, Edward Trzosek

On 21 September 2017 the Warsaw Philharmonic hosted a gala ending the celebrations of the 25th anniversary of the Polish Association of Construction Industry Employers (PZPB). The event was attended by deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Construction Kazimierz Smoliński and Deputy Chair of the Infrastructure Committee at the parliament Jerzy Polaczek. Among the guests at the PZPB gala were also Polish MPs and numerous representatives of construction companies and organisations from the sector.

Maciej Proliński

T

he traditions of the Polish Association of Construction Industry Employers (PZPB) stem from two organisations: the National Chamber of Construction and the National Association of Construction Industry Employers. In 1992 the Economic Chamber of Construction Industry and Technical Services Exporters was established. In 1995 the organisation was reconstituted as the National Chamber of Construction. The major goal of its activities was to protect the interests of Polish construction companies operating on the domestic and foreign markets.

The National Association of Construction Industry Employers was also set up in 1992, first as the Association of Construction Employers. The national range of the Association's activities was reflected in the changes made to its Statutes in 1999. This was when a decision was made to rename it as the National Association of Construction Industry Employers (KZPB). The Association gathered construction-industry companies, with building contractors constituting the largest group. Poland's EU accession in 2004 resulted in the need to

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integrate all organisations of construction entrepreneurs, and in the same year the presidents of the largest construction companies on the Polish market supported the establishing of a single organisation of construction industry employers, that would represent the interests of the entire industry. This gave rise to the Polish Association of Construction Industry Employers (PZPB).

Today PZPB is a national organisation of the 100 largest construction companies, accounting for approx. 70% of the domestic construction market's potential. It represents the interests of major construction companies on the domestic construction market and also of small and medium-sized companies. The association is a dynamically developing industry trade group which responds to changes in the construction industry and to its problems. Its goals and form of operations are adjusted on an ongoing basis.

The speakers at the gala talked about the history of the organization, the present, and plans for the future. Jan Styliński, the current President of the Polish Association of Construction Industry Employers,

Construction the academic choirs of the Warsaw University of Technology, the Białystok University of Technology, and Tibi Domine, conducted by Dariusz Zimnicki. The programme included pieces by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, George Frideric Händel, Stanisław Moniuszko, Henry Purcell, Christopher Tin, Giuseppe Verdi and William Steffe.

•

THE AWARDS OF THE 25 YEARS OF PZPB The highest distinction, the Knight's Cross of the Polonia Restituta Order, for outstanding contribution to the development of construction, was awarded to Andrzej Czapczuk, Deputy President of F.B.I. Tasbud.

Edward Trzosek, the first President of the Association of Construction Industry Employers established in 1992

welcomed all the attendees, and Edward Trzosek, the first President of the Association of Construction Industry Employers established in 1992, currently President of the Management Board at Prometei-Inwestycje sp. z o.o., was awarded the Medal for the 25th Anniversary of the Polish Association of Construction Industry Employers. “After 25 years of intensive efforts we have reached a perfect age and are in an excellent condition. We bring together numerous enterprises, and also specialised expert industry organisations in a total of several hundred entities from the entire construction market! The enterprises which join our association have an opportunity to directly participate in shaping and creating systemic solutions for the construction sector, to submit their own proposals, and to participate in training sessions, meetings and conferences organised by the Association. The years to come should be favourable for the Polish construction industry, but this sector really needs many strenuous efforts to stay in perfect condition. Many debates are ahead of us; we observe the problems appearing on the market, such as labour shortages and the uncontrolled minimum-wage rise. However, we hope that our Association's activities will make it possible to further improve our contribution to developing systemic solutions for the construction sector and to create solutions for its development,” said Jan Styliński.

“The Polish Association of Construction Industry Employers is an organisation which has been refining its experience for 25 years now.

At the beginning, in 1992, when I was at the start of my career at the Association of Construction Employers, the organisation's goal was not only to lend credibility to reliable enterprises but also to create for them as favourable development conditions as possible. Already by that stage we represented the interests of our member companies before a number of bodies. Our representatives have developed solutions aimed at streamlining investment processes, have taken part in consultations on legal regulations, and in a number of industry discussions and missions. I myself participated in two such foreign missions. Later, it was necessary to set up a single strong national organisation uniting employers from the construction sector, so that it could effectively represent the interests of the entire industry. Well, all this is a closed chapter now. Today I would like to wish the whole construction sector entities a future in which the market develops efficiently and Polish construction is associated with top quality,” said Edward Trzosek.

The Gala was also an opportunity to award honourable mentions to individuals with special achievements in the area of infrastructure and construction development in Poland. The event was graced by a concert by the Warsaw Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra and

The Minister of Infrastructure and Construction decided to award honorary badges “For achievements in the field of construction” to: Lidia Babula from Korporacja Radex SA, Mundek Bakierski from Warbud SA, Prof. Stanisław Biedugnis from the Warsaw University of Technology and the Main School of Fire Service, Andrzej Czapczuk and Bogdan Czapczuk from F.B.I. Tasbud SA, Marek Czerwiec from Budimex SA, Andrzej Grygo from Instal Warszawa SA, Eugeniusz Pryzowicz from Unibep SA, Ryszard Róziewicz from Korporacja Radex SA, and Stanisław Słysz from Staco Polska sp. z o.o.

Those who have contributed to the development of PZPB received Medals for the 25th Anniversary of the Polish Association of Construction Industry Employers from the President of the Association. The awardees were: - Edward Trzosek, the first President of the Association of Construction Industry Employers established in 1992, currently President of the Management Board at Prometei-Inwestycje sp. z o.o., - Witold Zaraska, from 1992 President of the Economic Chamber of Construction Industry and Technical Services Exporters, subsequently from 2001 President of the National Chamber of Construction (KIB), the legal successor of the previous organisation. He was also President of Exbud; under his management in 1990 Exbud was privatised and, as one of the first five companies, was listed on the Stock Exchange, - Janusz Zaleski, Chair of the Members’ Court at the PZPB Council. From 1999 to 2004 President of the National Association of Construction Industry Employers (established as a result of the transformation of the Association of Construction Industry Employers), founder of the Polish Association of Building Managers.

Zaleski has the status of a European building expert (an AEEBC certificate), - Edward Szwarc, for many years President of PZPB (previously KIB), In the years 2001-2007 President of Instalexport SA., - Józef Adam Zubelewicz, from 1999 an active contributor to the activities of PZPB. In the years 1999-2012 performed the function of Deputy President of the organisation, currently Deputy Chair of the PZPB Council. Member of the Management Board of Erbud SA since October 1999. In the years 1991-1997 (for three terms) he was President of VDPD – the Association of Polish Service Enterprises in Germany. From 1991 for 8 years he was the simultaneously registered attorney of the Polservice Company and head of the company's division in Germany, - Marek Michałowski, President of the Supervisory Board of Budimex SA, in the years 2001-2013 President of the National Chamber of Construction and its legal successor – PZPB, - Piotr Kledzik, Member of the Management Board of Porr SA, from 2012 Chair of the PZPB Council, initiator of profound changes in this organisation, - Jan Mikołuszko, President of the Supervisory Board of Unibep SA, until May 2017 Member of the PZPB Council. Since September 2015 President of the Polish Cluster of Construction Exporters, and the originator of the association.

For the first time on the occasion of the anniversary the Association's Council decided to award Primus Inter Optimos prizes. These are awards for individuals and companies which have had a particular influence on the development of the Polish construction market. The jury, consisting of 100 people, considered among other factors a fair-play approach to partners, subcontractors and employees, and also taking actions for responsible business, and building a sustainable corporate value on the Polish construction market. Statuettes were given to Karol Heidrich, General Director of the Polish Chamber of Steelworks, and Wiktor Piwkowski, General Secretary of the Polish Association of Construction Engineers and Technicians. The award-winning companies included Atlas, Budimex, Omega KBM Wschód, Strabag and Unibep.

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Construction

OUR TOP GOAL FOR TODAY AND TOMORROW: TO BUILD WITH FUTURE GENERATIONS IN MIND BOGDAN S. CZAPCZUK – President of F.B.I. TASBUD S.A. and D.SC.ENG. ANDRZEJ M. CZAPCZUK – Vice-President of F.B.I. TASBUD S.A., Vice-President of the Polish Cluster of Construction Exporters, talks to Maciej Proliński.

Please accept my congratulations for the top awards you received at the 25th anniversary gala of the Polish Association of Construction Industry Employers. Let me first ask you how F.B.I. TASBUD S.A. has reached its current market position on the ever-changing Polish construction market over the past three decades or so?

B.CZ: At the outset, F.B.I. TASBUD faced exactly the same problems as other firms that started their business activities in the late 1980s. Many present readers will find these realities hard to comprehend and quite archaic.

PM

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Let me just say that the realities of the period when F.B.I. TASBUD started out were far different from present market realities. Please note that back then we could only pursue our activities on a very modest scale, just like any other firm which was launched at the time.

That is why our initial status in legal terms was that of a registered natural person. As time went by, the Polish market economy increasingly adopted professional standards. The growing portfolio of private and public construction projects in which F.B.I. TASBUD was involved led the Board of Directors to reach

the conclusion that the existing legal status no longer met market expectations. Neither was it sufficient for the firm’s development strategy.

Using its own resources, the firm was able to complete with companies which dominated the construction industry’s rankings of Polish general contractors at the time. That was why we decided that, as we continued to pursue the path of safe organic growth, we would transform the firm’s legal status to a fully professional one, namely that of a public limited company. This process was completed in 2015.

I would like to stress at this point that the

Construction F.B.I. TASBUD Board has from the early days in the 1980s been guided by the fundamental rules of corporate social responsibility. Among these, mention should be made of particular care for the well-being of the entire Polish construction market, its workers, and for the rights and interests of other people who are involved in projects implemented by our firm. Our guiding motto has always been that we are a firm with Polish roots which needs to face up to intense competition from foreign companies with vast potential, and that we must be equal to that task. We decided that we are able to face this challenge by inviting a number of promising, ambitious young graduates of university construction faculties and other schools, to work with us. They represented various jobs. They were required to prove that they had already won some professional experience in the construction industry, which they were able to further develop in our firm. This has allowed many of them to flourish and to become true professionals. Our decision was to base the development of our firm solely on Polish construction workers, both those with considerable experience, and those at the start of their professional lives who were keen to pursue a career in the construction industry. I reckon that our strategy was vindicated. Currently, in spite of an acute shortage of construction industry workers, our company is stable both in terms of its finances, management and cadres, which enables us to undertake all kinds of orders from private and public investors. Because we have trusted in the abilities and skills of our young employees who gained experience under the eye of our seasoned personnel in various fields of work, we have developed a huge pool of specialists.

It now enables us to implement even the most challenging investment projects. It is no secret that in recent years the Polish construction market became dominated by companies which did not necessarily have roots in Poland, did not have any experience of the Polish market, and were based on foreign capital. Faced with their competition, genuinely Polish firms were at a losing end. So it is with utmost satisfaction and a sense of fulfilment that I can say that the Polish potential of our firm with far fewer resources nevertheless led us to victory and the completion of a number of investment projects. This has enabled a number of Polish construction industry workers to gain valuable experience and develop.

PM

We’re experiencing a veritable housing construction boom in Poland. Public utility facilities are also being built, including sports facilities, hospitals and cultural centres. F.B.I. TASBUD has been

OUR IDEA IS FOR COMPANIES WITH POLISH CAPITAL TO WORK TOGETHER, INSTEAD OF COMPETING FOR INDIVIDUAL CONTRACTS ON FOREIGN MARKETS.

Echo Investment/Bomar Project

implementing a number of such projects.

Could you mention some of your flagship projects?

B.CZ.: This company does not make a distinction between flagship and non-flagship projects. Each of our investment projects is our showcase, our flagship undertaking.

There can be no compromising on quality. At the present moment we are genuinely observing a rapid increase in the number of orders from the housing development sector. There is also demand for service units. We are happy that the company’s standing makes key Polish developers interested in us. We are now implementing investment projects for some of the most recognised housing developers on a par with other construction firms involving foreign capital. We trust that on some of the sites, where we act as one of the companies commissioned for individual stages of the project, quality and technical safety are higher than those offered by other firms.

Our warranty department makes sure of that.

As far as investment projects of a special nature are concerned, we have been undertaking very complex and challenging projects in terms of social impact and military considerations. We have also built key cultural and medical facilities. We believe that, because of how experienced we are, it is our responsibility to do our absolute best during the implementation of facilities like these. I wish all the firms which compete for public procurement contracts, for instance in the health care sector and education, were aware of such responsibility. We are convinced that when we

secure a public procurement contract for the construction of a hospital, a school or another type of public utility building, it is our duty to make sure that this project is implemented according to schedule, and that the quality of the facility we have built will make it fully functional to serve the purpose it is intended for. When it comes to facilities like these, it is obvious that public expectations are particularly high and that in no way should we disappoint these expectations. It is the role of a professional general contractor to bring a project to a successful conclusion. The satisfaction of those who commission the order is a source of satisfaction for a general contractor. This is particularly true about commercial orders from private investors, although it opens up a whole new chapter of considerations.

Let me mention a few specific projects we have implemented, including the Alzheimer Centre in Warsaw’s Służew district, the Akogo Clinic run by Ewa Błaszczyk’s association and the extension of the Bielański Hospital in Warsaw. There have been so many such projects. I reckon mention should also be made of what has clearly become a cult building for Warsaw residents. As a born and bred Varsovian, I am particularly proud of the Kadr Cultural Centre we have built in the Mokotów district. It is unique on a European scale through some of its features, including a movable façade consisting of aluminium ‘pixels’ where any image or inscription can be displayed. I know that this has made quite a stir.

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Construction Based on the example of F.B.I. TASBUD, what would you say the strengths of a company with Polish roots are on the domestic construction market?

B.CZ.: „Based on experience, we build a stable future” is our motto. Please bear it in mind that a construction company with solely Polish roots cannot be equated with a contractor with foreign capital present on the general contracting market in Poland. Some of them are backed by major international companies, others receive financial support from governments. Polish companies must thus demonstrate how competitive their offer is compared to others. Aware of market realities, our company has decided that it is of crucial importance to implement innovative solutions geared toward cost-effectiveness.

To this end, a Research and Development Department has been set up within the company whose aim is to form a bridge between the world of business and science. This gives our company a valuable edge in terms of knowhow. Thanks to the R@D Department, F.B.I. TASBUD has developed a number of unique solutions for individual projects, which gives us a clear advantage in our bids and ultimately wins us the approval of investors. Moreover, the Research and Development Department provides excellent support for the company’s other departments through the implementation of trail-blazing innovative technologies.

This, again, gives our company a clear edge over our competitors. It is worth noting that in the current market situation, investors expect general contractors to adopt a flexible approach to the construction process. Only medium-sized and large companies which are able to make prompt decisions based on a good grasp of the local market, can meet these expectations. Those whose decision process is geographically dissipated can’t.

PM

In your assessment, does the Polish construction sector makes good use of its development capabilities? In what way does it help Polish construction companies to win contracts in foreign markets? A dozen companies with Polish capital have formally set up the Polish Cluster of Construction Exporters (PCOCE). How is this initiative developing?

A.CZ: This is our response to long-term challenges of the global economy. It is possible that the Polish construction market may shrink after the European Union discontinues financial assistance for investment projects once the last tranche of financial support has been exhausted. We have launched the PCOCE initiative aware of the fact that in the past century Polish construction services and products enjoyed a spotless reputation, PM

50 polish market

even though economic transformations that took place in Poland made it necessary to scale down the participation of Polish companies in construction projects broad. Yet, in many foreign countries memories of the excellent performance and capabilities of Polish construction crews are very much alive.

Our initiative and its slogan “World Solutions. Made in Poland” offers a real chance for the Polish construction sector to go global. Our idea is for companies with Polish capital to work together, instead of competing for individual contracts on foreign markets.

To speak with one voice, as it were. It is no secret that so far Polish construction companies have been present abroad mostly as subcontractors for international companies which acted as general contractors. If a Polish firm won a foreign contract as a general contractor, this was an exception rather than the rule. And even then, the projects were on a fairly modest scale and were not particularly lucrative. For a number of years this remained unchanged. Only now does the Cluster, which brings together Polish companies with plenty of potential, manpower capabilities and experience, strengthen the position of our firms on foreign markets. Let us bear it in mind that, while each country has its specific conditions, a significant part of the cluster’s members is to a greater or lesser extent familiar with local realties in a foreign country or region. It is crucial to know how to talk to foreign investors. Through sharing this information within the cluster, the invisible barrier will be overcome which prevented Polish companies from sharing their knowledge of how to secure contracts in foreign markets with their Polish competitors.

Let us bear it in mind that competition on foreign markets is fierce, both in terms of corporate, financial and management solutions. Co-operation along the lines of what our cluster is proposing functions very well in other European countries where clusters like ours additionally receive various forms of support from governments and even local government. In a way, the Polish Cluster of Construction Exporters can be described as a pioneering undertaking in this country.

In practical terms, companies which are grouped in the cluster do not just share knowhow. Wherever possible, they also make joint bids in tenders abroad. The benefits of being part of the cluster are thus manifold. They include access to a network of each partner’s contacts, successful transfer of technology and knowledge, broadening the offer by pooling the potential of cluster members, making joint bids, attracting new people and institutions, streamlining operation costs, and ultimately, winning attractive new contracts.

One should bear it in mind that the export of construction services is much more difficult than, say, the export of construction materials, where we only compete in terms of retail price and transport costs. In this case, it is crucial to be able to find your feet in a different legal system not just in a European Union member country, but also in countries of the Middle East, Far East and Africa.

On September 6-7 a delegation of the Polish Cluster of Construction Exporters took part in a mission to the Kazakh capital of Astana. Does it mean that this particular country and region are of special interest to the Cluster?

A.CZ. When it comes to foreign markets, there are no easy markets. According to our estimates, Kazakhstan is a very promising market, one we will continue to be interested in. After all, that country is keen to become a bridge between Europe and Asia, among other things because it lies on the New Silk Road. It must thus fully take advantage of its potential. It needs plenty of new infrastructure such as motorways and logistics centres.

This does not mean, however, that this is the only market which our Cluster is looking at.

Its members are already involved in some very interesting projects in Africa and the Middle East. F.B.I. TASBUD S.A. is strengthening its position in Scandinavia and Kuwait.

I would also like to point out that the Polish Cluster of Construction Exporters is closely in touch with the Ministry of Development, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Construction, the Polish Investment and Trade Agency and other institutions which deal with foreign economic relations. Those tenders for construction and infrastructural projects published all over the world which these institutions regard as worthy of our interest are analysed by us on a daily basis. .

PM

What potential of its own does F.B.I. TASBUD S.A. bring into the implementation of construction projects in foreign countries?

A.CZ: Within its structure, our company is successfully developing a construction export department which relies on its excellently educated, experienced Polish specialists who have profound knowledge of foreign trade and local conditions. One example of this potential is the experience gained during the company’s participation in investment projects in Libya in the past where a cement plant was modernised. You can safely say that the implementation of foreign construction projects by F.B.I. TASBUD S.A. is based on an interdisciplinary approach as representatives PM

Construction of various company departments are involved.

For instance, local spatial planning, geological and climate conditions are analysed. So are the machine park, materials and utilities available on site, along with financial terms and legal regulations. That is why practically all the company’s employees are involved in such challenging and complex projects including engineers, lawyers, logistics and HR specialists, architects and accountants. The process technology is either developed or analysed by the Research and Development Department. This is part of our HR management policies, as we believe that each of our employees should have the opportunity to develop through taking part in key projects, of which foreign investment projects are clearly part.

You are a businessman whose roots are in the world of science. You have mentioned the R&D Department which operates in your company. Is the new role of the academic community to offer its own intellectual potential?

A.CZ. In the next few years, the future of higher learning institutions will be decided on the scale of the continent. I reckon that in the combined educational and research environment, only those universities will survive that offer modern curricula and have considerable scientific achievements to their credit which are of practical use and can be commercialised. This is particularly true of about universities of technology.

It could seem that in the construction industry there would be less and less room for innovative solutions, yet scientific progress here is so dynamic, and its results are so easily available, that each construction firm is now able to take advantage of freely available solutions to be able to offer better services. Under my leadership F.B.I. TASBUD S.A. has long been actively working in partnership with the Warsaw University of Technology and other Polish universities of technology by constantly implementing solutions they have developed. Our R&D Department takes care of that. It supports the company’s operations by analysing new technologies, seeking new solutions that may improve technical safety and the standard of our services. This comes at no extra cost for our partners: our investors and commissioning parties. I actively participate in various congresses, conferences, symposia, presentations and public debates at home and abroad which serve the development of science in the fields of construction and artificial intelligence. A number of my scientific works on these subjects has been published. I trust that my input as a scientist paves the way toward innovative solutions in science and in practice, based on PM

the development of artificial intelligence. In particular, I’m interested in two areas: land engineering and environmental engineering.

In our company we have introduced practical training schemes for students and young engineers. We also employ them as process engineers to enable them to gain experience and start their professional careers in line with their field of studies. They are later invited to stay with us and develop their potential. This is one of the ways we try to get an edge over our competitors. We also take care to compile our bids in line with the principles of due diligence and to ensure that they take into account all market realities.

B.CZ. On my part, I would like to stress that for a number of years calls have been made for a bridge to be built between the worlds of science and business. During various meetings a lot of ideas about how to achieve it are thrown around, but none of them are substantiated. In our case, we have decided to build such a bridge by introducing a Research and Development Department.

Time and again we have introduced corrections to the way it operates to meet our expectations. Although it has taken us quite a long time to get there, we can now observe significant benefits stemming from our decision to create such a department within our firm.

PM

You score financial successes, but you are also keen to share the the fruit of your work with others. Can we talk about your pro bono activities?

A.CZ. I wouldn’t like it to sound like a cliché, but the principle of corporate social responsibility genuinely means more to us than a lofty slogan. We can’t imagine our work without adequately distributing our profit. We have seen time and again that it’s true what they say that what goes around, comes around. Our Board together with our employees offers support to children’s homes, homes for young mothers and schools throughout Poland.

B.CZ. We also provide financial backing for the Akogo Foundation as well as having a share in the construction of the Budzik Clinic. We built it at a very difficult moment for Ewa Błaszczyk [who runs it ed.] when the future of the project was hanging in the balance.

We decided not only to offer our potential as a construction company, but we also involved our financial resources to complete the project. At the time we were aware that we faced the risk that funding might not come from other sources.

Polish Market readers are English speakers, so for their benefit let me ask you what the acronym F.B.I. stands for?

B.CZ. That’s right, for an English-speaking reader the name may sound familiar and quite intriguing. But the truth is quite prosaic. The acronym comes from the Polish name Firma Budowlano Inwestycyjna, which means the Construction and Investment Company. We have used this name right from the start.

• PM

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Construction

CYBERSECURITY IN CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES.

HOW TO COUNTERACT THREATS. ARE WE READY TO DETECT AND RESPOND TO CYBERATTACKS IN TIME?

O

n 23-24 November 2017, at Mazurskie Centrum Kongresowe at Hotel Gołębiewski in Mikołajki, the Polish Association of Building Managers (PSMB) and the Faculty of Civil Engineering at the Warsaw University of Technology are organising a conference on cybersecurity for its members and supporters. The conference will be part of the “Management Education of Building Professionals“ series.

UNFORTUNATELY, CYBERATTACKS ARE NOW COMMONPLACE. The purpose of the conference is to highlight and address the issue of cybercrime, which has become a real and growing problem. We wish to help the participants realise how serious the risks are, and how important it is to address data security at various levels. With the help of the invited specialists, the conference will attempt to answer the question of whether we are ready to detect and respond to cyberattacks in time. It is essential to have a comprehensive corporate cybersecurity management policy in place for early threat detection.

Each conference in our series addresses economic, social and other issues and events crucial for building managers. Cyberattacks have recently become such an issue, affecting many industries, companies, banks, transport and telecommunications.

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All companies, including in the construction industry, have some assets under their control which require special protection. The security of industrial systems and production process controls are being exploited by cybercriminals to cause irreversible damage to the business operations and corporate image of companies. In the last six months, as many as 25% of companies have recorded a breach in their IT security. Many managers are of the opinion that cybersecurity is the domain of IT rather than being critical for corporate operations in general. We, as conference organisers, believe that the key to effective protection against cyberattacks is to raise awareness among company managers. Indeed, cybersecurity is the responsibility of CEOs and management. Company policies which lack provisions concerning cybersecurity, coupled with the failure to provide regular personnel training in this area, pose a serious threat to companies’ IT security.

For more detailed information about the conference, please visit www.psmb.pl.

The Polish Association of Building Managers is an organisation which brings together professionals with recognised professional qualifications of the highest level. Our operations focus on supporting Polish building managers in their efforts to reach European qualifications standards, and to set them up for business on international mar• kets.

Deputy President of the Management Board, PSMB JANUSZ ZALESKI, MSc European Building Expert

Construction

PRCH RETAIL RESEARCH FORUM

H1 2017 REPORT

Source: PRCH Retail Research Forum - H1 2017 Report - Polish Council of Shopping Centres

A

s of mid-2017, in Poland there were nearly 11.45 million sqm of space in projects representing the following formats: shopping centres (traditional, specialised and mixed-use), retail parks and outlets centres.

Throughout the past five years, the stock of modern retail space has increased by about 2.5 million sqm. The change of the market scale has not resulted in any considerable changes of its structure (the share of shopping centres has remained at around 90%, retail parks constitute 7–9% of the market, outlet centres account for 1–3%), there were some major changes in the location structure of each of these formats.

NEW RETAIL SPACE

In H1 2017, only 25,800 sqm of new retail space were delivered. The volume of the newly delivered space was 49% lower than that recorded in H1 2016.

During the last six months, a total of 5 projects was completed, of which 3 were new projects (17,000 sqm), and 2 were extensions of existing projects.

INVESTMENT MARKET

The retail sector continues to dominate in the investment market. Of EUR 1.5 billion spent on purchases of commercial properties in Poland, more than 60% accounted for

54 polish market

investments in the retail sector. The share of the office sector and the hotel sector amounted to respectively 11% and 12%, while the industrial sector totaled only 3%.

However, it is worth noting that it was three major portfolio transactions that accounted for the majority of the volume. The largest one, worth over EUR 220 million, was the purchase of four assets from Ikea Centers by Pradera fund.

CITY-SHAPING FUNCTIONS

A possibility of developing an entire city quarter means that such locations create a new quality in urban planning terms, and thanks to investors post-industrial areas have a chance to get a city-like character.

What is very important is the fact that the analyzed projects are friendly and open to people, among others, thanks to wisely-planned public spaces and street furniture. Apart from that, integrating many functions allows or will allow these projects to teem with life practically throughout most of the day. Such destinations are becoming a natural place for social integration of people using that space, be it office, residential, retail or leisure one.

E-COMMERCE

According to the omnichannel idea, the future of retail in the era of the digital revolution is running online sales, at the same time encouraging consumers to do traditional

Construction they enable using the Internet to find basic information, get familiar with PLN the product offer and find per capita the nearest bricks and 2016 r. - preliminary mortar stores. estimation The click & collect service and the function of June 2017 displaying the availability of a selected product in INFLATION UNEMPLOYMENT RATE specified locations are becoming increasingly pop% % ular in Poland. The next step is to enable customers the possibility of reJune 2017 June 2017 serving selected products and the option to return shopping. This is one of the greatest challenges for retailers, goods purchased online in selected locations, which will also but this approach meets the current expectations of conencourage them to visit a bricks and mortar store. So far, the sumers and does not condemn shopping centres to lose their brands that offer such amenities are still a minority in Poland, market position. but their number is growing systematically.

Consumers still want to come to traditional stores, reIn the era of the digital revolution and dynamically degardless of whether they visit them to make a purchase or beveloping e-commerce sector, traditional retail is facing ever greater challenges. Throughout the past seven years, the numcome familiar with the product offer. This thesis is supported ber of visitors in American shopping centres has dropped by by the online brands that have recently opened their bricks half. Although European stores are not at risk of such a rapid and mortar stores in Poland, such as: Uterque in Warsaw, decrease, it is necessary to adapt to the new reality where the Westwing Home & Living in Warsaw, Sugarfree in Poznań, Internet and new technologies play the key part. as well as the online giants Amazon and Google, whose traditional stores were opened respectively in Seattle and London.

Another example is Zara, which offers a considerable More and more retailers present in Poland understand the flexibility in using online and offline channels, and has just perspective of consumers, who perceive a retail chain as opened its largest store (nearly 20,000 sqm) in Madrid, prova single whole regardless of the location and channel. They ing that there is still place for traditional retail, provided that introduce solutions that blur the boundaries between the two it moves with the times. channels of sales and allow them to complement one another.

Bricks and mortar locations are necessary, but reRetail chains operating in Poland are aware of the need to tailers have to perceive the shopping world through communicate with consumers via social media and underthe eyes of their customers and offer them a full freestand the necessity of collecting information about them, esdom of choice, as the latter construe online and ofpecially while they are shopping online. Although they still fline stores as complementary – and not competitive – channels.

• perceive online and offline sales as two separate channels,

GDP

48,208

AVERAGE MONTHLY GROSS WAGES IN THE CORPORATE SECTOR IN PLN

4 508.08

1.1

4.8

CONCLUSIONS

RADOSŁAW KNAP, Director General, Member of the Board Polish Council of Shopping Centres: “The Polish retail market is about to exceed 12 million sqm; there are a few major openings, among others in Kraków, Warsaw and Wrocław in the pipeline. This, however, will take place in the second half of the year, whereas the first one was rather quiet in this respect. For the first six months of 2017, only 25,800 sqm of new retail space were delivered. The volume of the newly delivered space was 49% lower than that recorded in 2016. From January to June, a total of 5 projects were completed, of which 3 were new assets and 2 were extensions of existing projects. The investment market, where out of EUR 1.5 billion spent on purchases of commercial properties in Poland, more than 75% accounted for transactions in the retail sector, was much more active. Three large portfolio transactions comprised a considerable share of the volume. The biggest one of them was the purchase of a part of the Ikea Centers portfolio by Pradera.”

10/2017 polish market

55

Economy

THE GRAND OPENING OF THE GALERIA PÓŁNOCNA SHOPPING MALL

Galeria Północna – the first large-format shopping mall in the Białołęka District in Warsaw.

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aleria Północna features over 200 shops with flagship Polish and foreign brands. The mall's space is occupied by well-known and popular chains, such as a full-size Carrefour hypermarket, a Cinema City with 11 rooms, a modern Calypso fitness club, an EnelMed healthcare centre, and a food zone with over 20 units serving dishes from all over the world. The mall also features boutiques and pop-up stores which include brands new to Poland and Warsaw. The first mall in Białołęka matches the current trend of offering not only an extensive selection of shopping options but also fascinating leisure activities. With a lot of space to rest and regenerate, such as the roof garden with a playground for children, a chess board and a bowling pitch, a skate park, an open-air gym, and squares with fountains, Galeria Północna perfectly matches the green surroundings of the northern part of the city.

“Galeria Północna is the first cutting-edge shopping mall created in Warsaw in the last 10 years. The launch of this unique project requires a grand opening – ours lasted for more than two weeks,” said Agnieszka Nowak, Director of Galeria Północna. “On 14 September at noon we cut the ribbon and opened the facility. Between 14 and 17 September more than 150 stores prepared special offers and animations for their customers. We ended our celebrations on the weekend of 29 September to 1 October during our grand welcome event with stars”.

In addition to the well-known store chains selling clothing, shoes and accessories, Galeria Północna also features brands appearing for the first time in Warsaw, or even in

56 polish market

Poland. Customers will be able to shop for the first time at Zarina and Love Republic, Newbie, a boutique with children's clothing, the sports chains 4faces and GO Sneakers, and to buy interior-design products made by the Homla brand. Galeria Północna will also feature the British Hamleys – one of the world’s largest toy stores and an official supplier of toys for the youngest members of the British royal family. Every Hamleys store is a magical world where children can see, touch and even try all the products.

Galeria Północna attracts visitors not only with an original shopping and recreation package but also world-class art. In the central point of the mall there is the world’s highest – 24-metre – stainless-steel sculpture made using FiDU technology. “Wir” is the work of Oskar Zięta, one of the most recognised Polish designers. The artist’s pieces are displayed in renowned museums around the world, including the Pinakothek in Munich and MoMA in New York.

“The sculpture by Oskar Zięta brings new value to applied art. ‘Wir’ was created specially for Galeria Północna, which is why it is perfectly integrated with the building’s fabric.

Growing out of the lowest floor and climbing up to roof level, it leads customers through the mall's levels, and thanks to artistic references to nature it excellently supplements our environmentally friendly strategy,” emphasised Agnieszka Nowak.

Galeria Północna is the first large-format fourth-generation shopping mall in the northern part of Warsaw, and the first mall of its size to be opened in the capital city in more than

a decade. The facility with an area of over 64,000 sq. m is located on Światowida Street.

The investor and manager of Galeria Północna is the GTC Group, a leading real-estate developer and investor operating in Poland and three capital cities of Eastern Europe. Since its foundation in 1994 the Group has completed 65 topquality state-of-the-art office and commercial facilities with a total area of 1.1 million sq. m in the whole of Eastern Europe. Currently GTC is the owner and administrator of 35 commercial buildings, offering nearly 550,000 sq. m of office and retail space to its customers in Poland, Budapest, Bucharest, Belgrade and Zagreb. Furthermore, the Group is carrying out projects for over 300,000 sq. m of retail and office areas in capital cities of Eastern Europe, with works on 154,000 sq. m being in progress.

Based on the GTC Group's estimates, there are over 70 thousand people in the direct catchment area of the facility, including mainly young people and families with children. The specific characteristics of these target groups were taken into consideration not only in the commercial package but also in the architectural design of the building. The design prepared

by APA Wojciechowski and Tzur Architects includes a special arrangement of the roof, which facilitates active leisure among greenery. The building also meets the highest environmentalprotection standards, confirmed by the LEED Gold level precertification. Galeria Północna provides a shopping, leisure and service package previously unavailable to this part of the city. The commercialisation of Galeria Północna has been carried out by Cushman&Wakefield • and JLL.

Higher Education

WE BUILD A CULTURE OF QUALITY AT POLISH UNIVERSITIES WALDEMAR SIWIŃSKI, President of the Perspektywy Educational Foundation, talks to “Polish Market”. important for the credibility of the ranking.

The evolution of methodology through the introduction of new criteria and indicators and changes in their percentage weights is standard in professional rankings. This is to reflect changes in higher education and the changing scope of available information. We do our best to prevent changes introduced in our ranking from exceeding a 5% mark, which makes it possible to conduct year-onyear comparisons.

First excitement mounts, then there is the official gala during which ranking results are announced, followed by a run on the ranking.perspektywy.pl webpage, which at times becomes jammed due to the number of hits. That’s the climax of work on a ranking which creates quite a stir in the Polish academic community, and is noticed abroad. But the work of analysts who compile it takes months…

That’s right. We work on our ranking all year round. The most important thing in a professionally compiled ranking is to earlier define a set of clear and transparent criteria. Then comes data gathering, which must be done correctly, data processing, which must be done reliably, and a clear presentation of the results. Any modification of criteria and the addition of new ones is always preceded by study work with the participation of competent specialists and institutions.

PM

Before analysts get down to work, the rules must be defined by the ranking’s chapter.

The chapter makes sure that everything is done by the book in line with procedures.

Its role is to draw up the ranking’s methodology, supervise the procedures, approve and announce the results. The chapter includes representatives of prestigious academic centres and employers who hire university graduates. It currently works under Professor Michał Kleiber, former President of the Polish Academy of Sciences and former minister of science and information technology.

PM

Where do you obtain data to compile the ranking?

The data is obtained from official sources such as data bases of POL-on [the Education Ministry’s register ed.], the Central Statistical Office, the Patent Office and the Elsevier PM

58 polish market

The ranking is known as the Perspektywy University Ranking, but in fact it encompasses several different rankings.

These individual rankings reflect the various missions of the main groups of Polish higher learning institutions. They are as follows: = The Ranking of Universities covers all public and non-public higher learning institutions in Poland (with the exception of arts schools) authorised to grant doctoral and post-doctoral degrees. = The Ranking of Non-Public Universities (which offer master’s degrees), out of which 20 are authorised to grant doctoral degrees and 5 to grant post-doctoral degrees. = The Ranking of State Higher Schools of Vocational Education = The Ranking of Degree Courses, which this year covers as many as 68 principal majors. We believe that this ranking is particularly useful for candidates.

PM

publication. Replies to questionnaires sent to universities and own studies (academic staff surveys and employers’ surveys) are other data sources.

The ranking’s criteria evolve along with changes in Polish higher education.

That’s correct. In 2000 we started out with three criteria measured with the use of 15 indicators. In the 2017 edition a set of seven criteria was applied. 33 indicators were analysed. This methodological evolution of the ranking reflects changes in the Polish higher education system. The introduction of a new criterion and indicator is preceded by several years of studies and consultations. It is very PM

Who is the University Ranking addressed to in particular?

On the one hand, it is targeted at secondary school leavers looking for a place to study.

We have prepared a ranking app for them available free on Google Play. On the other hand, our ranking builds a culture of qual• ity at Polish universities.

PM

Regions

HIGHER EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS LEAGUE TABLE 2017

1

University of Warsaw

26

Poznań University of Life Sciences

1

Jagiellonian University

27

The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin

3

Warsaw University of Technology

27

Maria Curie Skłodowska University in Lublin

4

Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań

29

Warsaw University of Life Sciences – SGGW

4

Wrocław University of Technology

30

Medical University of Silesia in Katowice

6

AGH University of Science and Technology

30

Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin

7

University of Wrocław

32

Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences

8

Medical University of Gdańsk

32

University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn

9

Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń

34

Military University of Technology

10

Gdańsk University of Technology

35

Lublin University of Technology

10

Medical University of Warsaw

35

Wrocław University of Economics

12

SGH Warsaw School of Economics

35

Lazarski University

13

Silesian University of Technology in Gliwice

35

Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University in Warsaw

14

Łódź University of Technology

39

SWPS University of Social Sciences and Humanities

15

University of Łódź

39

University of Agriculture in Kraków

15

Koźmiński University in Warsaw

41

West Pomeranian University of Technology in Szczecin

15

Wrocław Medical University

42

Częstochowa University of Technology

18

University of Silesia in Katowice

43

Tadeusz Kościuszko Cracow University of Technology

19

Poznań University of Medical Sciences

44

Polish-Japanese Academy of Information Technology

20

Poznań University of Technology

45

University of Białystok

20

Medical University of Łódź

46

Opole University of Technology

22

University of Gdańsk

47

Jan Kochanowski University in Kielce

22

Medical University of Białystok

48

University of Szczecin

24

Medical University of Lublin

49

University of Life Sciences in Lublin

25

Poznań University of Economics and Business

50

University of Rzeszów

10/2017 polish market

59

Defence Sector

THE 25TH INTERNATIONAL DEFENCE INDUSTRY EXHIBITION MSPO

A DEMONSTRATION OF POLISH POWER

N

early 28,000 metres of exhibition space, 618 exhibitors from 27 countries, 67 official international delegations, and thousands of visitors – this is MSPO 2017 in a nutshell.

The official opening of the Jubilee edition of the Exhibition was carried out by Antoni Macierewicz, Minister of National Defence, who said: “This Jubilee year for the Kielce-based Defence Industry Exhibition is also an extremely important year for Poland's defence system.

The expression 'If you want peace, prepare for war' seems more than appropriate. Poland craves peace, knowing exactly what war means. Since war is the last thing we want, we attach so much attention to the defence sector, and to a strong and well-equipped army, through the determination, involvement and effort made by the Government of the Republic of Poland. The Strategic Defence Review, which was performed earlier this year within the Polish Armed Forces, revealed the need to conduct the reorientation and technical modernisation of the Army. This reorientation will require more than PLN 550 billion in the upcoming 14-years…

Looking at these 618 exhibitors gathered in Kielce, over 50% of whom come from Poland, the remaining ones being our long-standing partners, I am certain that the upcoming modernisation will progress smoothly, as have many of the multi-annual army programmes implemented to date.

These include the AHS KRAB self-propelled tracked howitzer programme, with the first squadron already commissioned for the Polish Armed Forces, the RAK mortar programme, and other programmes, among which the modern pontoon bridge programme can be mentioned."

60 polish market

Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa S.A. (PGZ) acted as MSPO’s strategic partner, paying much attention to an effective product display, both inside and outside the Expo halls. One would be right to say that the PGZ exhibits have created the greatest interest among visitors. Halls C and D, and space outside the halls, featured PGZ's flagship products, which invariably make the Polish Army more modern. PGZ is the Polish industry leader and one of the largest defence groups

Defence Sector

in Europe, comprising over 60 companies (operating in defence, ship building, and new technologies) and generating annual revenues of ca. PLN 5 billion. By using the potential of Polonised technologies’, pursuing cooperation with Polish scientific circles, and placing emphasis on the research and development process, PGZ is capable of delivering innovative security-oriented products.

Visitors could hold an MSBS and a Beryl assault rifle, both produced by the Łucznik arms factory (Fabryka Broni Łucznik), and examine the Soviet T-72 tanks modernised by Bumar-Łabędy. The exhibits ranged from soldiers' underwear and uniforms to helicopters, assault vehicles, warship models, flight simulators, and space mechanisms.

MSPO 2017 provided an opportunity for as many as 330 Polish companies to present their products. Visitors could see six military helicopters, including the AW 101 and the Głuszec (PZL Świdnik), the Apache AH-64 and the Blackhawk UH-60 (The US Army), as well as the S-70i Black Hawk (PZL Mielec/Sikorsky Company) and the Mi-8MTV-1 (Aviation Company Ukrainian Helicopters).

CONTRACTS, AGREEMENTS AND LETTERS OF INTENT

However, the International Defence Industry Exhibition was not only a vehicle for demonstrating the capacities of military producers, but it also created an opportunity to sign contracts, agreements and letters of intent.

On the very first day of MSPO 2017 a contract was signed between Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa S.A., comprising Fabryka Broni Łucznik- Radom Sp. z o.o., and the Military Unit NIL. Its subject-matter was the purchase and supply of the Grot C 16 FB-M1 assault rifle, forming part of the product range referred to as the Modular Firearm System (Polish: MSBS).

This was another agreement which had recently been signed by the Arms Factory for the supply of Grot assault rifles to the Polish Army. On 31 August 2017, a contract was also concluded at the HQ of the Armaments Inspectorate regarding the supply of 490 parade MSBS rifles. The contract value was established at nearly PLN 0.5 billion, and the first batch, comprising around 1,000 rifles, is to be delivered to the Territorial Defence Force by 30 November this year. The entire order is to be completed by 2020.

“This is a very important contract for us. I am glad that the negotiations were successful and led to the contract’s being signed. The Polish Armed Forces are finally about to use Polish weapons, as it is worth stressing that the Grot assault rifle, forming part of the Modular Firearm System range, is an all-Polish product, developed jointly by Łucznik and the Military University of Technology. As the President of Fabryka Broni Łucznik, I am more than proud of that,” said Adam Suliga, President of Fabryka Broni Łucznik – Radom sp. z o.o.

Błażej Wojnicz, President of the Board of PGZ S.A., did not hide his enthusiasm either. “The extent of the order makes this contract one of the largest arms supply contracts which have been concluded by the Polish Armed Forces in the last dozen or so years. It is also worth noting that the military units will, for the first time ever, receive such a

large number of assault rifles which are not an improved version of previously used models but a brand-new product developed by Polish engineers and technicians, in line with the latest global firearm construction trends,” said President Wojnicz.

CYBER SECURITY IS THE KEY

The first day of MSPO 2017 also saw the establishing of QBiTT Sp. z o.o., a limited-liability company whose principal objective will be to provide cyber security solutions for the armaments sector. The company was established under a cooperation agreement between PGZ and Exatel S.A. Its formation also reflects the implementation of the cyber security plans by the Ministry of National Defence, supervising the activities of both companies. Minister Macierewicz, in his opening speech, also referred to this major event. “I want to stress the role of PGZ, and its cooperation with Exatel, which will foster an entirely new perspective on cyber defence in the Republic of Poland, both in Polish industry and the Army,” said Minister Macierewicz. "This opens new prospects for cyber defence quality in the Republic of Poland, which is likely to prompt the efficient implementation of the NATO decision on cyberspace, which is one of the new and crucial areas of defence and armed conflicts, which needs to be acknowledged in order to ensure Poland's security. In the nearest future, PLN 2 billion from the Ministry of Defence's budget will be allocated for this purpose.”

“We are happy to co-form a group of entities creating national cyber sovereignty, by offering our fully-controllable solutions which will be considered safe,” said Szczepan Ruman, a Member of the Board of PGZ S.A. Nikodem Bończa Tomaszewski, President of the Board of Exatel S.A., further added: “As the Polish ICT security services market leader, we are seeking to build national competencies. The newly established company is displaying the 10/2017 polish market

61

Defence Sector

potential for developing innovative solutions which can successfully compete with the products currently available on the market. It is also of essence that the new products will be created by a Polish workforce, classified among the global leaders.”

THE POLISH ARMY TO RECEIVE HIGH-TECH EQUIPMENT

On the second day of MSPO 2017, ZM Tarnów S.A., PCO S.A., WCBKT S.A. and Belma S.A., companies forming part of PGZ, signed a contract with the Armament Inspectorate of the Ministry of National Defence regarding the supply of high-tech equipment to the Polish Army. The contract signed by ZM Tarnów involves the supply of over 650 repeatable “Bor” bolt-action 7.62x51mm NATO calibre sniper rifles. The rifle design reflects the latest material standards, tactical needs, and ergonomic conditions of prospective users. The weapon is equipped with a universal bar for optical sight mounting, and an additional set of mounting bars suitable for other devices. PCO S.A. – the largest Polish producer of optical electronic observation and aiming devices – concluded a contract for the supply of night-vision devices, including MU-3ADM goggles and NPL-1M binoculars, constituting individual soldiers' equipment. Under the agreement concluded with Belma S.A., over 150 sets of mine cassettes with scatterable MN-123 mines will be delivered. The MN-123 devices are intended for establishing minefields by means of an engineered scatterable mining system. Finally, WCBKT S.A. will supply LUZES V/N units for airfield electrical power supply. Their purpose is to supply power to aircraft onboard systems during engine startups, and to verify the technical condition of the onboard equipment at any place in the airfield or landing strip.

KNOW-HOW

In the attendance of Bartosz Kownacki, deputy Defence Minister, an agreement was also signed between PGZ and Bell Helicopter involving a joint study on the provision of an industrial package connected with the sales of helicopters to Poland. In December 2016 a letter of intent was signed to establish cooperation regarding the AH-1Z Viper attack helicopter as part of the PMT Kruk Technical Modernisation Programme. The enterprises also expressed their willingness to cooperate in other areas, as a result of which another letter of intent was signed in July 2017, extending the cooperation by including the UH-1Y Venom helicopter. The helicopters mentioned share 85% of elements, parts, systems and structures.

“This contract opens up new opportunities for PGZ to cooperate with Bell Helicopter at a more detailed level. The purpose of this cooperation is not only to provide the Polish Armed Forces with top-quality equipment, but also to promote the maximum involvement of the Polish defence industry in the process in question. Our objective is to create new jobs in Polish production plants, and to facilitate their contributing ‒ through the technology transfer established ‒ to the development of the Polish economy,” said Adam Lesiński, Deputy President of PGZ. “We will also seek to cooperate with the production of parts for other aircraft models. This, however, requires further negotiations.”

THE NATIONAL EXHIBITION OF SOUTH KOREA

National Exhibitions organised since 2004 have become an established tradition of the International Defence Industry Exhibition. This year, the country showing its defence potential at a national exhibition was South Korea, with 20 companies operating in that country and Korean defence ministry officials present at MSPO. The following countries have held their National Exhibitions apart from South Korea: Germany, France, Israel, the USA, Sweden, the V4 States, • the United Kingdom, Italy, Turkey and Norway.

62 polish market

WSK

Infrastructure

"PZL- KALISZ" WSK "PZL- KALISZ" S.A.

has been a plant of the Polish Aviation Industry since 1952 and has been producing radial piston engines ASz-62IR of 1000 HP for aircrafts AN-2 and M-18 “Dromader”, Y5B and “Otter”.

An ASz-62IR piston engine holds a number of international certificates (including certificates issued by aviation authorities of USA, Canada, Brazil, Russia and PRC). The company also performs overhauls and repairs of these engines. At this time we have completed upgrading process of this engine by implementation of the electronic controlled fuel injection system and by enabling car fuel E95 application along with automotive fuel drive.

Simultaneously we are conducting development works on a new type piston engine PZL-200 of 280 HP. As a result of our company’s restructuring process we have expanded our commercial offer with gears and gear transmissions that we now manufacture for world aviation industry leaders.

Within our production scope of interest are also parts for high pressure engines, oil pumps and crankcases. These components require top precision machining accuracy classes, which we accomplish when meeting the requirements of our Customers’ special orders.

Our continuous goal and ambition is to meet our Customer’s engineering challenges and expectations as part of our technical qualifications and production capacities.

We can offer a world class sophisticated machining capabilities, highly skilled, qualified and experienced engineering personnel and operators.

We keep on looking for new markets and business partners, especially in manufacturing of high precision and processing complexity aviation parts.

We are prepared to initiate a business relationship with any partner representing a similar production portfolio

WSK "PZL- KALISZ" S.A.

holds the following certificates: AS 9100, AQAP-2110, PART 21G-M and PART 145.

5-6/2017 polish market

63

Cultural Monitor

CM

CM – October 2017

THE OCTOBER CULTURAL MONITOR RESOUNDS TO THE TUNE OF MYSTERIOUS AND EMOTIONAL MUSIC (SENSES AND SHADES OF MUSIC). RECORDS AND CONCERTS RECOMMENDED BY MACIEJ PROLIŃSKI.

RECORDS

“ROGOWSKI: SONGS AND FANTASMAGORIES" – DUX – 2CD

A marvellous edition of the double album “Songs & Fantasmagories” by the illustrious Polish mezzo-soprano Izabela Kopeć, accompanied by the Orchestra of the Polish National Opera, conducted by Łukasz Borowicz, and the pianist Ewa Pelwecka. A set of a dozen or so songs (disc 1) and “Fantasmagories for voice and chamber orchestra” (disc 2) composed by Ludomir Michał Rogowski, is the result of many years of research by the Polish mezzo-soprano into the forgotten oeuvre of this Polish composer. Ludomir Michał Rogowski (1881-1954) graduated from the Institute of Music in Warsaw and continued his education in Leipzig, Munich, Rome and Paris.

During World War 1, he lived in the capital of France, where he conducted a choir and composed. In 1921, he returned to Warsaw, and, in December 1926, he moved to settle in Dubrovnik. In his work, displaying the influence of French impressionism, one can discern some elements of Eastern and early Slavic cultures. The composer very often used a whole tone scale. His chamber-music pieces (including the songs on the record), which are interesting in harmonious and structural terms, are brimming with atmosphere, balladic nature, and lyrical simplicity, which can be noticed from the start. “I was intrigued by this unknown artist from Lublin. His mysticism, sensitivity to beauty, and nonconformity indicated a very interesting artist. I started my search. This was not easy, as his vocal and instrumental music has never been recorded,” said Izabela Kopeć. One can see that in this great mystery of (low-key yet colourful) Rogowski’s music, which is both national and greatly cosmopolitan, she has discovered a fragment of its secret. This is worthy of commendation! If one so consciously returns to the work of a Polish artist who was so conscious of both his way and creation, then the educational and culture-forming roles are probably played to the fullest.

ADAM BAŁDYCH – “BROTHERS” – ACT MUSIC – CD

“Brothers”recorded with the Norwegian Helge Lien Trio and the saxophonist Tore Brunborg making a guest appearance, is already the 4th record by one of the hottest names of young Polish jazz, the great violinist and composer, Adam Bałdych, recorded for the prestigious ACT Music record label. The music, dedicated to the memory of the late brother of the artist, is composed of eight new, original, pieces by Bałdych, and a fantastic cover of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah”. The pieces follow the European stream of musical improvisation, bordering on jazz and classical music, with some element of indie rock. This gives Bałdych’s music, as the composer himself states, a peculiar “coarseness and rebellious vibe”. I can feel that this album is a work of a profound need of the soul. It is somewhat innocent, non-calculating and overflowing with a poetic aura. And uncompromising! This music, despite the apparent slowness and calmness of the ballads, and often despite clear signs of their charming beauty, also introduces a more energetic stream of anxiety, which always appears when we are dealing with artistry. All this is, however, “something more” than... “professional, elegant jazz performance”. This “something” is the great mystery of art, which, in this case, is the art of jazz.

PIOTR SCHMIDT; WOJCIECH NIEDZIELA - “DARK MORNING” - SJRECORDS CD

Piotr Schmidt, a distinguished young trumpeter, and Wojciech Niedziela, a recognised and undisputed master jazz pianist, joined forces under their new project. After more than a year of giving concerts, the time has come to put their latest musical pieces (mainly composed by Wojciech Niedziela) permanent - on record. All music lovers should listen attentively to their story. It is masterfully and organically woven together, perfectly thoughtout and again... features unreal emotions served in an indirect way. One can hear that the whole material was probably carefully thought out in all spheres, and the individual topics must have troubled the artists’ hearts and souls for a long time. “Dark Morning” includes compositions catering for more sophisticated audiences, clear themes, and incredibly convincing improvised pieces. Every sound fringes upon simplicity, clear melodies, and musical equilibristics. And again... this very coherent whole serves as an excuse for a form of musicmaking which is open to experimentation, in which every non-random sound, as well as the tension between the musicians, matter. This dialogue between the “young” and the “experienced” appears to be exquisitely clear in intent and execution. The artists do not give you any hints, and the tunes of this dialogue become pages with recorded moments, and, often, changeable moods. This also proves the great originality of the musicians.

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Cultural Monitor

CONCERTS

THE WARSAW AUTUMN INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF CONTEMPORARY MUSIC CELEBRATES ITS JUBILEE 60TH EDITION! This is the largest international contemporary music festival organised in Poland. For many years it was also the only festival of its kind in Central Europe. The jubilee, held on 15-23 September 2017, gave us a special opportunity to think about the past and tradition of the Festival, memorable concerts and figures. It harked back to great successes and breakthroughs, but, more importantly, it took up the topic of avant-garde, which constitutes the core and identity of the “Warsaw Autumn”. The festival also refers to the historical role of Autumn, as an important point for meeting and exchanging artistic ideas in Central and Eastern Europe. One had an opportunity to hear pieces by composers of the generation which had entered its musical life with the first Autumns: Tadeusz Baird, Wojciech Kilar, Krzysztof Penderecki, Bogusław Schaeffer, Luigi Nono, Isang Yun. The musical language of these prominent figures was juxtaposed with the styles of the young and medium generations. The figures of Pierre Jodlowski, Tadeusz Wielecki, Christophe Bertrand, Alexander Schubert, Brigitta Muntendorf and Johannes Kreidler were presented in more detail.

LA FOLLE JOURNÉE “LA DANSE”

The eighth edition of the La Folle Journée Festival, organised by the Sinfonia Varsovia Orchestra, took place between 29 September 2017 and 1 October 2017 in Teatr Wielki - Polish National Opera in Warsaw. 55 concerts, involving nearly 1000 performers from around the world, were played. This year’s leitmotif was “La Danse”. At the festival, there appeared world music stars, such as Alena Baeva and the Apollon Musagète Quartett. In addition to renowned musicians, La Folle Journée also invites the best bands from musical schools from the whole of Poland, giving young artists an opportunity to perform in front of a wide public. The Festival’s programme included primarily the most interesting examples of classical music inspired by dance. Moreover, the repertoire included pieces presenting the influence of dance on other musical genres, from musicals to film scores and jazz, and also a number of examples of dance influencing folk and oriental music. Furthermore, the festival saw dance shows and workshops, educational meetings and special concerts for children. La Folle Journée is an international music festival organised since 1995. It was founded by René Martin, organiser of festivals and numerous concerts around the world, who also acts as the Artistic Director of the festival. The festival has been for many years organised in France, Japan, and, since 2010, also in Poland. The mission of the festival is to overcome the stereotypes connected with classical music, by organising short concerts with an accessible and diversified programme. The low ticket prices (PLN 12-17!) and plethora of free concerts allow audiences to freely participate in many events.

“PILOTS” - A PREMIERE IN THE ROMA THEATRE!

From 7 October 2017 the Roma Musical Theatre in Warsaw will stage a new Polish musical, “Pilots”, directed by Wojciech Kępczyński. The performance is inspired by the fates of No. 303 Polish Fighter Squadron pilots and the historic events connected primarily with the Battle of Britain. It is also a deeply emotional tale about love, interrupted by World War 2, and about the love between Jan, a young Polish pilot, and Nina, a cabaret actress and singer in Warsaw. From nearly 600 people who had applied, approximately 70 actors, vocalists and dancers qualified to appear in the show. These include artists who performed in previous Roma shows, but for some it will be a début on the theatre’s stage. The protagonists, Nina and Jan, will be played by Zofia Nowakowska (with Edyta Krzemień and Natalia Krakowiak appearing as her doubles) and Jan Traczyk (the doubles being Przemysław Zubowicz and Paweł Mielewczyk). The Director of the Roma Theatre and the show has invited his permanent collaborators to work on “Pilots”, and he will be assisted by Sebastian Gonciarz. The musical score was entrusted to the brothers Kuba and Dawid Lubowicz, the lyrics were written by Michał Wojnarowski, the set design is being prepared by Jeremi Brodnicki, the costumes by Dorota Kołodyńska, the choreography by Agnieszka Brańska, and the lighting direction will be the responsibility of Marc Heinz. The visual aspect of the show will be prepared by the famous Platige Image!

DOROTA MIŚKIEWICZ, PIANO.PL – A FULL VERSION OF THE CONCERT IN THREE CITIES IN POLAND!

The spectacular PIANO.PL concert by jazz vocalist Dorota Miśkiewicz, including collaboration with a dozen or so outstanding pianists, returns with its full version in three concerts in Poland. Audiences will have an opportunity to attend this event in Warsaw (31 October 2017), Wrocław (17 December 2017) and Katowice (28 April 2018). It is a tribute to the Polish pianist. As noted by Dorota Miśkiewicz, the piano is a Polish specialty, and, among the many fantastic musicians, pianists are the leading force in Poland. As for Dorota, jazz is the dearest type of music, and she primarily underlines the achievements of Polish jazz pianists, who are spectacularly following the way once walked by the world-renowned Krzysztof Komeda. This is the way paved by Fryderyk Chopin, who was not only a great composer and pianist, but also... an improviser! During the concert, Dorota Miśkiewicz will engage in chamber music duets with brilliant pianists from various generations. These pianists include those who have shaped the history of Polish jazz (for example Włodzimierz Nahorny, Andrzej Jagodziński), younger artists (such as Leszek Możdżer, Marcin Wasilewski), and representatives of the youngest generation (Dominik Wania, Piotr Orzechowski). Some duets will be accompanied by the fantastic Atom String Quartet. The concert’s programme includes well-known songs from the Polish standard repertoire, the selection of which was a matter of Dorota’s personal preference and subjective feeling for the music and text.

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Culture

The Opera Gallery is a joint project implemented by Teatr Wielki – Polish National Opera and the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw. It has been initiated by Waldemar Dąbrowski, director of Teatr Wielki-Polish National Opera, and Adam Myjak, Rector of the Academy of Fine Arts. This place is worth remembering on the occasion of attending a concert or a performance.

The current Opera Gallery season was inaugurated by an exhibition of works by Wojciech Sadley.

The exhibition is open until 4 November 2017.

A NEW SEASON AT THE OPERA GALLERY Maciej Proliński

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he Gallery showcases classic Polish avant-garde works, a generation of artists who laid the foundations for contemporary Polish art. The Gallery is open on Wednesdays, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., as well as one hour before each performance and during the intervals.

“The idea was derived from the romantic notion of ‘La correspondance des arts’ - a community of artists and arts under one roof. The Opera Gallery is an expression of the willingness to introduce one more value to this space,” says Waldemar Dąbrowski director of Teatr WielkiPolish National Opera. “Thanks to this broadly understood concept, which I have always been trying to implement in a natural way,that is a community of artists and arts under one roof, it can be said that the Opera Gallery is simply the most frequently attended Polish gallery, as every other evening approximately 1000 people view the exhibition of outstanding Polish creators of Polish modern art working during the times when Polish culture was the only one east of the Elbe river connecting with the main artistic trends of Europe and the world. During the previous seasons, the gallery, which is closely integrated into our institution’s space, played an important part in the life of our opera, presenting works by artists creating Polish modern art: Stanisław Fijałkowski, Tadeusz Dominik, Franciszek Starowiejski, Jerzy Mierzejewski and Edward Dwurnik.”

The outstanding figure of this season at the Opera Gallery is Wojciech Sadley (born in 1932

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in Lublin), a versatile artist and teacher, lecturer at the Warsaw Academy of Fine Arts.

His works are accessible to viewers until 4 November 2017. He attended the Lublin Music Conservatory. He also studied at the Faculty of Interior Design in the ateliers of Prof.

Czesław Knothe, Prof. Jan Kurzątkowski and Prof. Jerzy Soltan (diploma in 1954), as well as at the Faculty of Painting, in the atelier of Prof. Eugeniusz Eisbich (diploma in 1959) at the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw. He devoted his time to academic research work at the Institute of Industrial Design. He makes paintings, sketches, collages, unique fabrics and spatial compositions. He is an artist recognisable worldwide, a winner of numerous international competitions. His experimental works have had a huge influence on the development of contemporary fabrics.

"My outlook on reality, human beings, nature and tradition stems from the awareness that everything is undergoing transformation and is constantly changing. What I do also serves these changes, it is part of them. These constant transformations are natural, just as the changing seasons of the year and passing generations. I think that a really good work of

art should be unfinished. It should only appear perfectly complete in a technical sense, and in reality it should be something that never ends," states Wojciech Sadley.

The fabric which is closest to the artist is silk, as he has worked very hard to get to know it, and, as he says, he can hear its sound.

It is a fabric which can be unpredictable and can surprise at times. Their long-lasting relationship allowed the fabric to be tamed by the Master, and, as a result of their cooperation, a significant part of Wojciech Sadley’s art was created. His art is unique and one of a kind. It expresses the connection between matter and spirituality, and it is transcendental. Fabric here is an unstable, ever-changing thing, and Sadley's work on the fabric imparts its unusual character and soul. In this way each of his works open up additional space, hidden under the superficial, ephemeral and destructible elements, presenting the depth of spirituality, which is a component of every human being – immortal, everlasting and eternal. The uniqueness of his art is also expressed in non-woven materials, such as wood, leather, metal, coral, or even birds’ feathers.

Sadley’s work makes the truth about what is essential in a human being come to the surface, and inspires the viewers to reflect. The viewers are also encouraged to see the hidden, mysterious and intangible, yet existing things. The painter invites us on an inward journey. It is impossible to walk past his works indifferent!

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Culture

CASTLE GROUNDS REFURBISHED

Following the refurbishment of the Upper Garden, opened in 2015, revitalisation work has commenced in the Lower Garden of the Royal Castle in Warsaw.

“The Castle will now have a magnificent garden adjoining the Vistula river, which will further add to its splendour”, says Przemysław Mrozowski, Director of the Royal Castle. The project’s cost is estimated at PLN 23 million, with 18 million coming from EU funds and the rest from a subsidy provided by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage.

The refurbishment of the Lower Garden is to be completed by spring 2019.

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he Lower Garden at the Royal Castle in Warsaw, together with the Terrace and the Castle, were registered as monuments in July 1965 (Reg. No. 620/1). The Historical Centre of Warsaw, where the Castle is located, was recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in September 1980. In doing so, UNESCO approved the recreation of the urban plan, the Old Town Market, and townhouses, and the reconstruction of the Royal Castle. In fact, the reconstruction of the Royal Castle marked the last step in the rebuilding process. Therefore, in a way, the Royal Castle in Warsaw, together with its Gardens, is not only part of the area included in the World Heritage List, but also serves as a time frame for the reconstruction of the Old Town in Warsaw as one of its key elements. On 8 September 1994, the President of the Republic of Poland recognised the Historical Centre of Warsaw, together with the Royal Route and Wilanów palace and park, as a historic monument.

Since the Gardens and the Castle buildings make a structural whole, the refurbishment of the Lower Garden will mark the end of the reconstruction of the Royal Castle in Warsaw, which started in 1971. The project has been eagerly anticipated by Castle visitors, and is to faithfully restore the grounds to their former glory from the times of the First and the Second Polish Republic.

The Lower Garden covers an area of approximately 1.9 hectares along the Vistula, east of the Kubicki Arcades. Its spatial layout

corresponds to that of the Castle and the Arcades. Having repeatedly lost and regained their splendour over the years, the Royal Gardens in Warsaw have a history which goes back to the 15th century. In the 19th century, the garden between the escarpment and the Vistula was designed by Jakub Kubicki, but it was ravaged following the November Uprising.

The last comprehensive development plan for this space was prepared during the inter-war period by Adolf Szyszko-Bohusz, a renowned architect. The plan was implemented in 1937.

The surviving remnants of that design are bosquets of trimmed several-dozen-year-old hornbeams, which create a shaded labyrinth at the foot of the escarpment. However, the original layout of the landscape has mainly been lost. The garden grounds have also decreased in size, i.a., as a result of the construction of the East-West Route.

Now the former glory of the Lower Garden is to be restored with a design prepared by the Ogród, Park, Krajobraz [Garden, Park, Landscape] studio run by Jakub Zemła and Tomasz Zwiech.

The refurbishment of the garden will fill a missing, yet important, element in the Warsaw landscape by the Vistula. The Castle grounds below the Kubicki Arcades will be provided with a diverse green space with various garden components. The Lower Garden is to include many park elements, such as fountains, espaliers, paths and flower beds. The refurbished garden will be accessible to visitors free of charge. The Garden design will hark

Maciej Proliński

back to the period when Poland regained its independence, shortly before the outbreak of WWII, and when the finally renovated Castle Garden regained its splendour on the basis of Adolf Szyszko-Bohusz’s design. That pre-war glory was captured in some post-war photographs of the Royal Castle’s ruins, and some trees from that period have survived until the present day. “Our primary objective is for the design to embrace the style, ideas, and solutions found in Szyszko-Bohusz’s sketches and plans. He designed the garden with unique masterly skill”, says Jakub Zemła, co-author of the new refurbishment design. “Our solutions are the by-products of many compromises. What is important is the contemporary setting of the garden. It needs to embrace its history. In order to bring the garden back to life, substantial engineering work is necessary”, he adds.

“The garden surrounds one of the most representative buildings in Warsaw. Aware of this fact, Szyszko-Bohusz generally focused on maintaining balance. The garden was designed on the basis of two axes of symmetry, with blocks of greenery arranged around them. The initial intention of the architect was to also shape the garden space vertically. The central parts were the lowest, and the garden grew higher and higher towards its periphery. Now these elements are largely in decline. We wish to recreate them, so that the garden rises towards the Castle, emphasising its key elements”, concludes Tomasz Zwiech.

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Culture

WE REMEMBER

THE MASTER! The 4th Ignacy Jan Paderewski International Festival, organised by the AVE ARTE foundation on 4-10 November 2017, will celebrate the 157th anniversary of the Master’s birth. The Festival is aimed at popularising the historic achievements and oeuvre of the great Polish patriot, world-renowned pianist and composer, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Second Polish Republic, Knight of the Virtuti Militari order, and Honorary Citizen of Warsaw, Ignacy Jan Paderewski. The "Polish Market" monthly has supported the event since its inception.

Maciej Proliński

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gnacy Jan Paderewski (1860-1941) was a prominent Polish pianist, composer, politician and statesman, the modern exemplar of a universal man and a rare combination of an artist interested in beauty and refinement, i.e. things of the soul, and a politician navigating the hard realities of a new State. His works conquered the world. The music he created and the concerts he gave enjoyed immense popularity. He was a charismatic man who attracted attention and united people around himself. In 1919 he became Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Second Republic of Poland. The first success in his musical career came in 1887, when he made his debut as a pianist. It took him one year to win over the world’s greatest stages. As a politician, he became famous for his attendance, alongside Roman Dmowski, at the peace conference in Paris, which concluded with the Treaty of Versailles, effectively ending the First World War. It is also said that thanks to Paderewski’s wide influence the famous Fourteen Points of President Woodrow Wilson presented to the congress in January 1918 included the declaration that an independent Polish State should be established. In 1922 Paderewski left Poland for the USA, where he gave numerous successful concerts. He died in New York in 1941. He was buried with full military honours in the Arlington National Cemetery near Washington, among former US Presidents, prominent politicians and commanders. In 1992, on the initiative of the then President of Poland Lech Wałęsa, his remains were brought to Poland and laid to rest in the crypt of St. John’s Cathedral in Warsaw.

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The initiator of the Ignacy Jan Paderewski International Festival is the Chairman of the “AVE ARTE” foundation Wiesław Dąbrowski, a director, screenwriter and creator of artistic events.

“Paderewski’s talent and qualities were so great that they could be dispersed across several politicians, diplomats and artists. A natural speaker, hard-working virtuoso, incredible composer. Four days before his death, Jerzy Waldorff asked me to take care of the legacy of Ignacy Jan Paderewski and Karol Szymanowski. What choice could I possibly have? The last will must be fulfilled!” said Wiesław Dąbrowski.

Throughout the last decade, the Foundation have carried out a number of spectacular projects connected with the figure of Paderewski. The festival named after him, which is held in November, is an interdisciplinary event featuring symphonic, chamber and jazz concerts, piano recitals, panel discussions, exhibitions and film screenings. The events are organised in Warsaw’s prestigious concert halls, and in cooperation with the local cultural institutions, such as the National Philharmonic, the Łazienki Museum, the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music and the History Meeting House.

The star of this year’s opening concert at the Stanisławowski Theatre in the Łazienki Park will be the excellent chamber music orchestra Sonor Ensemble, which was formed twelve years ago. In Spain it is famous for being one of the best ensembles of its type. Audiences value them for their musical perfection and variety. They are equally masterful in rendering Baroque, Classicist and Romantic works, as well as 20th- and 21st-century music.

They attach great importance to contemporary

music, which is why a lot of composers write compositions specifically for them, which enriches their repertoire. The Warsaw concert will include “2 danzas de El amor brujo”

by Manuel de Falla, and “4 Danses polonaises, Op.9” (for string quintet and grand piano)

by Paderewski. The special birthday concert to be held on 5 November in the Royal Castle will feature the Lutosławski Piano Duo (Emilia Sitarz and Bartłomiej Wąsik), Patrycja Piekutowska (violin), and Michał Francuz (piano). They will play the works of Chopin, Paderewski and Stanisław Barcewicz. On 6 November the National Philharmonic will be hosting an extraordinary symphonic concert.

The Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra, directed by Michał Klauza, will perform “The Polish Fantasy for Piano and Orchestra” by Paderewski and the symphonic prelude “Polonia”

by Edward Elgar. On 9 November in the Witold Lutosławski Concert Studio of Polish Radio the world-renowned Sinfonia Varsovia orchestra, directed by Massimiliano Caldi and Maurizio Baglini (piano), will perform Paderewski’s outstanding “Piano concerto in A minor, Op. 17”. The events will be wrapped up at the Stanisławowski Theatre in the Łazienki Park with the intriguing concert “Paderewski – Jazz – Inspirations”. Artur Dutkiewicz – piano (jazz), Michał Szymanowski – piano (classical) and Karol Szymanowski (vibraphone) will be tackling Paderewski’s compositions in this lineup for the first time. It will certainly be a fascinating departure from the traditional classical music concert. The organiser reserves the right to introduce potential changes. You are invited!

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Finance

POLISH DESIGN FROM LONDON

The Adam Mickiewicz Institute, operating as Culture.pl, started this year off with some important exhibitions to showcase Polish design in London, Milan, Reykjavik, and Vilnius. In the next few months, our aim is to extend to Sao Paulo, Berlin, and Budapest.

TO SAO PAULO!

Maciej Proliński

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he year 2017 started off with the successful exhibition Waste Not!, featuring designs by students and graduates of the School of Form at the International Fashion Showcase, during London Fashion Week. Agnieszka Jacobson-Cielecka and Wojciech Dziedzic, the exhibition’s curators, won the International Fashion Showcase Curation Award.

On 5 September, Museu da Casa Brasileira in Sao Paulo launched the Design Dialogue: Poland – Brazil exhibition. A team of Polish (Magda Kochanowska and Ewa Solarz) and Brazilian (Gabriel Patrocinio) curators created an exhibition which included the work of designers and graphic designers from both countries, and created a space where graphic design meets industrial design, and classicism meets modernity, juxtaposing historical and contemporary posters, and Polish and Brazilian design icons. A prominent part of this exhibition comprises designs by Jerzy (Jorge) Zalszupin. This eminent Polish architect and designer, who has lived in Brazil since the 1950s, is celebrating his 95th birthday this year!

Since 2017, the programme for the promotion of Polish design abroad has been extended to include fashion, which is an important field of design. Efforts to establish and support the international position of Polish fashion designers have been made in many fields – from participating in key events, such as London Fashion Week and Who’s Next in Paris, to encouraging individual projects focusing on interdisciplinary cooperation. In autumn 2017, Polish fashion will be showcased at Who’s Next in Paris and at the Berlin

Alternative Fashion Week. The fashion trade show in Paris is a leading event of its kind worldwide. Its purpose is to globally promote clothing companies, facilitate networking between professionals, and support companies in the development of their business potential by helping them enter into contracts for the production of their collections, also for nonEuropean markets. This year’s edition will feature designs by Michał Szulc, a renowned fashion designer. For years, his collections have been regularly presented twice a year during his original shows, and have been appreciated for their distinctive, innovative and thoughtful design.

Berlin Alternative Fashion Week is an interdisciplinary event focusing on young brands which draw from fashion, alternative culture and art. This year’s edition will present two young Polish brands – BOLA by Ola Bajer and Doom 3000.

On 19 September 2017, Instituto Tomie Ohtake in Sao Paulo will host a new instalment of the Eye on Poland, a series by the Fontarte Studio, presenting Polish graphic design exemplified by nearly 200 of the most interesting works created over the last three years. Its curators invited 27 graphic artists and design teams to participate in the exhibition.

They include not only renowned artists with impressive portfolios, such as Lech Majewski and Grzegorz Laszuk, but also up-and-coming young designers, such as Ola Niepsuj and Dawid Ryski.

The exhibition will feature albums, exhibition catalogues, as well as CD and vinyl record covers – in short, various forms of everyday objects which also serve to convey

artistic expression. Its curators, Magdalena and Artur Frankowski, selected the works which not only have fascinating graphic design, but also make reference to broadly defined culture.

This approach to the selection of works will ensure that the exhibition presents highquality graphic design, while also encouraging the audience to dig deeper into Polish culture, whether it is visual arts, music, the history of architecture, or design.

Next, 21 September will mark the beginning of the Festival of Design, which has regularly showcased Polish design since 2008.During this year’s edition, in its Tent London, the Adam Mickiewicz Institute will present a completely new concept, based on fabric and combining key motifs in Polish design. The curator of the TEXTURA. A Polish Touch exhibition is Paulina Matusiak.

On 28 September, Budapest will see the opening of the first international display of the ABCs of Polish Design exhibition.

The exhibition will cover 100 years of Polish design, presented on the basis of 100 works and the stories behind them. The presentation of items, designs and graphic devices will be accompanied by their artistic interpretations prepared by 25 Polish graphic artists.

This exhibition is the first in a series of events organised under POLAND 100, an international cultural programme developed by the Adam Mickiewicz Institute which celebrates the 100th anniversary of Poland’s regaining its independence. The exhibition will be part of the Budapest Design Week until 15 October 2017. The next editions are scheduled to be on display in Germany, Israel and Italy.

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Culture

YOUNG ARTISTS’ VIEWS The exhibition of works by young Polish artists, finalists of Views (Spojrzenia) Competition – Deutsche Bank Award is on at the Zachęta National Gallery of Art in Warsaw. The biennial competition for the most interesting artists of the young generation is held for the eighth time this year. The laureates will be announced on October 26, 2017.

Maciej Proliński

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t is beyond doubt that Views Competition – Deutsche Bank Award is among the most important events in Polish contemporary art. And support for contemporary art is one of the pillars of the bank’s corporate culture. For more than 30 years Deutsche Bank has been committed to cooperation with museums, art fairs and institutions granting awards to emerging talents and promoting them. Participants in previous editions of the competition, like for example Paweł Althamer, Monika Sosnowska and Konrad Smoleński, are now among the most highly valued Polish contemporary artists. The exhibition at Zachęta Gallery is a presentation of several artists short-listed for the Deutsche Bank Award, a sort of recognition of their artistic work which attracted special attention from critics and curators over the past two years.

“Establishing the Views Competition was a very good decision. Our conviction that discovering and supporting young talented people is an enormously important investment in the development of not only their individual careers but also society as a whole has produced results in the form of successive editions of the competition and exhibitions of works by truly outstanding Polish artists,” says President of Deutsche Bank Polska Krzysztof Kalicki.

“Deutsche Bank has supported the Views project since its first edition. In conjunction with the Zachęta National Gallery of Art, we carry out this ambitious project with great satisfaction. At the same time, we are aware of its unique role for the community of Polish contemporary artists.”

The five finalists who take part in this year’s competition were born between 1984 and 1987 and come from various parts of Poland. A common feature in their art is interest in man, both as an individual and as society. The artists were short-listed by a jury headed by painter Paulina Ołowska. The curator of the exhibition is Dorota Monkiewicz, a long-time curator of the contemporary art department at the National Museum in Warsaw and the person who developed the concept of the Wrocław Contemporary Museum and was its director until 2016. She now works for the Centre of Polish Sculpture in Orońsko.

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From left: Honorata Martin, Agata Kus, Przemek Branas, Ewa Axelrad and Łukasz Surowiec The first prize in the competition is PLN60,000. The second prize is a study visit to Villa Romana in Florence. As usual, the viewers’ award will also be granted.

Ewa Axelrad has for years lived and worked in London and the southern Polish city of Gliwice. Her artistic interests revolve around installations, photography, video art and sculptural objects. One of the topics recurring in her art is violence in interpersonal and social relations, especially its manifestations in everyday objects and architectural layouts. At the exhibition in Zachęta, she shows a work composed of a sculptural object and a video film. At first glance, it seems to be an abstract object. And only after watching the film it becomes clear that the work has been inspired by a bullet-riddled model of the human torso used to determine the direction of a shot.

Przemek Branas, a performer, and video and installation artist, combines in his art biographical themes and symbols. He is interested in crossing barriers set by the body, culture and social mechanisms. In his work displayed at the exhibition he refers to tragic developments, like the assassination of Polish President Gabriel Narutowicz at Zachęta Gallery in 1922

and the assassination of a Russian ambassador at a modern art gallery in Ankara in 2016.

Agata Kus is first of all a painter, but also a video artist. She paints mainly people. Her pictures show dreams and aspirations of her generation, and various psychological problems.

Honorata Martin, who lives and works in Gdańsk, is a multimedia artist, painter and performer. She is known for her artistic radicalism, and search for the limits of physical endurance and mental resilience. She examines extreme situations and strong emotions involved in overcoming one’s fears. At the exhibition she shows a tent patched together using objects from her grandmother’s home. The artist tells us about the difficult experience of the death of one’s nearest and dearest, and insecurity and alienation in the contemporary world. Łukasz Surowiec is an interdisciplinary artist. He is interested in political and historical problems, interpersonal relations, the body and its limits. At Zachęta Gallery he shows an installation resembling a fashion boutique offering quite surprising products – a collection of clothes and accessories for participants in • demonstrations.

Food Industry

POLAGRA FOOD – NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE FOOD INDUSTRY IN A NEW TIME FRAME! The September meeting of the food industry, the Polagra Food International Trade Fair for Food and Catering Products in the mid-western city of Poznań, is already over. Those four days were very fruitful and ripe with business conversations, presentations of new products, and innovative food. As announced by the organisers, the next fair will take place on a new date and in a new form to provide even more support for Polish exports.

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very year Polagra Food attracts a large number of visitors with its renowned food brands, innovative food products, and also exotic flavours from all over the world. This year the Poznań fair featured over 200 exhibitors. The exhibition was dominated by the Polish milk and meat processing industries. These two sectors were represented by a large number of market leaders, and their stalls featured both products well-known to Polish customers and some newly introduced lines. Lactose-free and GMO-free cheese and cured meats, made according to traditional recipes, represented a noticeable trend at the Poznań fair. Polish producers also came up with surprising ideas for cheese and meat snacks, perfect for a quick meal at school, at work or during weekend trips.

In addition to the meat and milk industries, the fair participants also included companies from the fruit and vegetable processing industry, and producers of sweets, snacks, teas, soft drinks and alcoholic drinks. There were also exhibitors from 22 other countries, such as Belarus, Egypt, South Korea, Romania, Turkey, Ukraine, Italy, Finland, Bulgaria, Germany, Hungary, Lithuania and even Malaysia and Sri Lanka.

In 2018 the Polagra Food Fair is due to take place in spring, on 8-10 May. According to the event’s organisers, the decision to change the date was taken following wide-ranging consultations with industry representatives. The purpose of this change is not only to open the fair to those exhibitors who are usually too busy in the autumn season, such as wine producers, but primarily to facilitate conversations between entrepreneurs and distributors with noticeable effects in the same year. “The

May edition of the fair also extends the possibility of pre-testing new products as early as the first half of the year, and affords an opportunity to conclude contracts for sales in the second half of the year, especially with the Christmas period in mind,” explained Filip Bittner, Product Group Director at MTP Sp. z o.o., the organiser of the fair.

The Polagra Food Fair 2018 will also bring a new format, with a strong focus on the development of business relations with foreign purchasers. The event’s organisers will concentrate their efforts on markets offering prospects for the Polish food industry, by cooperating with embassies and industry institutions.

A key role is to be played by the fair’s own Hosted Buyers programme, which has for several years now attracted to Poznań the directors of large wholesale groups, supermarket chains, and food product importers and distributors from all over the world.

The new date and format of the event will make it easier for food producers to achieve real benefits, and will boost Polagra Food as an even more effective and wide-ranging brand, providing the tool set to further the objectives of the Polish food sector.

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For more information see: www.polagra-food.pl.

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Food Industry

A NEW PRODUCT IN FIGA FARM’S RANGE OF ORGANIC GOAT'S CHEESES

L

ast May the family of organic goat’scheese products from the FIGA farm was extended with cheese with paprika and chili. Added to the cheese, it enriched its delicate taste, and brought in some spice and warmth. The cheese is hand-made from unpasteurised milk. Its raw simplicity is the distinctive feature it shares with other products made by the Maziejuk family.

The FIGA Family Organic Farm in Mszana uses traditional methods to make more than a dozen other types of organic cheese (some of them, such as Wołoski Goat's Cheese and Bryndza Goat’s Cheese, have been included on the Traditional Products List). Each and every one of them has a unique and complete milk flavour, created thanks to unpasteurised milk and old recipes. The farm also produces organic butter and cream.

It is a family business through and through, having already been run for 20 years by Waldemar, Tomasz and Wawrzyniec Maziejuk.

A member of the Polish Ecology Association, the farm has 130 hectares of pastures between the Low Beskids and the Bieszczady Mountains, a region considered one of the cleanest and most naturally unspoiled places in Poland. Milk from a herd of 300 happy goats is processed on site with the utmost care.

The traditional manufacturing methods, low processing temperatures, high quality, and clean conditions, contribute to these exceptional

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cheese products. Made using an old and simple method, Wołoski cheese is always manually pressed out. This is labour-consuming, but the resulting taste is exquisite. This is not only thanks to following the five-hundred-year-old tradition of the Vlach people, but also to the extraordinary care which goes into every single litre of milk.

“Goat’s cheese is a way of life for us,” says Wawrzyniec Maziejuk. “Not only because we like eating it. We like making it. Goats are wonderful creatures, and by producing goat’s cheese we also help people with food intolerance. Words can’t even begin to express this taste and quality.”

“It doesn’t matter whether it’s Bryndza, which in my personal opinion is the queen of all cheeses, or farmer’s cheese, which is a great pairing with red wine, or cottage cheese, which perfectly combines with raspberry sorbet. The most-important thing is that goat’scheese enthusiasts are wonderful people, with natural curiosity, and they have a lot of interesting things to say. We and our clients are one big family, as we cultivate the same values and don’t need to rely on words to understand each other,” he adds.

Goat’s cheese is gradually making its way into kitchens and restaurants. Wołoski cheese is served hot from a frying pan with herbs.

Bryndza is very often used as a particularly tasty ingredient in dumpling filling, and is a great

pairing with polenta (known as mamałyga in the Carpathian Mountains) and spinach. Goat’s cheese is an excellent way to enrich simple dishes.

Few Polish cheese manufacturers have been granted organic-production certificates, and FIGA has joined the ranks of this elite club. The fame of its products extends beyond Poland, with successful presentations at the BIOFACH Exhibition in Nuremberg and in the US, during the SIAL Canada in Toronto and at the Food & Hotel Asia in Singapore.

It is not without reason that goat’s-milk products are considered functional food. They are recognised for their nutritional value, as they contain easily absorbed proteins, with all the amino acids essential for health which are not produced by the body. This is complemented by vitamins A, D, E, C and B, including B 13 (orotic acid, beneficial for blood circulation, memory and concentration), many mineral salts, phosphorus, calcium, potassium, easily absorbable iron, vitamins and folic acid. Goat’s milk is recommended for patients with a protein allergy and lactose intolerance connected with cow’s milk. Consumers often prefer it because it is easy to digest. Goat’s fat is more emulsified, and this contributes to digestibility. The caprylic-acid content improves the mood and strengthens the immune system.

If you want to learn more about the farm of the Maziejuk family, visit the website www.serykozie.pl .

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OVER 32 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE GENERAL CONTRACTOR OF CONSTRUCTION INVESTMENT PROJECTS BRINGING THE WORLD OF SCIENCE AND BUSINESS TOGETHER EXPORTING CONSTRUCTION SERVICES OVERSEAS AS A GENERAL CONTRACTOR R&D DEPARTMENT MEMBER OF PRESTIGIOUS CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY ORGANISATIONS 100% POLISH CAPITAL

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