Polish Market No.4 (271)/2018

Food Industry

PU B LISHED SIncE 199 6 No. 4 (271) /2018 :: www.polishmarket.com.pl

2nd HealtH Congress of employers of poland in WarsaW ...............................

4tH european Congress of loCal governments in krakoW ...............................

10tH european eConomiC Congress in katoWiCe Poland-IndIa CooPeratIon

“ respect We the diversity of employees, which is the source of our strength”

Dorota

Hryniewiecka-Firlej President of Pfizer Polska

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Faculty of Management University of Warsaw

The world is changing fast We educate managers to be ready for the future We have highly praised international accreditations confirming the quality of education: EQUIS, CEEMAN, 5 PALMS, AMBA, AASBI We have the longest record of teaching Management in Poland We are No.1 in the national faculties of economics ranking We win in international rankings of business universities. The Eduniversal ranking: - Master's degree in Marketing – 1st place in Eastern Europe - Master’s degree studies in Finance and Accounting were ranked 2nd place in Eastern Europe - Master’s degree studies in Human Resource Management – 2nd place in Eastern Europe - Master’s degree in Business Consulting – 7th place in world ranking - GlobalMBA Studies – 2nd place in Eastern Europe - International Business Program (in English) – 3rd place in Eastern Europe - Executive MBA Studies – 2nd place in Eastern Europe

Our graduates are in a group of specialist which is most wanted by employers Our studies: BACHELOR AND MASTER (full-time, part-time) in fields of: - Management - Finance, Accounting and Insurance - International Business Program – Master’s studies in English DOCTORAL (full-time, part-time) - in management sciences - in economic sciences - in finances POSTGRADUATE (part-time) – over a dozen of courses www.wz.uw.edu.pl rekrutacja@wz.uw.edu.pl

PERŁY POLSKIEJ GOSPODARKI

Prestiżowy ranking polskich przedsiębiorstw

100 YEARS

OF INDEPENDENCE WE WOULD LIKE TO INVITE YOU TO A GALA CONCERT MARKING THE CENTENARY OF THE REGAINING OF INDEPENDENCE BY POLAND, ON NOVEMBER 16, 2018 AT THE ROYAL CASTLE IN WARSAW, WHICH WILL BE COMBINED WITH THE 1666 PEARLS OF THE POLISH ECONOMY AND 1333 HONORARY PEARLS AWARD CEREMONY.

THE ROYAL CASTLE IN WARSAW, NOVEMBER 16, 2018

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

CONTENTS

OUR GUEST

8. JANUSZ CIESZYŃSKI, deputy Minister of Health: DIGITIZING THE HEALTH SERVICE

POLAND’S INDEPENDENCE CENTENARY YEAR

10. A GRAND VISION OF THE THEATRE 12. A REPOSITORY OF INDEPENDENCE 16. THE 60 MILLION CONGRESS - THE GLOBAL POLONIA SUMMIT 18. ALICJA ADAMCZAK, President of the Patent Office of the Republic of Poland: TRADITION AND MODERNITY. 100 YEARS OF THE POLISH PATENT OFFICE

MEDICINE

20. ANNA RULKIEWICZ, President of LuxMed, Deputy President of Employers of Poland: THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM REQUIRES CHANGES 21. ANDRZEJ MĄDRALA, PhD, President of the Management Board of Centrum Medyczne MAVIT Sp. z o.o.; Deputy President of Employers of Poland: A STRONG ECONOMY CAN ONLY DEVELOP WITHIN A HEALTHY SOCIETY

22. DOROTA HRYNIEWIECKA-FIRLEJ, President of Pfizer Polska: LEADING POSITION IN THE MARKET 24. THE FIRST IMPLANTATION OF THE COCHLEAR OSIA OSI100 IMPLANT IN POLAND 26. PROF. TOMASZ CIACH, chemist, biologist, nanotechnologist, winner of “Polish Market’s” Honorary Pearl in the Science category: POLAND NEEDS BIOTECH INCUBATORS

28. PROF. WITOLD M. ORŁOWSKI, Rector of the Vistula University: A MEDICAL COUNCIL FOR HEALTH PROTECTION 30. PROF. PAWEŁ BUSZMAN, PhD MD, co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of the American Heart of Poland (AHP), winner of the "Polish Market" Honorary Pearl in the Science category: HE WHO MOVES NOT FORWARD, GOES BACKWARD

31. POLPHARMA NAMED POLISH NATIONAL CHAMPION 32. BARBARA JERSCHINA, MD, expert in aesthetic and anti-aging medicine: NEVER TOO LATE TO CHANGE YOUR LIFESTYLE 34. PROF. MACIEJ CHOROWSKI, Director of the National Centre for Research and Development (NCBR): WE MUST PRODUCE GOODS WITH A HIGHER PROFIT MARGIN

36. RADOSŁAW DZIUBA, D.Sc., Director of the Institute of Biopolymers and Chemical Fibres: ADVANCED APPLICATIONS OF BIODEGRADABLE POLYMERS

38. TODAY THE FIRM IS PRESENT PRACTICALLY ALL OVER THE WORLD

POLAND-INDIA COOPERATION

40. SPOTLIGHT ON POLISH-INDIAN RELATIONS 41. MAREK MAGIEROWSKI, Deputy Minister for Economic Diplomacy, America Policy and Asia Policy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs: WITH INDIA WE SHOULD THINK BIG

42. MARCIN OCIEPA, Deputy Minister for Enterprise and Technology: WHY SHOULD INDIAN STUDENTS PICK POLISH UNIVERSITIES? 43. ADAM BURAKOWSKI, Ambassador of Poland to India: GREAT BILATERAL RELATIONS 44. GRZEGORZ TOBISZOWSKI, Deputy Minister of Energy: SILESIA – WEST BENGAL PARTNERSHIP 46. DR PRADEEP KUMAR, President, Indo-European Education Foundation, Faculty member, University of Applied Sciences in Nysa (Państwowa Wyższa Szkoła Zawodowa w Nysie): IN OUR KNOWLEDGE SOCIETY, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT PLAYS A VERY MAJOR ROLE

47. RENATA ŻUKOWSKA, CEO, Indo-European Education Foundation: INDO-EUROPEAN EDUCATION FOUNDATION 48. J.J. SINGH, President, Indo-Polish Chamber of Commerce and Industry: POLAND AND INDIA: OPPORTUNITIES GALORE 49. TOMASZ PISULA, President of the Polish Investment and Trade Agency: POLAND HAS TECHNOLOGICAL POTENTIAL 50. KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

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REGIONS 53. BUSINESS TOURISM IN KATOWICE IS BOOMING 54. KAZIMIERZ KAROLCZAK, President of the Board of Metropolis GZM: INCREDIBLY CREATIVE POTENTIAL 56. ELŻBIETA ANNA POLAK, Marshal of Lubuskie province: DEVELOPMENT, INNOVATION, TOLERANCE 58. LODZ SEZ: FORGING BUSINESS LINKS WITH INDIA 60. GUSTAW MAREK BRZEZIN, Marshal of the Warmińsko-Mazurskie Province: UNIQUE NATURAL SETTING, UNIQUE DEVELOPMENT SOLUTIONS 61. MAKE YOUR CITY SMART 62. THE MARSHAL AWARDS THE BEST OF THE BEST LAURELS IN WARMIA AND MAZURIA FOR THE 15TH TIME 66. INDIA AND WEST POMERANIA – HAND IN HAND 67. THE 25TH WELCONOMY FORUM IN TORUŃ

EXPORT 68. POLISH EXPORTERS AND IMPORTERS MOST OPTIMISTIC IN THE EUROPEAN UNION

CULTURE 70. Cultural Monitor 72. MACIEJ PROLIŃSKI: THROUGH SZUMOWSKA'S EYES...

EVENTS 74. THE 16TH TRADE FAIR AND 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF PSB GROUP

FOOD INDUSTRY 76. DATES THE BREAD OF LIFE 78. “POLSKA RÓŻA (THE POLISH ROSE)” OR LIQUID HEALTH 81. ECONOMIC MONITOR

Cover: Dorota Hryniewiecka-Firlej, President of Pfizer Polska Photos on issue: www.shutterstock.com

4(271)/2018 Publisher: Oficyna Wydawnicza RYNEK POLSKI Sp. z o.o.

(RYNEK POLSKI Publishers Co. Ltd.) President: Krystyna Woźniak-Trzosek Vice - Presidents: Błażej Grabowski, Grażyna Jaskuła Address: ul. Elektoralna 13, 00-137 Warszawa, Poland Phone (+48 22) 620 31 42, 652 95 77 Fax (+48 22) 620 31 37 E-mail: info@polishmarket.com.pl Editor-in-Chief: Krystyna Woźniak-Trzosek Deputy Editor-in-Chief: Ewelina Janczylik-Foryś redakcja@polishmarket.com.pl Marcin Haber m.haber@polishmarket.com.pl

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Translation: Sylwia Wesołowska-Betkier, Agit, Rafał Kiepuszewski

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Reproduction of any material from this magazine requires prior written permission from the Publisher.

Editorial

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

ISLAND OF OPTIMISM IS DONALD TRUMP TRULY READY FOR AN ECONOMIC WAR AGAINST CHINA AND RUSSIA? WHAT WILL THE CURRENT WARNING SHOTS AGAINST MEXICO, CANADA AND THE EU LEAD TO? IS INDIA THE LAST APOSTLE OF GLOBAL LIBERALISATION? IS THE END OF THE EUROZONE BOOM IN SIGHT? IS THE POLISH ECONOMY THE ONLY SOURCE OF GOOD NEWS? THESE ARE CERTAINLY GOOD QUESTIONS THAT NEED ANSWERING, EVEN IF IT MAY PROVE SOMEWHAT TRICKY TO DO SO. Last year analysts and businessmen saw the biggest risks in the unpredictable outcomes of elections in a number of key countries. Now that the dust has settled and the old and new victors have revealed their intentions, are we any wiser? Donald Trump’s crusade for America’s better position in global trade may be strong on words, but in reality it seems much more subdued. The main partners, neighbouring Canada and Mexico, prefer to keep a low media profile but they have been able to negotiate purely cosmetic changes to the deal. China’s reaction also appears to be muted. It has proposed co-operation in other fields, without resorting to tough measures such as the possibility to use the nearly USD 1.2 trillion of US debt it owns as a bargaining chip. So far Russia appears to have suffered the most. Additional US sanctions deprived it of over USD 20 billion in a single day. Naturally, any major move by a world leader is bound to strongly affect the world economy. The record rate at which the US public debt keeps soaring (by USD 300 billion within just one week), makes the dollar more expensive against other currencies, causes interest rates to rise and leads rating agencies to send out warning signs. This holds particularly true about Europe, where it has turned out that the ongoing boom - with France able to meet Maastricht criteria for the first time in a decade - is not enough to chase away dark clouds moving in from across the Atlantic and from Asia. After twelve months of peaking, PMI indexes in all Eurozone countries have started to fall, while the European Central Bank refuses to even consider negative interest rates.

Against this backdrop, Poland seems to be Europe’s only island of optimism. It is not so much about the rosy picture painted by government officials but the consistently good news coming out of current market reports. The recent successful auction of Polish government bonds in the US market has prompted Moody’s to take stock of the level of financial risk posed by the Polish economy. Interestingly, the agency has pointed to the risk of lasting social divisions, which is rare in its financial credibility assessments, and the high public debt. On the plus side, it has noted Poland’s flexible exchange rate of its national currency, the zloty. Moody’s maintained the general A2 rating, at the same time raising growth forecasts for the coming years. Standard & Poor’s is likely to follow suit, which may pave the way for the raising of its rating within the next few months. There is indeed every reason for Poland to have its ratings raised – state finances are now in much better shape than before. From the point of view of Standard & Poor’s, the declining public debt, budget deficit and a growing foreign trade surplus, all work in favour of Poland’s financial credibility.

The fact that the economy is growing and successive agencies increase their ratings does not mean that everything is plain sailing and that there are no potential stumbling blocks. The fact that investment has started growing (up by 12.2% in the fourth quarter of last year) following two years of stagnation is certainly one reason to cheer. But the structure of investment seems worrying. There has been a 48% investment growth in the public sector, compared with an 8% increase in the case of foreign companies and another 2% decline in succession among Polish private firms – all this at a time when consumer demand is soaring, the use of manufacturing capacity is at unprecedented levels and so is the level of company earnings deposited in banks. Although according to Statistics Poland, disposable income in Poland in 2017 grew the fastest in a decade, given the average wage of EUR 6.3 an hour against the EU average of over EUR 23.6, labour cost remains relatively low and does not pose a barrier for investment.

This edition of “Polish Market” is distributed, among others, at the 2nd Health Congress organised by the Employers of Poland in Warsaw, the European Economic Congress in Katowice and the 4th European Congress of Local Governments in Krakow. To tie in with the agenda of the respective events, in this issue the focus is on medicine, notably on medical innovation, a presentation of Polish cities and regions and PolishIndian co-operation.

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President

POLISH, ISRAELI PRESIDENTS TAKE PART IN MARCH OF THE LIVING

Polish President Andrzej Duda and President of Israel Reuven Rivlin were attending on April 12 the March of the Living on the site of the former Auschwitz-Birkenau Nazi death camp to honour Holocaust victims. "By our presence here we want to express our feelings and pay homage to the victims," said Polish President.

PRESIDENT: PATRIOT DEAL A HISTORIC MOMENT

"It is a unique and historic moment that ushers Poland into a new world of ultra-modern technology and weaponry", Polish President Andrzej Duda said of the Poland-US Patriot air and missile defence system deal signed on March 28. The value of the deal is USD 4.75 billion.

Defence Minister Mariusz Blaszczak signed the contract for the purchase of US Patriot air and missile defence systems as part of the Polish Wisla (Vistula) air defence programme. Present

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at the signing ceremony were President Andrzej Duda, PM Mateusz Morawiecki, National Security Bureau head Pawel Soloch, government officials and army commanders.

"Today we start equipping Poland with the most modern defence system (...) in the world, and what is most important, one that has been tested many times," Andrzej Duda stressed.

"It's a huge step forward for the whole Polish armed forces when we speak of building a modern and well-equipped army (...)," the President said. "What we are saying is that we will equip it with such weaponry."

Patriot batteries and other elements of Poland's defence will create "a protective shield against an air assault of any kind," he added. The Polish President said that the cost of the US Patriot air and missile defence systems is huge, but "we know that security has no price."

The march ended with a ceremony in the Auschwitz camp's Birkenau section.

Some 12,000 Jewish and Polish youth took part in this year's march. The march takes place on International Holocaust Remembrance Day and covers a three-kilometre route from the camp's infamous "Arbeit Macht Frei" gate to the Birkenau site, which housed the camp's two main gas chambers.

Before the march President Andrzej Duda met with his Israeli counterpart Reuven Rivlin. Polish President said that nobody had the intention of blocking testimony, even if it is difficult, as he referred to Poland's new anti-defamation law.

The president noted that during World War II, the Polish underground state imposed the death penalty on those who gave Jews away, but admitted Poles had behaved "in various ways."

"We have to talk about it and it is absolutely nobody's intention to block testimony," President Duda added, "including that testimony which is difficult."

The president expressed hope that the meeting with his Israeli counterpart would send a message of "no more Holocaust" to the world, as well as strengthening ties between Poland and Israel, including in the sphere of security.

PRESIDENT SPOKE WITH TAJIKISTANI AND GEORGIAN PRESIDENTS

President Andrzej Duda spoke with the presidents of Tajikistan and Georgia on March 27 on his way back from a visit to Polish soldiers stationed in Afghanistan.

Earlier in the day, President Duda and Polish Defence Minister Mariusz Błaszczak inspected Polish NATO troops in Bagram, Afghanistan. Returning from Afghanistan, the President met with Tajikistan's and Georgia's

state heads in the countries' capitals, Dushanbe and Tbilisi.

Andrzej Duda's talks with Tajikistani President Emomali Rahmon mainly concerned security, including in light of Tajikistan's location close to Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Russia. The talks with the Georgian head of state, Giorgi Margvelashvili, centred on bilateral relations. President Duda was also invited to attend the country's independence centenary celebrations in May.

Prime Minister

PM MATEUSZ MORAWIECKI MEETS WITH EUROPEAN COMMISSION VICE PRESIDENT FRANS TIMMERMANS the rule of law in Poland. The meeting provided an opportunity to discuss the current state of the dialogue and to map out directions for future negotiations. Frans Timmermans arrived in Poland on the invitation of Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs Jacek Czaputowicz.

PM MORAWIECKI AND US AMBASSADOR PAUL W. JONES ANNOUNCE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE POLISH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IN THE US

“We are entering another phase of Polish-American relations. The establishment of the Polish-American chamber of commerce is a crucial element of building a strong Polish business presence in the US, and at the same time of strengthening the presence of US entrepreneurs in Poland,” Prime Minister Morawiecki told journalists.

The Prime Minister announced the creation of the Polish Chamber of Commerce in the United States. The organisation is to deal with the promotion and strengthening of business and economic links between Poland and the US. The aim of the Chamber, which is based in Washington D.C., will be to facilitate two-way trade and

investment, as well as links between companies and the public sector. It will serve as a partner of Polish firms which plan to invest in the US and American companies which enter the Polish market or develop their activities there.

The Polish Chamber of Commerce will actively co-operate with the Polish government and Polish and US trade organisations.

Since 2010 the total value of two-way trade between Poland and the US has doubled.

Poland is now one of the United States’ top trade partners in Central Europe. It is a growing export market for US products, including motor cars, medical equipment, pharmaceuticals, as well as products of the chemical, agricultural, aviation and armaments industries.

The Polish government recently launched a series of multibillion dollar projects with the participation of US aerospace and armaments manufacturers in order to modernise the Polish armed forces and boost the country’s security.

On the eve of a two day European Council summit in Brussels, PM Morawiecki outlined the main topics of talks to be held there.

Regarding the attack on Sergey Skripal in the UK, the Prime Minister said that Poland will insist that the European Council issue an unequivocal response to the alleged Russian attack conducted on British soil.

EU-US COMPROMISE ON STEEL TARIFFS On the eve of a two day European Council summit in Brussels, PM Morawiecki outlined the main topics of talks to be held there. Regarding the attack on Sergey Skripal in the UK, the Prime Minister said that Poland will insist that the European Council issue an unequivocal response to the alleged Russian attack conducted on British soil.

IN THE RUN-UP TO THE EUROPEAN COUNCIL SUMMIT IN BRUSSELS “We will be discussing the current EU-US trade dispute,” PM Morawiecki said. He added that he was hoping a compromise can be worked out regarding European-American trade in this respect.

“I welcome the latest reports coming from across the Atlantic and the news Commissioner Malmstroem has passed on to Brussels, according to which the dispute could be suspended at least for some time and that attempts will be made to work out adequate solutions to reach a compromise between the EU and the United States,” Prime Minister Morawiecki said.

BREXIT PM Morawiecki noted that discussions are underway concerning various aspects of Brexit. He emphasised that following Britain’s departure, the EU will be weakened in financial terms. Therefore, member countries will be forced to discuss ways of compensating for the losses, he said.

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Photo: W. Kompała KPRM

A meeting between Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and European Commission Vice-President Frans Timmermans was held in Warsaw on April 9. The talks concerned the ongoing dialogue between the Polish government and the European Commission on the issue of

IN THE RUN-UP TO THE EUROPEAN COUNCIL SUMMIT IN BRUSSELS

Our Guest

DIGITIZING

THE HEALTH SERVICE

JANUSZ CIESZYŃSKI, deputy Minister of Health, talks to Marcin Haber.

A draft law on the Online Patient Account has been submitted for consultation. In what way is the draft designed to help patients and physicians?

In the first place, the draft law is designed to introduce regulations on the Online Patient Account (IKP) service and its integration with the Integrated Patient Information (ZIP) service run by the National Health Fund. Through the IKP patients will have access to the ZIP system and vice versa – through the ZIP they will have access to services offered by the IKP. By means of the Online Patient Account, patients will be able to manage their health-related data important for themselves and their family members. The Account will enable patients access to information about the health services PM

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they have received, prescriptions written out for them, referrals, orders for medical products and waiting lists, declarations concerning their primary healthcare choices, and their consents to having their medical documentation or information about the state of their health disclosed to persons they have indicated.

What are the main challenges for the legislator? What parts of the draft law pose the biggest problem? Given the widespread cyberattacks, the security of the patients’ data is what immediately comes to mind.

In fact, the draft law on the Online Patient Account does not contain particularly problematic elements. When it comes to patient data security, it is always of key importance PM

Our Guest

because health-related data are especially sensitive and great weight should be attached to their effective protection. In this respect, we are also taking diverse activities.

Under the draft law on the Online Patient Account, medical establishments would be obliged to adjust to the technological and functional requirements which are to be successively announced in the Public Information Bulletin of the Ministry of Health. This should improve the operation of the systems with each other and, at the same time, make them more secure in terms of patient data protection.

In parallel, considering that the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is to come into force soon, the Centre for Healthcare Information Systems (CSIOZ) is working on a Professional Code, whose application will make life significantly easier for medical establishments in the area of personal data protection. The Professional Code will take into account the special character of the healthcare sector and will meet halfway the special needs of medical establishments.

Cyberattacks do happen. But measures are being taken on the plane of both European and Polish law to raise the level of security. The directive concerning measures for a high common level of security of network and information systems across the Union (NIS Directive) was adopted in 2016. The healthcare sector is one of the areas to which the directive applies. At present, work is underway at the Ministry of Digitization on a draft law on the National Cybersecurity System. The Ministry of Health is taking an active part in this work. There are plans to set up computer security incident response teams (CSIRT) and develop a system for counteracting incidents and risks to networks and information systems, detecting them, responding to them and mitigating their consequences.

You have also launched a pilot e-prescription programme.

How long will it last and what results will enable the application of this solution throughout the country? How are you going to overcome the digital exclusion barrier for elderly people?

The pilot programme is mainly designed to check if the e-prescription system operates in the right way in real-life conditions. The programme was launched in February in two cities: Skierniewice and Siedlce. It is now at the stage of connection work, technical tests and information meetings with doctors and pharmacists in the healthcare establishments which take part in the pilot programme. The first eprescriptions will be written out in May and a report from the programme is to be published after the summer holiday season. Then, we will start connecting successive establishments to the P1 platform. As a result, the number of e-prescriptions will be growing. Since 2020 all prescriptions, apart from a few exceptions defined by the law, are to be generated electronically. I am aware that it means a big change, both for patients and physicians, but Polish people’s digital skills are increasingly strong. As regards medical staff, a large part of them already write out prescriptions electronically and then print them. And as regards patients, they will be able to receive a printed note and go PM

ONE OF THE PRIORITIES IS TO MAKE THE MEDICAL PERSONNEL LESS BURDENED

BY ADMINISTRATIVE WORK SO THAT DOCTORS, NURSES AND OTHER STAFF CAN CONCENTRATE ON THE MOST IMPORTANT THING, WHICH IS PROVIDING TREATMENT TO PATIENTS.

with it to a pharmacy. In this sense, not much will change for the patients who are less interested in digitization. And the change will be for the better – the note, which the patient will not be required to leave at the pharmacy, in contrast to prescriptions, will contain dosage instructions and other information.

What other projects can Polish people expect in the near future?

We are focusing mainly on the continuation of the P1 project. Before the end of this year, we are going to launch an e-referral pilot programme and next year a programme for electronic medical documentation exchange. But there are also many other undertakings. One example is work conducted at the National Health Fund on an IT solution supporting making out orders for medical products. Today, the patient – who is often elderly or has mobility problems – has to visit a National Health Fund office before the order can be executed. After the changes are made, which should take place this year, such visits will not be necessary because the doctor, a pharmacy worker or orthopaedic shop worker will electronically deal with all formalities at the National Health Fund.

An important project, on which analytical work at the Ministry of Health is now focused, is developing a new information architecture for the healthcare system. One of the priorities is to make the medical personnel less burdened by administrative work so that doctors, nurses and other staff can concentrate on the most important thing, which is providing treatment to patients. One step in this direction is ensuring greater support from medical secretaries. Another important step will be reducing reporting duties. We want to work out a solutions thanks to which healthcare establishments will be obliged to send less data and in a single • stream.

PM

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A GRAND VISION OF THE THEATRE Stanisław Wyspiański is one of the most important figures in Polish culture. His national dramas have shaped the understanding of what it means to be Polish among generations of Poles living at home and abroad. Wyspiański’s output has prompted generations to reflect on Polish identity, history and independence. The artist’s works also make a lasting contribution to world cultural heritage. A highprofile exhibition devoted to Wyspiański is on at the National Museum in Kraków until January 20, 2019.

Maciej Proliński

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”Self-Portrait” (Photo: National Museum in Kraków)

S

tanisław Wyspiański is an artist who plays an exceptional role in the shaping of Polish national identity. A true visionary genius, he has long inspired the country’s leading artists. His work is a blend of national Polish culture, French influences derived from his trips to Paris as a student, and the spirit of classical and Shakespearean dramas beloved by Wyspiański.

The artist was a true Renaissance figure who was successful in various arts. His versatility never ceases to amaze you with the sheer scale and variety of his artistic concepts.

Wyspiański was a painter, sculptor and graphic artist. He painted portraits, landscapes, as well as truly visionary, richly symbolic monumental works. His works included grandscale designs and polychromes, including stained glass windows at the Franciscan church in Kraków, depicting the Blessed Salomea and Saint Francis. The artist also practised interior, stage and costume design. He is also well-known as a poet and dramatist.

Wyspiański’s greatest work is considered to be “The Wedding”, a play set in a village on the outskirts of Kraków and loosely based on a true-life wedding – of the artist’s friend Lucjan Rydel to a girl from the countryside. You would need to look hard for another Polish play which would capture the essence of Polishness, the nation’s yearning for freedom and the conflicts that divide Polish society, in a way that “The Wedding” does. Its message remains valid in spite of the changing political and social circumstances. In this play you will find references to key earlier works by Polish poets, playwrights and painters, such as national dramas by Aleksander Fredro and Juliusz Słowacki, as well as works by historical painter Jan Matejko and symbolist Jacek Malczewski.

In 1972 “The Wedding” was made into a successful film by the late master of the Polish cinema Andrzej Wajda. Among Wyspiański’s lesser known works are “Liberation”, “Return of Odysseus” and “Varsovienne”, which have been successfully staged by a number of leading theatre companies, including Warsaw’s National Theatre company. On that stage, some the most memorable productions of Wyspiański’s plays were by Jerzy Grzegorzewski. According to art critics, the works remain as thought-provoking as at the moment they were written more than a century ago. In them, you will find a vision of the theatre as sublime art, which is neither light nor decorative, but makes audiences think about the things that matter in the world around them. Wyspiański also opens the door to new experiences.

The artist was born in Kraków on January 15, 1869. In St. Anne’s secondary school he made friends with Józef Mehoffer, who went on to become a recognised painter, future poet Lucjan Rydel and historian and bibliographer Stanisław Estreicher. In 1887 he took up painting classes at the Fine Arts Academy whose director at the time was the historical painter Jan Matejko, who has largely shaped the way Polish people imagine their past rulers and key battles. Matejko soon came to appreciate his student’s creative genius and so he asked him to join him in executing a polychrome at the Church of Our Lady in Kraków which was then undergoing renovation. As well as taking art courses, Wyspiański studied at the Jagiellonian University at the same time, where he read art history and literature. In 1890 he went on a tour of Italy, Switzerland, France and Germany, ending up in Prague.

Between 1891 and 1894 he stayed in Paris three times where he studied at the Academie Colarossi. He returned to Kraków in 1895. In 1902 he became an Associate Professor at the Fine Arts Academy. Three years later he became a town councillor.

Wyspiański died in Kraków on November 28, 1907. His funeral triggered a patriotic demonstration. The artist was laid to rest among other leading national figures in the crypt of the Skałka church.

Kraków’s National Museum holds the richest collection of Wyspiański’s works. Virtually all of them are on display at the current exhibition, which showcases very diverse works, thus showing Wyspiański as an all-round artist. One cannot leave the exhibition without being amazed at his many talents. Among the 500-odd works on show are not just portraits and landscapes but also previously undisplayed pieces of sculpture, sketches, graphics, manuscripts and books containing the artist’s handwritten notes, and drawings, which include a map of his travels across Europe in his university days.

Some of the most captivating exhibits are portraits of the artist’s sleeping children, a famous painting “Motherhood”, as well as a cycle painted during his illness. There are also designs of polychromes and stained glass windows, as well as stage designs made for his own dramas.

The exhibition, which presents Wyspiański’s vision of Polishness, offers visitors a chance to reflect upon the present debate on the future of Polish society.

Stanisław Wyspiański is presented as a key artist who shaped Polish identity in the period before World War I and whose visions inspired successive generations of Polish people in their fight for freedom, which had its climax in the victory of the Solidarity movement over the communists in 1989.

“The exhibition, which marks the artist’s 110th death anniversary, is the largest exhibition in the history of the National Museum in Kraków, for it features some 500 art works. Very importantly, these are works coming exclusively from our own collection and deposits. It is also the most comprehensive show devoted to Wyspiański in history,”Andrzej Betlej, Ph.D, Director of the National Museum in Kraków said at the exhibition’s opening ceremony last November.

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A REPOSITORY OF INDEPENDENCE The National Library is one of the oldest cultural institutions in Poland and one of the first national libraries in Europe. It opened in Warsaw in 1747 on the initiative of brothers Andrzej and Józef Załuski. After the death of its founders, it was taken over by the state as the Library of the Republic. In the 18th century, it was one of the largest libraries in Europe. Unfortunately, as a result of Poland’s partitions, the library was closed and taken to St. Petersburg on the orders of Empress of Russia Catherine II. It was reconstituted 90 years ago, after Poland regained independence, by an order of then President of Poland Ignacy Mościcki of February 24, 1928. In the April issue of “Polish Market” we devote a special place to the National Library and its jubilee.

Maciej Proliński

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he National Library is a special institution. Subordinate to the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, it is the country’s central library and one of the most important national institutions of culture. Performing the tasks of a large research library devoted to humanities, it is also the main archive of Polish writing, a national centre of bibliographical information and an important methodological centre for other libraries in Poland. The primary task of the National Library is collecting, storing and archiving old Polish manuscripts written on parchment and paper, editions of former Polish publishing houses and contemporary publishing material, prints, musical, audio, video and electronic documents as well as Polish publications and publications about

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Poland issued abroad. The National Library also houses other nations’ manuscripts and printed matter which has come out in Poland, foreign works which were once part of historic Polish book collections, and selected contemporary foreign publications in the area of humanities.

At present, the National Library’s collection is composed of over 9 million items. Apart from printed matter and manuscripts, it includes maps, scores and for several years now also works in audio, video and electronic format. Every year the collection is expanded by as many as 200,000 published items of various kind, of which around 75% are copies submitted as legal deposit. The remaining items are bought by the Library, received as donations and acquired through exchange with other libraries.

Among the Polish-language treasures kept in the National Library’s strongroom are “The Holy Cross Sermons” (mid-14th century), “Saint Florian Psalter” (end-14th century) and “Reflection on the Life of Jesus” (15th century). The most valuable items of European writing include “Testamentum Novum” (8th century), which is the oldest manuscript in the Library’s collection, and richly decorated codices: “Gospels of Anastasia” in a silver binding (12th century), “Wilanów Psalter” (mid-13th century), “Roman de la Rose" (14th century), “Calendarium Parisiense” and “Revelationes Sanctae Birgittae” (ca. 1375-1395).

The Library has the world’s largest collection of Frederic Chopin’s manuscripts, as well as autographs by many other outstanding Polish composers, like for example Stanisław Moniuszko, Karol Szymanowski, Grażyna Bacewicz and Henryk Mikołaj Górecki. Several years ago, it acquired Krzysztof Komeda’s and Maryla Rodowicz’s archives, which gave rise respectively to the Polish Jazz Library and the Polish Popular Music Library. The musical collections of the National Library – both manuscripts and printed materials – are composed of almost 150,000 items.

Literary manuscripts occupy a special place in the National Library’s collection. Among them is the only existing manuscript of Jan Kochanowski’s poetry, manuscripts of novels by Jan Potocki (“The Manuscript Found in Saragossa”), Henryk Sienkiewicz (“Quo Vadis”) and Bolesław Prus (“Pharaoh”), and an almost complete collection of Cyprian Norwid’s manuscripts and drawings. The Library is also home to manuscripts by poets Krzysztof Baczyński, Bruno Schulz and Julian Tuwim, and contemporary Polish men of letters. In recent years, for example, the Library acquired the archives of Zbigniew Herbert, Czesław Miłosz, Miron Białoszewski, Tadeusz Konwicki, Marek Nowakowski and Agnieszka Osiecka.

The National Library’s main building is on Niepodległości Avenue in Warsaw while old printed works and manuscripts are kept in the Krasiński Palace. This year, the National Library is celebrating the 90th anniversary of its reconstitution after Poland regained independence, but its origins date back to the Załuski Library, founded by brothers Andrzej and Józef Załuski and opened to the public in 1747. Since the beginning the intention of the founders was for the Library to be public. At the time of its opening, the collection numbered 200,000 items. It contained almost all of the most valuable examples of Polish writing, including works from royal collections. After the death of the founders, the Załuski Library was taken over by the National Education Commission and was renamed the Library of the Republic. In 1780, the parliament awarded it the legal deposit privilege for all materials printed in the Republic of Poland. Unfortunately, the time of glory did not last long. After the fall of the Kościuszko Rising in 1795, the collection – composed of 400,000 works at that time – was taken to St. Petersburg as a war booty and formed the basis of the Imperial Library set up at that time.

The idea of a national library re-emerged after Poland regained independence. It was already at the beginning of 1918 that bibliographer and social activist Stefan Demby, who was to become the National Library’s first director, conceived the project to set up the library.

For years he devoted much effort and energy to acquire funding and collections for the National Library and even before its official establishment secured for it the legal deposit privilege.

The National Library was set up on February 24, 1928 by an order of President Ignacy Mościcki. Added to it was the part of the Załuski Library recovered from Russia under the Treaty of Riga as well as many private book collections and collections formed at the time of Poland’s

occupation by foreign powers with the intention of donating them to a future national library. The latter included the collections of the Polish Library in Paris, Polish Museum in Rapperswil, Wilanów Library and collections of Ignacy Kraszewski and Władysław Strzembosz. In 1939, the National Library housed more than 700,000 items including many old printed books, scores, prints and maps and, above all, 24,000 manuscripts being the oldest examples of Polish writing. In the autumn of 1939, the most valuable books – like “The Holy Cross Sermons” and “Saint Florian Psalter” - were successfully transported to Canada and deposited in a Montreal bank.

Unfortunately, during World War II the National Library suffered more extensive losses than any national library ever did. German military units burned 50,000 manuscripts, 80,000 old printed works, and tens of thousands of drawings, prints, maps and scores. The lost works accounted for around 40% of the Library’s pre-war total collection and 90% of its special collection composed of the most valuable manuscripts and old printed works.

After the war, the Library was reconstituted almost from scratch.

It became home to various parts of public, private, church and other libraries, including fragments of two large libraries founded by the Krasiński and Zamojski families. The most precious works deposited in Canada for the time of the war returned to the National Library in 1959. The Library also managed to recover some of the war booty taken to Germany and was augmented by German book collections left behind in the territories ceded to Poland after the war.

At present, the National Library has a high international reputation as a centre for the protection and conservation of library collections. Every year it publishes three basic reports: on the state of Polish libraries, on the Polish publishing market and findings of surveys on Polish people’s reading habits. The National Library provides extensive assistance to Polish libraries abroad in cataloguing and conserving their collections. It also conducts training courses for Polish librarians, with an annual attendance of almost 2,000 participants.

Since 2013 the now huge collection of the National Library has been available to the public through the website Polona.pl. It is one of the world’s most modern digital libraries and the largest library of its kind in Poland. The service offers the public access to books, old printed works, manuscripts, prints, maps, scores, photographs, leaflets, posters and postcards, which have been digitized using stateof-the-art technologies able to render images of the highest quality.

All the items are in the public domain and may be used commercially. In the autumn of 2017, the National Library celebrated the addition of the 2 millionth item to the digital collection. The item chosen is an 4/2018 polish market

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urn with the ashes of priceless manuscripts and old printed works burned by the Germans in October 1944, after the fall of the Warsaw Rising – a heart-breaking symbol of wartime losses to Polish cultural heritage. The most important new functionalities of the Polona.pl service are the Institutions’ Panel, where cultural institutions publish their resources and can form their own collections using their own and other resources, and the Press Panel, which presents digitized newspapers and periodicals. They can be conveniently browsed chronologically and issue by issue.

An official ceremony marking the 90th anniversary of President Ignacy Mościcki signing the order on reconstituting the National Library was held in Krasiński Palace on February 26, 2018. The honorary guests were President of Poland Andrzej Duda with his wife Agata Kornhauser-Duda, and Prof. Piotr Gliński, deputy prime minister and minister of culture and national heritage.

In his address, President Andrzej Duda said: “Ladies and Gentlemen, what is the National Library? It is an invaluable repository of Polish and European intellectual record. Of course, it is a repository of Polish literature, but not only that. It is also a repository of Polish musical compositions. It is an extremely important nation-building institution as an element shaping culture, preserving cultural heritage and, first of all, building Polish tradition. This is where you can observe how the Polish language has changed since it was first written on paper and since truly Polish literature, written in the Polish language, started to be formed. In the course of the over 200 years since its inception the National Library has experienced many dramatic moments – first when Empress Catherine II took the collection from Poland to St. Petersburg. But the biggest tragedy was when the German occupiers burned the collection during World War II, destroying the country’s priceless cultural fabric and a great testimony to its history. Luckily, this broke neither the Library nor you, the people who make this Library: experts, librarians, archivists, persons who take care of this great output collected at the National Library. What was saved thanks to various happy coincidences was put together again and since that time the Library has been consistently expanding through the effort of successive generations – people who have devoted their life to the Polish book and Polish culture thanks to the special kind of affection and dedication one needs to have to be a librarian, archivist and someone who takes care to preserve cultural heritage and literature. Ladies and Gentlemen, as President of the Republic of Poland, I would like to thank you with all my heart for that because it is not only 90 years since the National Library was reconstituted, but also 100 years since Poland regained independence. And it is always worth repeating: ‘Who knows what Poland would have been like if we did not have the National Library.’ Because the Library is an invaluable constituting element, showing Polish tradition and history, and documenting our cultural and intellectual output.”

Prof. Piotr Gliński, deputy prime minister and minister of culture and national heritage, also referred to the tragic fate of the National Library during the war. He said it symbolized the tragic nature of Poland’s history. “70% of Polish library resources were destroyed during World War II (…). Of the 40 employees, only five remained after the war. This shows what we all experienced as a people. I mean the wiping out of Polish elites. But despite that, this institution functions excellently,” he said. “By being a very valuable institution loved

by Poles, the National Library personifies in a very symbolic way changes in Poland’s history. Its germ came into being more than 200 years ago. It rose and fell, was destroyed twice and brought into being anew three times.”

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THE LIBRARY HAS THE WORLD’S LARGEST COLLECTION OF FREDERIC CHOPIN’S MANUSCRIPTS, AS WELL AS AUTOGRAPHS

BY MANY OTHER OUTSTANDING POLISH COMPOSERS, LIKE FOR EXAMPLE STANISŁAW MONIUSZKO, KAROL SZYMANOWSKI, GRAŻYNA BACEWICZ AND HENRYK MIKOŁAJ GÓRECKI.

The National Library is still on the lookout for new collections. It has recently managed to buy in Paris an unusually valuable 19th century autograph book containing a manuscript of a French poem by Juliusz Słowacki. Director of the National Library Tomasz Makowski appealed: “Since during World War II we lost almost all our resources, it’s time for us to try and gather the entirety of Polish writing in the National Library. I would like to ask all private individuals, institutions and libraries: if any periodical, newspaper, leaflet or book is absent from our catalogue please give it to us so that we can say that the National Library holds a complete set of Polish writing.”

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THE 60 MILLION CONGRESS

THE GLOBAL POLONIA SUMMIT

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n 10-11 February 2018, the first 60 Million Congress – The Global Polonia Summit took place in the Eden Roc Hotel, Miami Beach, Florida. Held under the patronage of many public institutions partnering leading Polish companies, the event was undoubtedly a notable success, especially with regard to integration, promotion and debates on Polish undertakings in culture, international affairs and business.

The 60 Million Congress is guided by the idea of integration of Polish communities, both from inside and outside Poland. The name for the Congress was inspired by the total number of Poles worldwide, today estimated at 60 million. Around two-thirds of this population live in Poland, while a third remains outside the country. The Congress also has another, symbolic, dimension, in that its first editions are being held in 2018, the year in which we will be celebrating the 100th anniversary of Poland's regaining independence.

In his address opening the Congress, Jerzy Kwieciński, the Minister of Investment and Economic Development, said: “Many Poles already know, although some still don’t, that the biggest Polish city is actually Chicago, not Warsaw. Considering the population of a large city alone, Warsaw, with its 1.7 million residents places second to Chicago, which can boast 2 million […]

So, we can say that Chicago is indeed Poland’s biggest city. There are so many Poles scattered all around the world, making up the fourth largest diaspora globally. […] They all provide tremendous support, both financial and advisory. As the Polish Government, we are now working on an investment bill under which our whole country will become a single investment zone. Previously, public support was limited only to the areas incorporated within special economic zones. At the moment, an investor who puts forward a viable, preferably hi-tech, project which is likely to generate new jobs in regions which are somewhat falling behind economically – Podkarpackie, Lubelskie, Podlaskie, the Eastern Border, basically – will receive additional benefits and privileges. We are now in the process of introducing major changes to the economic environment […]”.

The Congress provided an excellent opportunity for Poles from various countries to meet and discuss Poland’s position in international relations, especially with regard to their economic dimension. In its first edition, the Congress was attended by 200 people from 11 countries, most notably Poland, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Germany.

The second Congress is to take place on 3031 August 2018 at the G2A Arena – the Exhibition & Congress Centre of the Podkarpackie province near Rzeszów-Jasionka Airport.

Preparations have started, and details of the event's form and agenda are to be announced soon.

As a rule, each Congress features several panel discussions, preceded by introductory presentations. The Global Polonia Summit started on Friday, 9 February, with an evening networking cruise on the waters of a bay in Miami. More than 120 participants in the Congress could meet and talk and unwind in a friendly atmosphere.

On Saturday, 10 February, the 60 Million Congress had its sessions opened by the organisers – Grzegorz Fryc, owner of Gram-X Promotions (USA) and Zbigniew Klonowski, President of Imprestor (Poland). Jerzy Kwieciński, Minister of Investment and Economic Development, as an honorary guest, officially launched the event on behalf of the Polish Government. He outlined the Government’s sustainable development strategy and talked about how the Polish community abroad could contribute to the • economic processes in Poland.

This year, Fracht FWO Polska Sp. z o.o., a global logistics operator, was one of the participants in the 60 Million Congress. It was a partner of Congress. The company is among the most important freight forwarders in handling and organizing goods shipments between Poland and the United States. It is also worth mentioning that in February the Consulate General of the Republic of Poland granted the company an Award of Recognition for its commitment and major contribution to Polish-American economic partnership.

Fracht FWO Polska is based in Warsaw. It has four regional offices in Poznań, Kraków, Katowice and Wrocław.

As a logistics operator providing services to the industrial sector, the company offers a complete range of services – from simple road transport to complex logistics projects, like for example the delivery of power units to construction sites. In fulfilling its orders Fracht FWO Polska uses various modes of transport: road, air, maritime and rail transport. The company handles containerized cargo, oversize loads, full truck loads (FTL), less than truck loads (LTL), temperature controlled cargo, just-in-time deliveries and regular express deliveries across the European Union.

For more information see: http://frachtfwo.pl.

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Collector coin issued by NBP

100th Anniversary of the Military Effort of Polish Americans

They came back though nothing was forcing them to do so.

They helped because they loved Poland We Poles are always ready to fight for freedom, wherever fate may lead us.

At the turn of the 20th century, when the Polish lands had long been divided into three partitions, the United States and Canada admitted consecutive groups of Polish emigrants who sought political freedom and better economic conditions in these countries.

www.nbp.pl/coins

A single command however, a single call from Europe, was enough for 20 thousand ethnic Poles to return from America in order to join the ranks of General Józef Haller’s army. They came back though nothing was forcing them to do so. Those back in America supported the Polish army financially by transferring over USD 16 million (currently the equivalent of approx. USD 400 million). We feel enormous gratitude to them.

TRADITION AND MODERNITY.

100 YEARS OF THE POLISH PATENT OFFICE ALICJA ADAMCZAK, President of the Patent Office of the Republic of Poland In 2018, the Patent Office of the Republic of Poland is celebrating the 100th anniversary of its establishing and introducing industrial property protection in Poland. President of Poland Andrzej Duda is the patron of the celebratory events. The Jubilee celebrations will include a number of events, conferences, seminars and symposia addressing intellectual property issues, and will be followed by many publications to popularise the idea of extensive legal protection for scientific/technical inventors and designers. These celebrations are part of broader efforts to raise historical awareness and propagate the patriotic values associated with the regaining of independence by Poland in 1918.

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his year, by commemorating the historical date of the 100th anniversary of the establishing of industrial property protection in Poland, the Patent Office is emphasising the fundamental importance of such intellectual property protection in supporting the unlocking of Poland’s economic potential and its sustainable growth. Both historical and contemporary times show that the contributions made by Polish inventors to the global heritage are characterised by some remarkable achievements in many fields.

The reasonable use of such achievements has determined, and continues to determine, Poland’s position among the countries building modern economies based on knowledge and innovative attitudes.

During the 100 years of its continuous operation, the Patent Office of the Republic of Poland has issued more than 220,000 patents for inventions, and has registered more than 60,000 utility models, 23,000 industrial designs, and about 300,000 trademarks. Overall, during this period, the Office has received more than 1,200,000 applications. These figures reflect the very rich history of this institution, which is responsible for protecting industrial property in our country.

The 100th anniversary of the Office commemorates a momentous historical occasion, namely the commencement of official government efforts in Poland to provide regulatory protection for industrial property. Since 1918, the intellectual property of Polish inventors, innovators and designers has been protected by state authority under laws which govern the issuing of patents and other exclusive rights.

The establishing of the Patent Office of the Republic of Poland is directly linked with the regaining of our independence in 1918, as the Patent Office was among the first public

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institutions established by the government of the reborn state. By way of a temporary decree, on 13 December 1918, Józef Piłsudski, Chief of State, established the Patent Office of the Republic of Poland at the Ministry of Industry and Trade in Warsaw. The new office was responsible for granting patents for inventions and for issuing certificates of registration to protect drawing designs and models, as well as certificates of registration for trademarks. In 1919, the Chief of State issued three other decrees which constituted the first modern regulations to meet the needs of the Polish nation in relation to industrial property protection, essential for the economic growth of the reborn state. As a result, the intellectual property of Polish inventors, scientists and designers has been continuously protected over the last 100 years of our statehood, but the extent and forms of this protection have continued to develop. In 1919, Poland joined the Paris Convention of 1883, which was the first international regulation to define industrial property protection rules.

Now the Patent Office of the Republic of Poland provides regulatory protection across all categories of industrial property, ranging from inventions to trademarks, utility models, industrial designs, integrated circuit topographies and geographical indications. This protection is provided by granting exclusive rights to natural persons and businesses. It gives individuals and businesses confidence in their sales, and facilitates the economic use of intellectual property within this industrial property protection system, while respecting the rights of all its users. Exclusive rights protection also supports innovation, encouraging designers and businesspersons to create the novel solutions necessary for economic growth.

In addition, the Office undertakes educational

projects designed to disseminate knowledge about the regulatory protection of intangible assets. Indeed, it is vital to raise social awareness in this area to facilitate the broader use of industrial property protection as a regulatory instrument to effectively support creativity and entrepreneurship. The Patent Office of the Republic of Poland prepares many useful publications and guides, as well as organises conferences, symposia, and training workshops, and cooperates with universities, creative and business organisations, and associations, on industrial property protection matters. Initiatives undertaken by the Patent Office also cover issues associated with technology transfer from science to business, and its encouragement through the development of intellectual property rights management policies. International symposia, organised each year by our institution to discuss such topics, provide a platform for sharing experiences with foreign partners on issues related to technology transfer from scientific centres to business and the economy, and constitute a permanent fixture within the operations of the Office to spread knowledge of modern industrial property management. Indeed, such knowledge is vital for the development of small and medium-sized innovators operating in new technologies.

Business innovation, or the ability to develop new technologies and products, largely depends on the effective protection of the rights to such intangible assets as inventions, utility models, industrial designs, and trademarks. Safe in the knowledge that they are being provided with such protection, businesspersons are more likely to invest in new solutions, which is a precondition for increased competitiveness, and an ever more effective application of our econom• ic potential.

Medicine

THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM REQUIRES

CHANGES ANNA RULKIEWICZ, President of LuxMed, Deputy President of Employers of Poland

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conomic growth is based on an entrepreneurial and healthy society. While Poles are full of the former quality, healthcare requires urgent and thorough reform. Our population is growing older and older, and also we are now increasingly often being affected by diseases of affluence, which are not treated or treated too late. Absenteeism for healthrelated reasons is high, which greatly impacts on the productivity of enterprises. This is to the detriment of everyone – the market, the public, and the country at large. Without introducing changes to the present operation of the healthcare system, the problems will only pile up. Building the economy on such a weak basis can result in a catastrophe, for which we and future generations will have to pay.

It is important for Employers of Poland to find solutions which will help to resolve this difficult situation. We want to do this together with all stakeholders in the healthcare industry – doctors, nurses, scientists, the administration, local governments, entrepreneurs and patients. Therefore, we have organised another edition of the Health Congress, which is to serve as a discussion forum on the health of Poles and its impact on economic growth. Occupational healthcare, which so far has been an untapped field, and might become the primary form of healthcare for the working population, will constitute an important element in our deliberations.

The manner in which occupational medicine operates was defined more than 20 years ago, and does not befit the contemporary situation. It primarily focuses on workplace hazards, occupational diseases, and determining whether an individual can be employed in a given position. At present, however, most cases of absenteeism and delayed return to work are caused by non-occupational diseases. It is, therefore, necessary to change the principles and adjust regulations on occupational medicine, so that it focuses on comprehensive support for employees in maintaining their health, and not only on its role in the working environment. Such an approach would promote

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the prevention and early diagnosis of diseases, and would ensure the continuity of care, should an employee’s test results reveal anything worrisome. This is why a better solution would be to replace the certification-based model with a counselling-oriented one.

That being said, it is worth highlighting the role of the private sector in this system, and how it could support occupational medicine and prevention in general terms. Private healthcare providers have the infrastructure, human resources and experience which could constitute a vital value, and can supplement the public healthcare system in securing the health of the population. Taking into account the fact that the private sector of the Polish healthcare system is an incubator of innovations, and a service quality carrier, making better use of its potential is in the best interests of Polish patients.

Finally, one must mention the crucial problem inherent in the Polish healthcare system, which is financing. Better use of money by promoting quality and efficiency must be prioritised. The commitment to increase public spending on health to 6% of GDP is a step in the right direction. It, however, appears too little when compared with other countries, insufficient, and excessively stretched over time. The State should, nevertheless, make every effort to ensure the health safety of its citizens. This can be effected by creating the conditions for the development of additional health insurance schemes by citizens or employers. There are many potential solutions in this regard.

The most important thing is to create an appropriate legal framework which would allow solutions to be introduced in an evolving way, in compliance with the principles of social solidarity, and in particular the protection of the economically weakest. Transparent regulations and incentives for citizens and entrepreneurs are of key importance, as it is chiefly because of its scale that insurance can be attractively priced. Such an additional source of funding can become an important element, increasing the stability of the entire healthcare system.

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Medicine

A STRONG ECONOMY CAN ONLY DEVELOP WITHIN A HEALTHY SOCIETY

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ANDRZEJ MĄDRALA, PhD, President of the Management Board of Centrum Medyczne MAVIT Sp. z o.o.; Deputy President of Employers of Poland

ur economy is facing some serious challenges. The Polish population is ageing. We are overworked and suffer from chronic diseases which are diagnosed and treated too late. Without an appropriate healthcare policy, the competitiveness of the Polish workforce is going to deteriorate. A strong economy can only develop within a healthy society. Therefore, it is high time we made the necessary changes in the management and funding of our long-neglected healthcare system. At Employers of Poland we are not afraid of difficult challenges, so, once again, we are organising the Health Congress to develop and discuss solutions which could remedy the current critical situation in public healthcare. This debate is to focus on patients and their welfare.

We believe that in the face of the systemic challenges the healthcare sector in Poland is facing today, all stakeholders – employers, decision-makers, experts, employees, and patients themselves – need to engage in a dialogue as partners with a common goal.

It is important that we identify what needs to be improved in the way our healthcare is organised, so that it follows the principles of responsible growth. But first we need to determine its place within the economic system as a whole, and see how it affects other sectors, even those seemingly very remote. It is crucial that we do not treat public health as an isolated issue, because it is actually one of the most crucial elements in the State’s functioning, and has a tremendous impact on its functioning.

Money spent on the healthcare system should be treated as an investment ‒ one which brings benefits on many levels. Employers care about healthy employees who can effectively do their jobs. In an ageing society, it will be increasingly difficult to find good, committed employees. Therefore, it is going to be more and more important that they maintain good health, so that they can work for as long as possible, and are able to pay contributions which sustain the system.

One way to bring about positive change is innovative therapies, which might initially require considerable outlays, but ultimately produce the best results. It is important to bear in mind that every zloty spent on creating an effective healthcare system helps prevent much higher costs in the future.

In addition, it is necessary that cooperation be established with private entities which implement state-of-the-art management and

treatment solutions to achieve superior efficiency. Private companies and institutions must not be treated as competitors to the public healthcare system, but rather as its partners, who often pave the way for growth, and contribute to enhancing treatment quality. Patients should be approached on an individual basis because only this way can we avoid the costs associated with additional hospital stays and the treatment of complications, and focus on early diagnostics and on providing effective treatment.

The private healthcare system has already learned how to effectively treat patients!

Patients often go to doctors in the advanced stages of diseases, as a result of which the costs of their treatment are much higher than they would have been if these patients had reported earlier. Polish people should be living normal lives, not waiting for their turn in doctors’ waiting rooms. Only with the effective management of resources can we improve treatment effectiveness and achieve a high quality of life, and, consequently, ensure a competitive workforce.

Let me remind you that the 1st Health Congress organised by Employers of Poland produced a Book of Recommendations, with proposed changes for consideration by decision-makers. These recommendations could significantly improve the healthcare system, improve the quality of healthcare services, and make the experience more comfortable for patients, thus improving the health of all Poles.

This year, the Ministry of Health announced its intention to increase public spending on healthcare to 6% of GDP over the next 6 years. Unfortunately, the majority of the recommendations we proposed are still waiting to be acted on. During this year’s Congress we wish to update these to reflect the current situation in our healthcare system. Therefore, we want each of the twelve panel discussions to arrive at specific conclusions, and use these to formulate revised recommendations, which could serve as a remedy for the maladies of the system. Any money to be used for this purpose must be spent as judiciously as possible, because the continuous increasing of the budget for this dysfunctional system will only produce a short-term improvement.

We have invited to our 2nd Health Congress all individual stakeholders, institutions, and organisations interested in having an actual discussion and taking the real steps necessary to forge a strong econ• omy through a healthy society.

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Medicine

LEADING

POSITION IN THE MARKET DOROTA HRYNIEWIECKA-FIRLEJ, President of Pfizer Polska, talks to “Polish Market”.

This year marks the 60th anniversary of Pfizer’s activity in Poland. It is an exceptional achievement. How would you assess those 60 years?

We are very proud of those 60 years on the Polish market. Looking at our business and the effects of our work from the perspective of so many years and so many changes, it is fair to say that we have achieved a lot. However, our success is not measured by the number of prizes and awards, or our leading position in the market. Above all, we measure our success by the number of human lives saved and the improved wellbeing of patients. For years, we have striven every day to give Polish patients access to the greatest developments in modern medicine.

Today, after 60 years on the Polish market, we are happy to say that we have registered more than 120 medicinal products. We are present in the most important therapeutic areas that are most significant for public health, with our originator drugs and personal treatment in oncology, solutions for patients with chronic autoimmune inflammatory diseases, rare diseases, and antibiotic therapy. We also ensure disease prevention for Polish patients by offering them a fantastic vaccine portfolio. Thanks to our wide experience, we have been able to build a strong market position.

However, our present position is due to our past work. We started from scratch – it is incredible that Pfizer started its business in Poland with single-person representation. At that time, the main pillar of our work was information activities aimed at hospitals and physicians, and the provision of breakthrough (at that time) medicines – antibiotics – to our patients.

The next years brought development. We gained strength step by step, building our market position with each subsequent merger.

Thanks to innovative research, and thus new discoveries, especially in the area of antibiotics, vaccines, or life-saving solutions, we were able to offer our patients more groundbreaking therapies. This was due to PM

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our hard work, or rather the work of our team, because Pfizer means people. Today, the company has 450 employees, specialists, and experts responsible for research and development, production, education, promotion, and pharmacovigilance. The company is formed by a strong team of people who do their best, as they know that our efforts offer a real chance for a better quality of human life.

Employees are the company’s strength. However, nowadays it is much harder to find personnel. Why is your offer unique – why is it worth developing at Pfizer?

As I have already said, the company would not be successful without the team that forms it; therefore, at Pfizer we always focus on people and their development. I am convinced that people are the main and most important driving force of our business. It is enough to give them space to work and opportunities to improve their skills. Pfizer makes sure that there is such space. For years, I had an opportunity to experience this myself – nowhere else did I find the space for development and independence that I have had here. Today, as the President, I do my best to make this space for my colleagues as well. It is a priority of our HR strategy to create an attractive workplace with opportunities for education and development. For this purpose, we organize training tailored to individual professional needs, we care about the atmosphere of cooperation and transfer of knowledge; we also develop coaching and mentoring tools – all this to make our employees feel that by being part of this company they can get for themselves as much as possible. Thanks to education and training, we give them a chance to develop their career paths. The company offers unlimited possibilities for promotion, within both regional and global structures. At the same time, we respect the diversity of employees, which is the source of our strength. Our employees value it, and many have been with the company for many years.

PM

Medicine You underline that your commitment translates to real advantages for the patients. It is a responsible, difficult job, but does it give you a sense of fulfilment and satisfaction?

Of course. Each day, we make the lives of millions of people longer and healthier.

It is a fascinating challenge, but also an immense obligation. We discharge it in accordance with our philosophy of "Patients First", which guides us in our daily work. The patients’ wellbeing, their needs and safety, are our absolute priority. We remember this at each step: from the search for new molecules and development of therapies to the sale of products already registered on the market.

We take a holistic approach to the patients – we focus not only on providing the best methods of treatment, but also on the importance of education and support in their struggle with illnesses. In order to better respond to their needs, we try to get to know our patients, to understand their emotions and concerns about diseases. Here, we are helped by our daily cooperation with patient organizations.

This has given us a lot of experience which has frequently let us spot the unobvious.

PM

Quality and safety – are these the top values used by Pfizer to deliver the latest therapeutic solutions?

Yes, undoubtedly. With the future of our company in mind, we invest in research and development, which helps us deliver the latest solutions of the highest quality. There would be no new drugs without clinical trials. Thanks to them, effective and safe therapies are available on the market. Therefore, an investment in research is a natural step in the development of any innovative pharmaceutical company wishing to give access to new drug technologies.

Our real contribution to the research on new molecules in Poland comprises 68 clinical trials within 12 therapeutic areas. We have conducted them at 350 centres, with the participation of approximately 3,000 patients.

Most of these are phase 2 and phase 3 clinical trials, allowing for an assessment of the clinical efficacy of a test drug in a particular setting in comparison to a placebo or standard therapy.

With the patients’ wellbeing in mind, we take full responsibility not only for developing and introducing new drugs on the market, but also for controlling the safety and efficacy of existing therapies. This is evidenced by our latest investment – the Drug Safety Unit Platform – the largest Pfizer platform intended to support the monitoring of adverse effects of drugs around the world. An investment in this PM

type of tool in Poland shows how important our country is for the American company. It is an enormous investment in our economy – an opportunity to hire young people and build unique competences on a global level.

Today, looking towards the future and the coming years of work, what is your priority?

Above all, it is the continuous improvement and delivery of new technologies for patients. As Pfizer, we want to significantly contribute to the development of Polish society. Our actions are focused on providing and maximizing access to innovative and mature therapies and preventive healthcare. However, when it comes to health areas, I may confidently say that some of our priorities in the coming years are widely understood to be cardiology, oncology, vaccination, and biological treatment. For several decades, these areas have been our greatest challenge. Being aware of this, for several years Pfizer has been addressing the expectations of patients, but also of the payer, and consciously investing in the development of reference biological medicines and biosimilars.

PM

You refer to a particularly heated topic and discussion on biological treatment. Are reference biological medicines and biosimilars therapeutically equivalent?

Above all, biologics that have been available on the market for the past 20 years show clear evidence of the existence of progress in medicine. They have revolutionized treatment in many therapeutic areas, including oncology and chronic autoimmune inflammatory diseases.

Research on biological drugs in the preclinical and clinical phase, and market authorization procedures take years to finalize and are therefore extremely expensive, which is why the price of the drugs is so high. Biologics are obviously highly protected by patents and may be produced by other manufacturers once the patent has expired. Then, the so-called biosimilars are made.

Each biologic and biosimilar is produced using different cell lines and manufacturing processes; therefore, biosimilars will not be identical to the innovative biological medicines. Because of this, a "one size fits all" approach is not appropriate.

PM

Considering the potential savings for healthcare systems, will reference medicines still be necessary after the introduction of a biosimilar?

Any decision to switch should be made in the context of an individual patient, supported PM

by scientific evidence. Such decisions must be patient-, disease-, and product- specific. It is important for the physician to balance the level of evidence against the level of risk or uncertainty in each particular case.

Medical societies and patient advocacy groups recommend that biological products should not be substituted automatically, arguing that patients must be fully aware at all times of the medications they are taking in order to accurately assess risk against benefits.

Many medical societies across Europe have a formal position that states that automatic substitution is not appropriate for biosimilars.

Physicians, in consultation with their patient, should retain the right to choose the medicine they think is most appropriate for the patient.

Policies that limit physicians’ choice or prevent the substitution of biological treatments without the involvement of the physician may result in inappropriate care, and can put patients at unnecessary risk.

What are the potential issues threatening balanced access to biological medicines?

Access to biologics and biosimilars varies by country – applicable regulations may restrict the physician’s ability to choose biologics and biosimilars, or may limit the number of available therapeutic options.

Potential savings from the payer’s point of view, related to the introduction of biosimilars, and physician choice do not need to be mutually exclusive. Biosimilars enter the market when innovative drugs lose their patent protection, and competition between reference biologics and biosimilars drives cost savings and offers physicians greater choice to treat their patients based on their unique individual therapeutic needs.

I represent a company whose portfolio contains both therapeutic options, that is biologics and biosimiars, thus giving patients balanced access to biotechnological therapies and leaving the decision to a physician, according the “primum non nocere” principle, a principle which takes effect in the context of the possible existence of different therapeutic options and the specific needs of an individual patient.

PM

Finally, please tell us whether these 60 years of experience on the Polish market have given you a new outlook, a new mission for the company?

It has always been Pfizer's mission to provide Polish patients with increasingly effective and safe therapies because the success of our company, in Poland and elsewhere, is measured by an improvement in the quality of life and health of the patients.

• PM

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Medicine

THE FIRST IMPLANTATION OF THE COCHLEAR OSIA OSI100 IMPLANT IN POLAND

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Medicine

O

n 11 April 2018 at the World Hearing Center of the Institute of Physiology and Pathology of Hearing, the latest generation auditory implants of the Cochlear OSIA OSI100 type were implanted in demonstration surgeries. These implantations were performed for the first time in our country and region. So far, devices of this type have been implanted only in the Netherlands, Australia, the USA and Germany.

The pioneering implantation of the Cochlear OSIA OSI100 implant and the thus-started deafness treatment program with this type of auditory implant is another proof that patients in Kajetany have access to the latest technologies, as the first or one of the first in the world.

A few years ago, we were invited to this project and we were chosen to be among the best clinics in our specialty in the world. The operation itself lasted just over an hour and the patient would be able to have a processor programmed already next month. Then she will start to feel the benefits of the chosen implant - said Prof. Piotr H. Skarżyński, the main operator and supervisor of the introduction of the implant to clinical practice.

The currently launched program concerns bone conduction implants for patients, in whom other methods of treatment of hearing loss are ineffective or have little benefit. The new Cochlear OSIA OSI100 implant is an implantable medical device dedicated to new patient groups: those with various congenital and acquired hearing impairments, patients after previous operations performed due to postinflammatory and post-traumatic lesions, as well as in cases of unsuccessful or unacceptable attempts to treat patients with hearing loss only with classic hearing aids.

"It is a system of implants implanted in the middle ear, which use the natural conduction of sounds through the bone," said Prof. Henryk Skarżyński. "It consists of an external part, in which a microphone and a battery are placed.

This part picks up sounds. The internal part processes these received sounds. It is constructed so that the device does not move or change position, and directly transfers the sound to the bone. This device with such a placement provides very high quality of sound received from the outside. The inner part is placed under the skin, which is recommended, for example, for sports. The outer part is a tiny sound processor, hidden under the hair and held by the magnet.

It collects acoustic information from the environment and transmits it through the skin," added Prof. Skarżyński.

According to research conducted at the Institute, up to several percent of our patients, mainly adolescents and adults, will be able to use this device. The sound amplification provided by this implant is relatively high compared to other similar devices and can be used in those patients who have disorders on different frequencies.

Entrusting the specialists from Kajetany with performing another pioneering hearing improving surgery is

A FEW YEARS AGO, WE WERE INVITED TO THIS PROJECT AND WE WERE CHOSEN TO BE AMONG THE BEST CLINICS IN OUR SPECIALTY IN THE WORLD. a proof of the huge trust that the group of international designers and engineers has for us. It is also the effect of the experience gained in the World Hearing Center for over 15 years, since the highest number of hearing improving • surgeries in the world is performed here daily.

4/2018 polish market

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Medicine

POLAND NEEDS BIOTECH INCUBATORS PROF. TOMASZ CIACH, chemist, biologist, nanotechnologist, founder of the NanoVelos, NanoThea and NanoSanguis firms, winner of “Polish Market’s” Honorary Pearl award in the Science category, talks to Marcin Haber about challenges facing Polish scientists in the process of implementing scientific innovations and about examples of model solutions from other countries.

You combine being a scientist with business activity. How are you able to reconcile these two worlds?

In Poland combining science with business is like bringing water and fire together. My scientist colleagues say I have betrayed them and sold my soul to Mammon. My business colleagues do not understand me because I want to make new drugs for people instead of making money as quickly as possible. It turns out that running a biotech business in Poland is a very demanding task. Polish investors are not eager to invest long term. Medical technologies, especially the development and production of new pharmaceuticals, offer high rates of return, but are risky and take a long time. It is estimated that around eight to 10 years are needed for a new drug to be developed - from an idea to the marketplace. The whole process eats up hundreds of millions of dollars – in some cases as much as several billion. It is a whopping investment, but one should remember that the potential rate of return is huge as well. This thesis is proven by the fact that the annual sales of many pharmaceutical companies exceed Poland’s GDP. More and more money is being spent in the world on medicine and medical technologies. And this trend is set to continue.

PM

Is it good?

It is good and bad at the same time. It is good because it leads to the development of medical technologies, something my students deal with, which means they will have jobs. In Europe the sums of money are not so vast yet, but Americans spend on health around 15% of their GDP annually. This is translated into a rise in the average lifespan and better quality of life, for instance. Over the past 100 years the average life span of people in Poland has virtually doubled, though one should remember about historical considerations.

PM

And why is it bad?

It is bad because spending of such proportions is a significant burden for states and their citizens. We now have the situation where many medicines and medical technologies are inaccessible, because of their cost, to ordinary PM

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Medicine

people. Take Doxil, probably the oldest liposomal nano-drug. The product is so complex technologically that 1 gram of it once cost as much as USD100,000. As a result, it was actually not used in Poland at all. So, there exist modern medical technologies accessible to a very small group of people and old drugs for all the others. Unfortunately, this also applies to a majority of the medicines, life-extending technologies and technologies improving life quality that are being developed now. You can imagine a situation comparable to the plot of the film “Elysium” where the rich and healthy live in a space settlement located in the Earth’s orbit while the Earth is inhabited only by the poor and sick. A sad prospect…

On the other hand, you can imagine a situation where even if a scientist has an excellent idea for a new drug they are unable to start working on it because of a lack of money.

In Poland it usually begins with scientific research at a university. Under previous legislation, scientists did not have the right to commercialize their discoveries, so it was a marginal phenomenon. New legislation enables this, but many universities still do not make it easier as they assume they themselves could earn money from the sale of innovation to cover their expenses. Meanwhile, even the most active universities, like MIT, cover only 3-4% of their spending on scientific research with profits from commercialized research. The main beneficiaries of innovation are the state, in the form of taxes, and private investors. It is them who should finance this process and the contribution of the state should be dominant, especially at the initial stage. The procedure is that if you invent something a Polish patent application is submitted, which is relatively cheap, and this is usually done by the university. The Polish patent gives you priority for the technological solution. However, after a year the first major expenditure has to be made. You have to apply for a European patent, which gives you priority throughout Europe, but actually extends the protection of the invention by another year. This is the year for the scientist to submit patent applications on other local markets, like Japan, China, Russia, Canada, the United States, Brazil, India, Australia, Britain and elsewhere. And this involves huge expenditures because the development of drugs makes sense only if they can be sold globally. And if you think global you have to take into account the cost of perfecting, testing and applying the technology, a cost running into hundreds of millions of dollars.

PM

How is a Polish scientist expected to acquire so much funding?

The universities where scientists work on new solutions are usually able to cover the cost of a Polish patent. Sometimes the two parties manage to come to an agreement and the university undertakes to finance the European patent application. Inevitably, though, the time comes when private capital has to take over. Universities are not adapted for technology development.

PM

What is the model road from an idea to the marketplace today?

If a scientist has a good idea he or she applies for a Polish patent. It provides protection, but also forces you to be discreet, which is difficult because Polish scientists are still appraised on the basis of their publications.

No one asks about the patents they have received or the practical application of their research findings. If a scientist who works mainly on his or her idea is required to publish they face the choice – disclose the idea, which has not been patented yet, or not publish at all, which is against the university’s policy. If you already have a Polish patent and the research findings are promising there begins a search for a private investor. This is a problem because a scientist’s job is to do research work rather than look for investors.

You need to be extremely lucky to find one. If you succeed the company signs an agreement with the university. Under the agreement, the company takes over the patent or is granted a licence. But here we return to the problem I touched upon at the beginning of our conversation. Polish investors do not like to invest in medical technologies because these require time and peace to be developed. As far as I know, their favourite investment choice is cafés, which offer quick and sure returns.

PM

So the only hope is a foreign investor?

The investment sentiment is completely different abroad, especially on the other side of the Atlantic. An excellent example is Boston. It is a mecca for biotech start-ups. Those who invest there expect to see a payback on their investment in 10 or 15 years. Boston has excellent infrastructure. The city is known for its numerous incubators, including biotech incubators. One such example is CIC Labs, located close to MIT, the world’s most famous university of technology. It should be added that many countries have followed in Boston’s footsteps and now ensure very good conditions for small biotechnological firms, like for example substantial tax breaks, PM

refunding up to 30% of the firms’ expenses, income tax exemptions for the employees, excellent laboratories rented at very affordable prices and active assistance in finding a local investor. Excellently equipped centres for the development of small biotech firms have come into being in Canada, Denmark, Belgium, Spain and other countries. Unfortunately, not in Poland. This policy enables the countries to attract many small dynamic biotech firms from across the world and boost the local economies. For years I have tried to persuade successive Polish authorities to invest in a similar system, but to no avail.

I look at the companies I have established in Poland – they are managed by my PhD students – and we have nowhere to go. Universities do not want us while we need very expensive professional labs. Companies worth a total of around USD7 billion have been incubated at CIC Lab in the first four years of its operation. Poland is proud of investments in car assembly plants. Meanwhile, if it invested in a similar incubator it could generate much higher receipts and at the same time develop the potential of Polish science and Polish scientists. Everyone tells me that Warsaw is not Boston. It may not be now, but a few billion zlotys would be enough for a start. That we have talented scientists is proven by CIC Lab’s decision to build its incubator in the very centre of Warsaw. They have chosen the most convenient place, one which can be easily accessed by students from each university.

It so happens that these are the most expensive plots - near the Central Railway Station.

What is the model of operation for such incubators?

It is very simple. At such places, a startup can rent a professional modern laboratory or even individual research workstations per hour. The firm can also count on advice and help in finding an investor. The incubators provide all the necessary research equipment and technicians who operate it. The manufacturers virtually fight to have their latest equipment installed in such a reputable lab.

Then, when the firm leaves the incubator, it will buy the equipment which it is already accustomed to. Start-ups are usually required to “leave the motherly care” of the incubator when their value exceeds USD100,000.

Kindergartens and crèches are built at incubators to additionally facilitate work for the researchers as most of the contemporary biotechnologists are female. As a result, the scientists are able to focus exclusively on their work.

• PM

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Medicine

A MEDICAL COUNCIL FOR HEALTH PROTECTION PROF. WITOLD M. ORŁOWSKI, Rector of the Vistula University

W

hen the system ic transformation in Poland was instigated 28 years ago, I was still a very young man. But I already had some thorough reflections. I believed, for instance, that even though the transformation seemed an extremely difficult task, it would succeed, eventually making Poland a wealthy country with a fully operational market. At the same time, I knew all too well that the public healthcare system was far from perfect. Still, I had assumed, somewhat selfishly, that neither I nor my closest family would be in need of any serious health interventions for at least 20-30 years. This came along with absolute certainty that as soon as Polish economy was back on its feet, the necessary healthcare reforms would be put in place one way or another.

But they haven’t. For nearly three decades, the situation in healthcare has been a true nightmare for Polish politicians, and a major threat to Poland’s development. And it has continued like that for years. But whenever people go on strike – be it nurses gathering in front of the Prime Minister's Office, or doctors, or indebted hospitals, or whenever patients or the media express their outrage at the situation – the authorities have the same response: knee-jerk, short-term decisions. Decisions which, in essence, serve nothing more than just to sweep the problem under the carpet – a small add-on to the salary for the doctors, a marginal improvement to working conditions for hospital residents, debt repayments for hospitals. The National Health Fund (NFZ) suddenly finds some spare money for that extra batch of imported medicines or for additional procedures. This should not come as a surprise – we all remember the strong anti-Government sentiment which had shattered trust in Jerzy

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Buzek’s Cabinet when the PM tried to defend the reforms, regardless of whether they were well drafted or not. Understandably, no one is eager to repeat that disastrous political mistake.

The problem, however, is that this leads us nowhere.

First, the Polish healthcare system suffers from a palpable shortage of funding. Any comparison on an international scale will show that a country with a Poland-like level of development should allocate more of its GDP for health than it does now. Even though 18%, as in the US, or 10-12%, as in the wealthy countries of Western Europe, are unattainable for us, 6% of GDP (both public and private funding) is still far too little. Contemporary science offers amazing, although incredibly expensive, treatment methods, and we surely can't afford all of them. But we need to make that extra effort to provide Polish citizens with the increasingly effective and advanced therapies. And this simply must come at a price.

Secondly, today's public healthcare system has grown into a bottomless pit, and for a number of reasons – the funds, for instance, which not only are meagre but partially go to waste, not to mention that over 20 years we have never managed to develop a coherent, logical healthcare funding system, nor any mechanisms ensuring more efficient spending.

The funding must be increased – but not before, however, than after this financial pit is patched up so that more water can be poured in. The reforms should therefore aim at providing mechanisms which will make the healthcare system work more efficiently, while curbing any unnecessary spending.

Thirdly, when it comes to finance, the Polish healthcare system is practically uncontrollable.

No efficient cost-control mechanisms are in place while there are many interest groups doing well in these conditions and making sure that such mechanisms are not introduced.

Nor is there an administrative system which would safeguard reasonable spending. It is hard to imagine any national healthcare system operating without such support. There is no single administrator determined enough, and possessing the tools, to put the system in order. The Minister, the National Health Fund, and local governments are not such administrators. There is no social consent to introduce microeconomic mechanisms ensuring reasonable behaviour, e.g. in the form of co-payments for healthcare services.

Finally, the finances of the public healthcare system in Poland are today a ticking time bomb. Over the last 28 years, repeatedly giving in to pressure from various interest groups, our governments have not only surrendered the idea of funding reform.

They have also come to terms with problems being put off until later, allocating the vast majority of public healthcare funds to salaries and other consumer expenditures. This means that a massive financial problem caused by shortfall in investments is emerging right behind our backs. Investments can be put off for some time, but in a situation where the required funds are not there, the debt starts to run up rapidly.

The Polish healthcare system needs treatment, urgently. It needs an accurate diagnosis, the right medication, and effective therapy. This is what the Polish Employers Health Congress is about – to devise such a therapy. But in order for the therapy to succeed, we must all agree that the patient must undergo treatment, even if this should • require swallowing a bitter pill.

READ-GENE SA is a company of innovative technologies.

One of major aims is to conduct studies on treatment and prevention of the most common malignant tumors.

Company’s innovative approach in oncology is based on the division of patients into sub-groups depending on clinics, genetic profile and micronutrients levels.

The company’s R&D Center is located in surroundings of Szczecin.

1500 women with average age of 55 years participated in study.

Almost 100 cases of cancers at different sites were discovered (half of cases were breast cancers) among 1100 women with higher blood arsenic concentration. There were no cancer cases in the group of 400 females with blood arsenic concentration below 0,6 µg/l.

Higher arsenic concentration in the environment and food is a result of industrial pollution and an effect of natural arsenic deposition.

20

Cancer risk [OR]

A team of Polish scientists from READ-GENE SA R&D Center and Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin discovered for the first time very strong correlation between cancer risk in females and arsenic blood concentration.

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10

5

1 0,5

1,0

1,5

2,0

Arsenic concentration in blood [µg/l]

The lower concentration of arsenic in blood is associated with the lower cancer risk in females

The presented results indicate that measurement of arsenic blood concentration is purposeful among all adult women.

More information: office@read-gene.com | www.read-gene.com

Medicine

HE WHO MOVES NOT FORWARD, GOES BACKWARD PROF. PAWEŁ BUSZMAN, PhD MD, co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of the American Heart of Poland (AHP), winner of the "Polish Market" Honorary Pearl in the Science category.

“

He who moves not forward, goes backward” – this famous maxim by Goethe applies to everybody. This can also be said of medicine, and Polish cardiac surgeons are well aware of the fact. Professor Zbigniew Religa was a pioneer in this field in Poland, but cardiovascular surgery has been experiencing rapid development over recent years. Between 2000 and 2016, thanks to the efforts of cardiology centres, we have managed to record a clear downward trend as far as mortality caused by coronary heart disease and myocardial infarction is concerned. Medical services currently available in Poland have reached world-class level. Due to applying state-of-the-art imaging and diagnostics technologies, leading-edge surgery, micro-invasive surgery techniques, and drug-eluting stents, we can successfully treat strokes, heart attacks, atherosclerosis, and other cardiovascular diseases, which unfortunately are still the most common causes of death in Poland.

In recent years, Polish cardiology has shown what healthcare should be like. The focus should not only be on treatment, but also on development, and investments in staff, equipment and technologies.

This can be achieved if medicine is based on value, and is cost-effective, which makes investment in development possible. This is exactly what we have done at the AHP – we have allocated our resources for our own contribution to projects co-financed by the European Union by establishing and developing our AHP Centre for Cardiovascular Research & Development (CCRD).

We have been carrying out numerous research projects at the CCRD since 2004, which are aimed at assessing the biocompatibility, safety and effectiveness of innovative therapies and medical technologies which can be introduced for medical trials afterwards. Our specialists are working on innovative coronary stents eluting antiproliferative drugs, carotid stents or drug-covered intravascular balloons.

CCRD develops new health-prevention, diagnostic, treatment, and rehabilitation methods, and puts them into practice. The example of the American Heart of Poland, and our Centre for Cardiovascular Research & Development, shows that science, medicine and business can, and should, cooperate. Such cooperation can produce multi-dimensional and measurable outcomes.

First, scientific outcomes – papers on our research – are published in major reputable scientific and medical journals. Together with scientists from other centres, including the Silesian University of Technology, the CCRD is working on cutting-edge solutions, such as thinstrut biodegradable intravascular drug-eluting stents (the Apollo Programme), or the first Polish percutaneous aortic valve implantation

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(the InFlow Programme). We are also working on state-of-the-art treatment methods such as the use of telemedicine technologies in the optimum cardiology rehabilitation programme in patients after myocardial revascularisation (the RESTORE Programme). Thanks to telemedicine, we can substantially reduce the risk of myocardial infarction, and, for example, detect atrial fibrillation in advance. We are already applying these methods in our patients, using Polish products.

Secondly, outcomes for patients – thanks to our research, Polish cardiology can use the most advanced stents or valves in the world, which are less expensive than those available in the West. Therefore, more patients can benefit from treatment within the Polish healthcare system, as more medical procedures are being performed within the same budget. Cutting-edge stents can prevent repeated revascularisation. This is an enormous benefit for the patients.

Thirdly, outcomes for business – Polish companies benefit from cooperating in scientific activities. We are selecting Polish companies to build modern operating theatres or to launch the latest products and services. Thanks to this, these companies have a chance to grow and become leading international businesses.

We all welcomed with hope the inaugural address delivered by Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki. In his speech, he announced that cardiology would become one of the priorities, and assured us that the state would support Polish science and Polish companies. We are still waiting for these promises to be fulfilled. Without this, there will be no development, Polish medicine will go backwards, and cardiology will follow.

•

PROF. PAWEŁ BUSZMAN, PHD MD Co-founder and CEO of a Poland-wide chain of clinics providing the comprehensive treatment of cardiovascular diseases. A medical sciences professor, PhD, cardiologist and cardiac surgeon, who began his career under the supervision of Prof. Zbigniew Religa and Prof. Stanisław Pasyk. A pioneer in the field of invasive treatment of coronary heart disease and co-author of the first programme for the interventional treatment of myocardial infarction in Poland. He implements and promotes the most modern invasive cardiology methods in the world.

He graduated from the TRIUM Global MBA Programme. He considers his mission is to provide Poles with full cardiology care and reduce mortality caused by cardiovascular diseases.

The company managed by Prof. Buszman includes over 30 institutions saving the lives and health of over 55 thousand patients a year, and the Ustroń Health Resort, where over 100 thousand patients a year regain their health.

Medicine

POLPHARMA NAMED POLISH NATIONAL CHAMPION

Print courtesy of Polityka Insight

Polpharma took 6th place in the National Champion ranking by Polityka Insight. The ranking was published in a report entitled “National Champions. What are the ones Poland needs?”

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What kind of national champions Poland needs he authors of the report have adopted the following definition of a national champion: The main feature shared by national champions is their importance for the economy. National champions drive business growth and shape the country's image abroad. They are highly active on the international scene, enjoy oligopolistic or even monopolistic position in the industry, and are prepared to finance research and innovation.

Polpharma took the high 6th place in the ranking, behind such giants as KGHM, PKN Orlen, PGNiG, Ciech and Synthos.

The top ten companies also included: Asseco, Comarch, Azoty and Boryszew.

The following criteria were taken into account: the significance of the company for the Polish economy, its position in the industry, its international presence and its level of innovation.

Polpharma took a very high third place in the “innovation” category, ahead of PKN Orlen, Synthos and Energa. In terms

of international presence, Polpharma ranked 5th, leaving behind the overall winner, KGHM. The report was officially announced in Warsaw on 9 April, with Minister of Enterprise and Technology Jadwiga Emilewicz attending the event. The National Champions took part in a panel discussion after the presentation of the report. Among the speakers were: President of the Polish Development Fund Paweł Borys, President of the Polish Agency for Investment and Trade Tomasz Pisuła, President of Polpharma Markus Sieger and Vice-President of Asseco Artur Wiza.

“As an important partner in the Polish economy, Polpharma has driven economic growth with its expertise and state-ofthe-art technology. Our greatest asset as a National Champion is innovation. We are constantly investing in new products needed by patients. In 2017, our Group invested 11.4% of its revenues in research and development. In 2018, this figure will rise to almost 14%,” said President of Polpharma. • 4/2018 polish market

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Medicine

NEVER TOO LATE TO CHANGE YOUR LIFESTYLE BARBARA JERSCHINA, MD, expert in aesthetic and anti-aging medicine, talks to Maciej Proliński.

In our public debate we can hear increasingly often that the medical sector may showcase to the world how innovative the Polish economy is. Isn’t it a bit of an exaggeration?

Training and innovation are part of the ethos of the medical profession. One should look at the healthcare system from a social and medical perspective, but also in the context of economic needs and challenges. Investing in health in the right way is an indispensable element of economic success. Medicine changes every year and overcomes many barriers, which until recently seemed insurmountable.

This applies to Polish medicine as well. I think Poland has excellent medical professionals in various fields. The whole medical personnel in Poland is excellently educated and prepared for their work. When it comes to equipment, Polish medicine is also world class. Aesthetic medicine and anti-aging medicine, the two fields that I practice, rely very heavily on the development of science. There is no better way to building an aesthetic medicine clinic as through constant learning. You also have to broaden your services by new technological solutions. This is why I am present at all important international congresses, fairs and conferences where state-of-the-art services and equipment are presented. I check them and choose the ones that offer the biggest chance of raising my work standards.

PM

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In your view, do we, Poles, represent world-class standards in the beauty sector?

Absolutely. What we have to offer to clients - both from Poland and abroad – is of the highest standards. In recent years, this market has been developing excellently and becoming increasingly professional. Interestingly, when it comes to anti-aging medicine in particular, our medical knowledge and capabilities are beyond the awareness of our patients.

PM

What is the basic difference between aesthetic medicine and anti-aging medicine?

In the case of aesthetic medicine, we have to do with procedures – carried out within individual medical specialities – which treat patients or counteract some changes resulting from the aging process or diseases. In the field of dermatology, aesthetic medicine deals with the skin and includes procedures to reduce fine lines, loss of volume, skin slackness and discolorations. In orthopaedics, the procedures include injecting hyaluronic acid into knee joints. Anti-aging medicine approaches aging processes in a more systemic way and is a broader notion. It is a branch of medicine based on the knowledge and capabilities of many medical specialities. In anti-aging medicine, PM

Medicine we consider the patient’s genetic profile, examinations to identify intolerances, laboratory tests and cancer risks, and then determine how the person will be aging. With this knowledge, we are able to suggest what medicines the patient should take, what kind of exercises they should do and what they should do to keep their weight under control.

What do you think is the future of medicine, including aesthetic and anti-aging medicine?

The future of medicine, including its fields that I practice, is associated today with the incredibly fast development of epigenetics, for instance. Epigenetics studies heritable traits which do not directly depend on the nucleotide sequence in the DNA but result from biochemical modifications to the expression of selected genes. The research studies developed in recent years have cast a new light on mechanisms of epigenetic changes as a source of new therapeutic methods in cancer treatment. And this also is a very important area for regenerative medicine, for example in the treatment of chronic wounds and skin diseases. Thanks to its exceptional potential, epigenetics inspires great hopes in cosmetology and aesthetic medicine as well. In recent years, stem cells have offered a great potential to this branch of medicine.

The use of stem cells in numerous therapies is regarded as one of the biggest successes in medicine achieved in recent years. Mesenchymal stem cells have a unique capacity for self-renewal and differentiation into a variety of specialized cells, which perform specific functions. It has already been proven that a stem cell therapy can effectively rejuvenate the skin and remove scars. The use of stem cell technology has already become a major breakthrough in cosmetology and a hope for prolonging the skin’s youthfulness.

PM

But from a philosophical point of view – is it at all possible to combat aging? Who comes to you most often – people who are already older, or those who do not want to get older?

The selection of patients is quite wide, most of them are thirty-something, fortysomething and fifty-something women. But I also see more and more men, sometimes even younger than 30. What is especially important in fighting aging processes is a healthy lifestyle. Exercise, sports, the right diet and weight control help in preventing aging. Going to bed late, sleeping little, being overweight and having frequent, and very dangerous and worrying, weight changes – all this has an impact on how you look and how you age. But it is never too late to change your lifestyle. However, the sooner, the better.

PM

What makes Jerschina Face&Body Clinique stand out from the competition, which is quite strong in Poland?

My clinic, which operates in cooperation with Luxmed Group, offers a wide array of treatments which delay aging. My philosophy for “fighting against time” is to take care to stay healthy and in good form, in the first place, and undergo rejuvenating therapies with the use of state-of-the-art technologies. Since the beginning I have thought about a holistic approach to beauty and man.

To feel beautiful you need not only an excellent product but also a professional cosmetic and medical service of high standards.

Thanks to our long experience, what we offer is attractive to all clients who want to take care of themselves in the most effective way.

What sets us apart from the competition is also the new equipment certified by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) which we regularly introduce. What we do is just a value added to our life. You can live without it. But if our patients use our services they need to be 100% guaranteed that they will not be harmed because what we do is of top quality. I keep trace of novelties on the global market and, relying on my experience and knowledge about my patients’ needs, choose those that can prove useful on the Polish market and will bring a new quality to it. What I am keen on is not so much getting a new piece of equipment as offering the patient a new quality – a safer and more effective treatment. At my clinic, I also develop my own therapeutic programmes, which enable me to achieve optimal results by using and combining all the solutions available. Jerschina Face&Body also offers an effective and well-tried obesity treatment programme. It was developed many years ago as part of cooperation with LuxMed Group where, with a group of specialists, we work to achieve effective and lasting weight loss in our patients. As the problem is very complex, we offer them medical, dietary, psychological and aesthetic help.

PM

THE FUTURE OF MEDICINE, INCLUDING ITS FIELDS THAT I PRACTICE, IS ASSOCIATED TODAY WITH THE INCREDIBLY FAST DEVELOPMENT OF EPIGENETICS, FOR INSTANCE.

For many years you have taken part in educating other physicians. Is it possible to see changes, so much needed to ensure this holistic approach to the patient, and man in general, in the Polish public healthcare sector?

The organizational solutions in our health service are still not quite conducive to such a humane approach to the patient. The public healthcare system is insufficient, bureaucratic – we all know that. But to have this holistic approach to the patient and man, as you have emphasized, one needs to have extensive knowledge and experience, spend many hours with books and with patients, and in addition have important teachers.

• PM

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Medicine

WE MUST PRODUCE GOODS WITH A HIGHER PROFIT MARGIN PROF. MACIEJ CHOROWSKI, Director of the National Centre for Research and Development in conversation with “Polish Market”.

For several years now the need has been stressed for Poland to move on from an imitation to an innovation economy. Is innovation a priority in the assessment of projects financed by the National Centre for Research and Development?

In a nutshell, our aim is to support research and development work carried out by companies. But such work needs to have a specific target. When we assess an application we receive, we pay attention to two main parameters. Firstly, the project must feature at least some value in terms of scientific research. To put it in other words, we are unable to provide partial financing for the purchase of a new process line for a factory, even if it would radically boost productivity. Yet we are in a position to offer a grant to a firm which is trying to develop a new technology, even if the purchase of new equipment is part of the investment project. Secondly, we also assess the potential economic success of a submitted project. As a rule, we reject applications even if their scientific merit is very high, if their implementation potential from the economic point of view is non-existent. Conversely, if a project makes perfect business sense but does not feature any research value – but it is an investment application - it cannot count on financing on our part. This is not to say that the project will not be passed on to the Polish Agency for Enterprise Development, Industrial Development Agency and BGK bank, i.e. institutions we are constantly in touch with, which offer support in terms of credit. Ideally, we look for projects which have high scientific merit and business potential. But as you can imagine, this does not happen very often.

It is now said that the economy is to move on from the stage of imitation to innovation. I would put it differently: the economy must move on to the stage whereby products with a higher profit margin are manufactured. Western countries did not grow rich just because their governments decreed that imitation must give way to innovation. They did it through the consistent development of products with a higher profit margin and contracting others to manufacture low-profit margin products. The goal of the National Centre for Research and Development is to offer targeted support to the economy in order to manufacture products with a higher profit margin. This can be translated into higher wages, higher tax returns and the re-investment of profits into the Polish economy.

PM

What is the formula of co-operation between the National Centre for Research and Development and the medical and pharmaceutical sector? Have you come up with dedicated programmes for the sector?

In Poland this sector is very strong. You can observe that firms which invest in a scaled product to expand their market mostly rely on generic drugs and dietary supplements in their sales strategy. However, there are start-ups which have the ambition and technological platforms that enable them to develop new compounds and work on biopharmaceuticals.

PM

34 polish market

The lack of innovative drugs stems from financial reasons. In the pharma sector an innovative drug is produced in several stages. At the academic level various molecules are synthesised. What is known as the proof of concept can be achieved with fairly modest outlays. Sometimes even with the use of a one million US dollar grant it is possible to test up to ten such molecules. Then comes the stage of testing the molecule on a patient: the proof of principle. Here the cost is ten times higher on average. You can safely assume that you need ten million US dollars for the purpose. If the compound successfully passes the proof of principle stage, it is put on sale. Only at this stage do interested companies become involved. But at this level, funds in the range of billions of dollars are involved, beyond the reach of Polish firms. In my view, it is logical that a certain division of the market exists. At one stage, foreign investors must come in with the potential and capital to introduce innovative pharmaceuticals. The biggest Polish pharma companies are known for the generic drugs they produce. They keep a lookout for expiring patents to take over them and introduce drugs on their basis. One should bear it in mind, though, that the production of a generic drug is not just about the copying of an earlier patent. You do make savings on clinical trials of the patented molecule. You can launch production without the need to invest several billion dollars in clinical trials.

I am very often asked how pre-clinical and clinical trials can be financed in Poland. The answer is they cannot. The National Centre for Research and Development has about one billion euro to spend a year, a sum which needs to be divided between several promising sectors. It is a question of scale. But there is nothing wrong with a Polish university adopting a strategy which takes a project to the proof of principle stage, followed by its sale.

You have mentioned you co-operation with BGK bank. What does it consist in?

We have very good relations with BGK which stem from two reasons. Firstly, it is not a typical commercial bank. It has a mission to work for the benefit of the Polish economy. That is why it is able to offer some higher-risk products which a commercial bank could not accept. It is capable of financing the development of products which do not yet have proof of their market value. The financing mechanism on the part of the National Centre for Research and Development involves the co-financing of companies’ R&D work whose end-result is to be a high-profit margin market product. BGK is an ideal partner if a company wishes to scale the solution or enter the production stage. We often work in parallel. Our grant can be treated as a security against a loan granted by BGK, which allows the firm to make its required own financial contribution. We could say that we act on the principle of mutuality.

A company is assessed by BGK as a borrower, while we analyse its po• tential to succeed in its undertaking.

PM

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Medicine

ADVANCED APPLICATIONS OF BIODEGRADABLE POLYMERS

RADOSŁAW DZIUBA, D.Sc., Director of the Institute of Biopolymers and Chemical Fibres, talks to “Polish Market” about cutting-edge research work at his research centre, which has produced a number of practical applications used in medicine.

Medicine is the driving force of Polish innovation. It is in medicine that Polish firms have implemented the biggest number of inventions. Why is this sector so innovative?

Medicine and innovative technologies should go hand in hand primarily for the benefit of patients. Poland now has a large number of firms and research and development centres which – with the involvement of specialists in various fields of medicine and business – implement technologies that help fight diseases, cure disabilities and alleviate suffering. These direct and tangible effects of new therapies motivate most firms and R&D institutions to step up the implementation of newly developed solutions which prove lucrative in business terms. At the Institute of Biopolymers and Chemical Fibres, innovative R&D and implementation work on diverse projects has been PM

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Medicine conducted for a number of years now concerning the use of biopolymers in the production of biomaterials which find application in medicine. An interdisciplinary approach is the key to successful research studies. If academic, medical and business circles become involved in work on innovative solutions for the medical sector, the end-results are society’s health security, the country’s economic development and a competitive edge on world markets for Polish manufacturers. That is why these principles regarding both health care and the business sphere lie at the core of Poland’s growing innovation in the medical sector.

What contribution has your Institute made in terms of innovative medical solutions?

One of the most important fields of research conducted at the Institute are multi-purpose dressing materials, which apart from shielding exposed wounds and injuries also check bleeding, accelerate the healing process, have bacteriostatic properties and replace missing skin. In this area, together with other researchers, the Institute of Biopolymers and Chemical Fibres has come up with two technologies for the manufacture of dressings that reduce bleeding. They have found application on the US and Polish medical markets. Research is also conducted on biocomposite polymer materials used in the making of anti-cancer preparations, tissue cultures and glues used to fasten bone replacements. The Institute has also scored major achievements in designing various implants, including artificial peripheral nerves, partly re-absorbable surgical nets used in the treatment of hernias and vascular prostheses. In the future these solutions will help medicine overcome existing stumbling blocks in implantology.

PM

What are the main uses of biopolymers in medicine? What kinds of patients encounter them very often without realising it?

Biopolymers are commonly found in nature, where they play vital biological functions. Some of them, such as polysaccharides and polypeptides, are produced by living organisms. A breakthrough in the biomedical industry was the emergence of bio-stable and biodegradable synthetic polymers. Currently biopolymer-derived materials can be used to produce elements which come in direct contact with inner or outer body parts and in designing biomedical devices and apparatus.

Some of the most important examples of biopolymer applications include: contact lenses, materials for oral and maxillofacial surgery, PM

the artificial heart, heart valves, pacemakers, joint and vascular prostheses, broken bone stabilisers, artificial tendons, as well as materials used in otolaryngology and dentistry.

Since polymer materials come into contact with the human body, they must meet the following criteria: they must feature correct physiochemical properties, chemical purity, in vitro chemical stability, thermal stability, haematological compatibility, they must have no carcinogenic properties and must be able to integrate well into surrounding tissue and bone. Just like most materials, polymers can become degraded in time, and that is why it is important that their decomposition does not cause inflammation, allergic and immune reactions or any other interactions with the human body.

You also produce synthetic materials from degradable materials. What are their advantages in terms of their environmental impact?

A vast proportion of biodegradable materials in current use is based on synthetic polymers which are broken down by microorganisms. In contrast to non-biodegradable synthetic polymers derived from crude oil, whose decomposition lasts between 500 and 1,000 years, in favourable conditions biodegradable polymers decompose within half a year.

There are biodegradable polymers which completely break down into carbon dioxide, water and organic matter and polymers that can be composted to produce carbon dioxide, water, inorganic compounds and biomass. Biodegradable materials, together with materials produced on the basis of renewable resources, constitute a group of what are known as bioplastics. The most popular synthetic biodegradable polymer is polylactid, PLA. It constitutes some 40% of all currently produced polymers of this kind. It is made out of renewable resources and is itself biodegradable – hence it is described as a doubly green material. PLA is obtained mainly through the fermentation of plant-derived hydrocarbons coming from maize, potatoes, sugar cane, sugar beet and refuse biomass.

At the Institute of Biopolymers and Chemical Fibres, technologies have been developed of forming biodegradable non-woven fabrics and filaments out of PLA. The technology consists in transforming a melted polymer into filament, which is used to produce fleece in the same cycle, out of which an unwoven fabric is obtained. Thanks to this technology, a flat textile product is obtained during a short process. Its properties are similar to those of technical fabrics. PLA fabrics are PM

IF ACADEMIC, MEDICAL AND BUSINESS CIRCLES BECOME INVOLVED IN WORK ON INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS FOR THE MEDICAL SECTOR, THE END-RESULTS ARE SOCIETY’S HEALTH SECURITY, THE COUNTRY’S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND A COMPETITIVE EDGE ON WORLD MARKETS FOR POLISH MANUFACTURERS.

highly resistant to adverse atmospheric conditions. In specific conditions: in high temperature and humidity which prevail during composting, PLA fabrics are completely decomposed. This technology was developed with the use of Poland’s only modular research unit designed and produced as part of the Biodegradable Fibrous Products project. This technology is mainly used in agriculture but it can also be implemented in industrial plants where hygienic and technical products are made on a mass scale, including disposable sanitary and medical textiles, underwear and outer garments as well as geotextiles. They can also be used without any limitations in mixes with other fibres. They can be dyed all sorts of colours. It is worth noting that the Institute is a co-owner of the European patent EP 2885449 “Biodegradable textiles and methods of their manufac• ture”.

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Medicine

TODAY THE FIRM IS PRESENT PRACTICALLY ALL OVER THE WORLD President of the Republic of Poland ANDRZEJ DUDA visited the Plastica plant in Kowalewo Pomorskie, northern Poland, on March 20. Plastica is part of the TZMO Group, which has twice won the Economic Award of the President of Poland. In 2012 it received an award in the Presence on the Global Market category, and in 2016 in the Responsible Business category.

P

lastica was founded in 2004. It belongs to the TZMO Group, a global maker and supplier of hygienic products, cosmetics and medical products and services. Its brands include Bella, Seni, Matopat, Happy, Eva, Dr Max, No1, Tricomed, Optus and CitoNet. The Group includes over 55 companies in Poland and other countries. Between them they provide employment to over 7,600 people..

TZMO SA products are marketed in over 80 countries of Europe, Asia, Africa and in the Americas. The company is present in markets where a third of the world’s population lives.

“Your company serves as a model for the development of business in Poland. You can safely say that it is big business,” President Duda told the plant’s crew.

The President said the plant made a great impression on him.

He noted that, although TZMO was founded in communist Poland, it has operated in a market environment for nearly three decades when a number of similar companies collapsed, while the plant has survived and developed. Andrzej Duda said that the privatisation of the company was carried out in an optimum way, “which has enabled it to develop successfully.” He also praised TZMO’s potential – the Group is now composed of over 56 companies and operates on 18 markets around the world.

One of them is Plastica, which according to Andrzej Duda is an ultramodern plant that relies on innovation and development.

“Today the company is present practically all over the world.

A third of the world’s population is able to buy products of the TZMO Group,” the President said. He noted that TZMO has been among the laureates of the Economic Award of the President of Poland two times already. In 2012 it was granted the prize by the then President Bronisław Komorowski. It received another award in 2016 in the Responsible Business category. Andrzej Duda emphasised that the company’s activities in the sphere of Corporate Social Responsibility were among the reasons why the award went to TZMO. “The company is open toward Man and his needs,” he explained.

President Duda said he wished other Polish companies followed TZMO’s example of how to do business. “The company has its roots in Poland, it is ready to meet challenges, it has the capital and skills to successfully enter other markets, it pays growing amounts of tax in Poland and reinvests its profits, it creates new jobs and builds new Polish brands which become internationally recognised. This company is a model when it comes to the development of business in Poland,” Andrzej Duda said.

•

Sources: President.pl, TZMO

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SPOTLIGHT ON POLISHINDIAN RELATIONS K

atowice, metropolis, Poland, Europe and the world – the contexts of the 10th European Economic Congress, to be held on 14-16 May 2018, in Katowice,

Poland.

The European Economic Congress (EEC) in Katowice is a three-day cycle of debates, meetings and accompanying events with the attendance of over 9 thousand guests from Poland, Europe and the world at large. Almost 150 sessions are attended every year by several hundred panellists, including EU commissioners, prime ministers and representatives of European governments, CEOs of the largest companies, scientists and practitioners, decision makers who impact economic and social life in real terms. Among opinion leaders, discussions are held in the form of an open public debate on issues that are crucial for Europe's development.

A growing importance of debates on international economic co-operation, trade, foreign investments and the global economy can be seen in the agenda of the Congress. Every year, the scope of those events is widened with new issues and regions of the world. Moreover, as confirmed by the experiences and opinions of our guests from Europe as well as from Asia, Africa and North America, the Congress is an excellent place for establishing and strengthening direct, less formal relations.

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A special event - India-Poland Economic Forum - will take place during the 10th EEC on May 14. Devoted to India-Poland, and India-Poland-EU (European Union) co-operation, it will address opportunities and challenges as well as provide the best solutions for strengthening economic ties. The event is being organized together with the IndoEuropean Education Foundation, the institutional partner of EEC.

INDIA – POLAND ECONOMIC FORUM AGENDA PANEL I, 14 MAY 2018, 2.45 PM BUSINESS WITH MODERN INDIA: ONE OF THE TOP FIVE PROMISING MARKETS FOR POLAND • Barriers and opportunities for doing business in India.

• Attracting India for Polish Business.

• Barriers and opportunities for Indian business in the Polish market.

• Growth of the Indian Middle class means high production and consumption demand – what are the sectors where Polish investment may provide services meeting the Indian demand?

• How Human Rights Commission works as observatory body to protect labour rights and child abuses from local and multinational companies?

• How the financial system in India is regulated and the banking system protected from financial downturns?

PANEL II, 14 MAY 2018, 5 PM SOLUTIONS FOR BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES • First steps toward business: requirements and eligibilities India/Poland side.

• Laws and regulations are the guarantors of any investment – in this contest, how Indian and Polish laws are assuring foreign investment in respective countries?

• How education can play a wider role for new opportunities to create a new road map for bilateral relations between India and Poland?

• Growing and demanding health care services provide a new range of cooperation – how you see cooperation between India and Poland ?

• Where is the space for logistics and transportation companies to contribute to changing India?

• Presence of Indian Bank in Poland may increase the interest of Indian business in Poland. How you see the possibilities to establish banking cooperation between India and Poland?

•

WITH INDIA WE SHOULD THINK BIG In the following message written for “Polish Market”, MAREK MAGIEROWSKI, Deputy Minister for Economic Diplomacy, America Policy and Asia Policy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, takes stock of Polish-Indian economic relations and looks forward to the future.

A

fter almost three decades since the fall of communism in Poland and nearly 15 years of our country’s membership in the EU we have reached a stage where expansion to relatively more distant (both literally and figuratively) markets as India seems indispensable for upholding the fast pace of our economic growth. Poland has always considered its relations with India as privileged ones and through the years we have developed strong political, economic and cultural links among the two countries. It is therefore more than obvious that a special panel discussions dedicated to India became an integral component of each edition of the European Economic Congress in Katowice, a leading annual economic venue in Central-East Europe.

The growing interest in deepening our relations with India is reflected by more and more representatives of the Polish Government, regions and business sectors taking part in important venues and meetings there. This year I got impressed by the high level of discussion and the range of its international impact at the latest edition of the Bengal Global Business Summit in Kolkata. It is perhaps worth mentioning that our link with Bengal goes back to 1933 when Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose paid a visit to Poland and held important meetings at our Ministry of Foreign Affairs thus somehow initiating our cooperation long before India became independent. Strengthening our cooperation with West Bengal, as well as with other regional entities of India, becomes a more and more important feature of our bilateral economic relations with the country. Considering the size and scale of India’s federal states we find the regional dimension as an effective level for shaping a tailored and more targetfocused economic cooperation. Products and services from Poland have been long present on the Indian market but only in limited and narrowly defined areas. In any case our traditional customers in India may have noticed to what extent the range of products and services we offer has changed in time -both in quality and variety. Capitalizing on our experience and expertise we would like to see Polish companies participating in important infrastructural projects like the transformation of the Indian mining industry, making it more efficient, safe and environmentally-friendly. Poland has a lot to offer not only in traditional sectors but also in advanced, innovative cutting-edge technological solutions. The Made in Poland products in such areas as IT, mining or high-quality consumer durables should perfectly match India’s needs.

Poland – as India – is more and more focused on research and development of new technologies, seeing them as a paramount leverage

to exponentially lift the competitiveness and economic growth of the country. Why don’t we think about strengthening our cooperation in that field? We could start with projects aimed at exchanging good practices in developing start-up ecosystems.

I firmly believe that there is enormous but still unrealized potential for cooperation between Poland and India, and our goal at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is to facilitate Polish-Indian exchange with the aim of tapping it. The foremost obstacle that needs to be overcome should be strengthening the image of our country in India as an origin of many cutting-edge innovative solutions, as it will undoubtedly boost concrete cooperation between Polish and Indian companies.

This is all of course much easier said than done. Without closing ranks between public administration and the private sector, and elaborating a comprehensive line of Polish products and services intended for India, comprising solutions to particular challenges India is facing, the chances of a considerable increase of our presence there are limited. It is often said that India is not a country but a continent which probably best reflects the complexity and potential gains both hindering and providing an incentive for everyone who sets off on the challenging journey to the Indian market. But the main point I would like to make here is the following: with India we should definitely think big because this country, with its enormous economic heft, growing political clout and rich tradition, deserves it. Why should we not explore ways in which our most innovative IT companies could contribute to India’s impressive programme of building a biometric database or new payment systems for non-banked individuals? Why could we not seek methods for our mining companies to help India tap its vast coal reserves by building what is called intelligent mines? Why should we not try to approach the Indian upper-middle class with our exquisite products ranging from furniture, exclusive beauty & cosmetics to luxurious yachts, so that they could enjoy the same quality for a lower price compared to many other Western European wares? What is certain is that we should not be afraid of setting ambitious goals and making them reality.

Wishing you a fruitful discussion and lots of inspiring moments in Silesia,

Marek Magierowski Deputy Minister for Economic Diplomacy, America Policy and Asia Policy

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WHY SHOULD INDIAN STUDENTS PICK POLISH UNIVERSITIES?

In the following article MARCIN OCIEPA, Deputy Minister for Enterprise and Technology, outlines the potential of Polish higher learning institutions in attracting students from India.

I

ndia has recognised Poland as an attractive location to study within the European educational domain. Numerous highereducation institutions have welcomed students from that country. The “Perspektywy” Foundation has estimated that there are approx. 3 thousand Indian students in Poland (which accounts for 4.1% of the total number of international students in Poland, with a growth rate of 37%). For Polish highereducation institutions, it is an opportunity to fill places on courses which have not been selected by Polish students. Moreover, Indian students are willing to enrol on, among others, demanding technical university courses at all three educational levels. It is clear that to the majority of the students Poland is becoming a gateway to the more affluent western world.

We are beginning to experience a shortage of both unskilled and highly-qualified staff, while India will soon hold 25% of the global workforce potential. Our role as the Government, and the role of Polish universities, is to foster the proper intellectual potential of the young people invited to study in Poland.

It is a well-known fact that large western countries, where the best universities in the world are often located, do not ignore international students, because a long time ago they faced the phenomenon of a drop in the birth rate. Closing higher-education institutions because of an insufficient number of students would weaken the scientific and technological potential of these countries. It should be noted that the academic potential of each country consists of the sum of all the academic institutions’ potential. For this reason, there are over half a million foreign students attending courses in Germany and the UK. In Poland, the share is still ten times lower.

There is no doubt that we need to open up the door of Polish higher-education institutions to foreign students. This is one of the objectives of the reform called the Constitution for Science formulated by the Minister of Science and Higher Education and Deputy Prime Minister Jarosław Gowin, and this is the direction outlined by the Conference of Rectors of Academic Schools in Poland (CRASP), first and foremost by the CRASP international-affairs committee.

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The initiatives of higher-education institutions are of great importance here. One example is the CRASP and “Perspektywy” Foundation Academic Fair held in Gujarat, the second most industrialised state in India, Ghandi’s home state. The Government has recognised the efforts aimed at expanding the educational programme for Indian students proposed by CRASP, the Conference of Rectors of Polish Universities of Technology (CRPUT), and each higher-education institution individually. The duty of our consular entities is to make sure that young people who decide to study in Poland meet the requirements for staying in the Schengen zone.

Where do young people from India choose to study? The vast majority prefer Warsaw-based higher-education institutions (765 students). The largest group has chosen the Warsaw University of Technology (339), a technical higher-education institution with many of Poland’s most prestigious fields of study, which make the University one of the most demanding institutions, with a vast scientific and technological potential. 110 Indian students, a third of the number at the Warsaw University of Technology, attend courses at the Vistula University, while the prestigious nonpublic Koźmiński University has been chosen by 44 students from India. The Warsaw School of Economics (SGH) has attracted 25 Indian nationals so far, while the proposal of the Medical University of Warsaw has appealed to only 8. The second major academic centre, where relatively a large number of Indian nationals study, is Gdańsk (186). 123 students have chosen the Gdańsk University of Technology, which comes as no surprise (data from GUS - Statistics Poland, and the “Perspektywy” Foundation). The Opole University of Technology is also planning to admit students from India in the near future. The special course programme will mostly be addressed to future mechanical engineers.

Young Indians come to Poland with ambitious goals, choosing high-ranking technical higher-education institutions. This proves that the Polish academic potential has become attractive for a country where half the population is under 35. The fact that they choose demanding technical fields of study shows that these young people come to Poland to gain professional qualifications, which is likely to provide them with a better future.

•

GREAT BILATERAL

RELATIONS ADAM BURAKOWSKI, Ambassador of Poland to India

P

oland and India enjoy great bilateral relations with trade and investment being important pillars of our successful cooperation. 2017 brought a rise in mutual trade by approximately 16% reaching almost USD 3.2 billion. Polish exports to India in 2017 rose by approximately 10% year-on-year and imports by around 15% respectively. India has become the number one Asian market for Polish direct investments, while Poland is the main destination for Indian FDI in Central Europe.

One can observe an ever rising mutual interest to tap opportunities in both countries. The Polish side recognizes the potential for manufacturing in India and has a wide array of technologies at its disposal. Indian counterparts are attracted to Poland by, inter alia, skilled work-force and geography – Poland’s location in the heart of Europe. Cooperation between both central and state governments aims to strengthen the potential of business cooperation by the creation of legal infrastructure as in the recent case where Polish phytosanitary certificates for apples, poultry and other products were recognized by the Government of India.

Polish entrepreneurs are well aware of the high demand for innovative solutions in India, whatever the company’s area of activity. This has been the key to their growth and success. Their example, together with the ever improving conditions for doing business in India and the fast growth of its economy, would attract new investments from Poland, especially in the crucial sectors of food processing, water and wastewater management, renewables, modern urban transportation, clean coal technologies, services and many others.

For the last 25 years in a row Poland has been able to sustain a positive GDP growth rate. Some of its positive economic indicators - GDP growth of 4.6% in 2017 as reported by Statistics Poland (GUS), inflation at approximately 2%, low unemployment rate, etc. - are a good reflection of the condition of the Polish economy, and create favourable conditions for investors and traders. During the last dozen years the average income in Poland has doubled.

Interestingly, Poland is becoming a new important destination for Indians not only from a purely business perspective.

2016 saw the number of Indian students at Polish universities more than double in comparison to 2015, a trend that was, no doubt, replicated in 2017. Indian culture and cuisine also gain their ground.

Our mutual endeavours receive a significant and valuable support from partners who promote and facilitate contacts between the business and other stakeholders engaged.

•

INTERESTINGLY, POLAND IS BECOMING A NEW IMPORTANT DESTINATION FOR INDIANS NOT ONLY FROM A PURELY BUSINESS PERSPECTIVE. 2016 SAW THE NUMBER OF INDIAN STUDENTS AT POLISH UNIVERSITIES MORE THAN DOUBLE IN COMPARISON TO 2015, A TREND THAT WAS, NO DOUBT, REPLICATED IN 2017.

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SILESIA –

WEST BENGAL PARTNERSHIP

Photo courtesy of the Ministry of Energy

An agreement with West Bengal which was signed at the Bengal Global Business congress in Kolkata in January opens up fresh avenues of economic and trade co-operation for Silesia, Deputy Minister of Energy GRZEGORZ TOBISZOWSKI told the Polish News Agency.

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letter of intent on co-operation between the province of Silesia and the Indian state of West Bengal was signed by Deputy Minister of Energy Grzegorz Tobiszowski and local officials during the Bengal Global Business Summit, which was held January 16-17. Speaking to the Polish News Agency Minister Tobiszowski said that the two regions have highly developed mechanical engineering industries which work for the benefit of the mining industry. They also have longstanding experience in mining for fuels. The agreement provides for collaboration in the development of the mining industry, innovative technologies, as well as higher and vocational education in the field of energy.

It also constitutes a solid foundation for the implementation of joint business undertakings, science projects and the exchange of knowhow and experiences.

Minister Tobiszowski described Silesia as one of the most important industrial regions in Central and Eastern Europe. “It is a coal basin where the extraction of fuels dominates, along with metallurgy, the energy industry and mechanical engineering.

Thanks to its solid economic foundations, Silesia faces bright development opportunities when it comes to innovative technologies, science and education, both on the vocational and tertiary level,” he said. “This is why it has great potential to develop economic co-operation with major foreign partners,” Minister Tobiszowski noted.

Just like in the Silesia Province in Poland, well-developed industries also form the basis of the West Bengal economy, Grzegorz Tobiszowski noted. He pointed to the region’s high economic growth dynamics over the past few years. “The signing of the agreement providing for co-operation between the two regions

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presents business opportunities for Polish companies and entrepreneurs who are interested in entering promising new markets,” Tobiszowski said. He descrided the agreement as another step in building long-term economic relations between Poland and India.

The Undersecretary of State at the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs observed that the energy sector plays a significant role in boosting Poland’s economic development. “We hope that it translates into business opportunities for Polish entrepreneurs,” he said during the Partner Country seminar at the Bengal Global Business Summit 2018.

According to Grzegorz Tobiszowski, the visit to India, which follows up on a previous round of talks in India last November, will result in steady and active co-operation between the two countries and entrepreneurs. During the seminar, the Jastrzębska Spółka Węglowa coal mining company, the KGHM metallurgical giant and PeBeKa, presented their offers. Business opportunities and challenges currently faced by the energy sector in Poland were also outlined by representatives of the Central Mining Institute and the Polish Development Fund.

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Energy informed that during his visit to India, Minister Tobiszowski met with representatives of Indian industry including India Coal LTD and companies form the energy sector. He also visited the Polish pavilion at the Bengal Global Business Summit.

The Polish delegation to the summit included entrepreneurs, local government officials from the Silesia Province, representatives of higher learning institutions, including the University of Silesia, members of the Regional Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Katowice and of the Polish-Indian Chamber of Commerce.

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IN OUR KNOWLEDGE SOCIETY, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT PLAYS A VERY MAJOR ROLE DR PRADEEP KUMAR, President, Indo-European Education Foundation, Faculty member, University of Applied Sciences in Nysa (Państwowa Wyższa Szkoła Zawodowa w Nysie)

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am pleased to announce that the Indo-European Education Foundation (IEEF) is an institutional partner for the European Economic Congress (EEC) in Katowice on May 14-16, 2018. It is a great privilege and an honour to organise and conduct the India-Poland Economic Congress as part of the EEC on May 14, 2018. Panels are devoted to the development of India-Poland business cooperation. I commend the efforts of the organisers of the European Economic Congress, and India-Poland Economic Forum, which covers a wide range of economic issues, policies and systems.

European countries have long been known to India for high returns and successful investment. either for profit or human development. In both terms, Indian-European partnerships were well appreciated in the past, and created new road maps for the future. India and Poland - both ruled by single-party governments - are bringing successful changes in policy-making mechanisms on a daily basis in order to minimise barriers for foreign investors and increase foreign relations in the interest of both nations. With such new policies and openness - bilateral trade between India and Poland has approached the level of USD 3.1 billion in 2017 and is expected to reach up to USD 5 billion by the end of 2018. In order to support these trade relations, both countries must identify potential areas of investment and create specific platforms for sharing knowledge and making strategies. Economic partnerships are yet

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to be acknowledged by both countries in order to fulfil each-other’s needs.

In our knowledge society, innovation and technological development plays a very major role towards the socio-economic benefits of society and national development. Through symposia, seminars, workshops, and national and international conferences, academic institutions contribute significantly towards promoting the knowledge society through the generation of knowledge, application of knowledge and sharing of knowledge.

I am sure that the European Economic Congress in Katowice will provide an excellent platform for diplomats, law makers and experts, budding and eminent researchers and professionals from various industries and academic institutions to get exposed to advanced knowledge in their own area of expertise and interest, discuss with their counterparts and explore the opportunities and challenges in the area of trade development between India, Poland and the European Union. I also wish that the interested parties, law makers and experts from both countries make the best use of this opportunity given by the European Economic Congress, as well as the India-Poland Economic Forum.

I congratulate Mr. Wojciech Kuśpik, CEO, PTWP SA, initiator of the European Economic Congress, and his team on organising this event in a splendid manner this year. I wish and pray that the Almighty bless, guide and benefit everyone associated with this International Congress and make this event a grand success.

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INDO-EUROPEAN EDUCATION FOUNDATION RENATA ŻUKOWSKA, CEO, Indo-European Education Foundation www.ieef.pl; info@ieef.pl

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ndo-European Education Foundation (IEEF) is a Polish nongovernmental organisation operating on a non-profit basis since 2013. The Foundation's mission is to create a bridge between India and Poland based on the Academia-Industry Interlinked Model of Business Cooperation. The project aims to support the programme of internationalization of Polish higher education and to increase the involvement of science and higher education in the economic growth of the country by creating opportunities for entrepreneurs and tools to expand onto distant markets with a high potential, such as India.

Working with a vision to create a bridge between India, Poland and the European Union, the Foundation has the following goals: - To identify and strengthen university’s role in building new relations between India and Poland; - To be a unique institutional platform between Poland, India and the European Union to foster civil society dialogue and cooperation between individuals, enterprises, scholars, research institutions, universities, GOs and NGOs; - To foster opportunities for Polish, Indian and other European universities for collaborative research & publications; - To support and advise Polish universities (public & private) regarding new cooperation & research with Indian universities; - To promote scientific development to meet the challenges and expectations of research scholars, students and business elites; - To encourage Indian students to pursue higher education in Poland (EU) at all levels of study- Bachelor, Master and PhD- and provide support to the member/ partner Polish universities for the recruitment of highly qualified students from the Indian region (India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Maldives) through our newly launched programme “CET-India Test”; - To co-operate with local authorities, local and national government, universities, organisations, social & cultural organisations, individuals and legal entities in the country and abroad; - To support the development and promotion of culture, arts and heritage for Poland in India, and India in Poland/Europe; - To create a provision of public awareness of the contemporary IndoPolish (Indian and Polish) art collections; - To provide research support to the EU and Polish institutions to get foreign students through various means to their organisations.Partner Universities It has been seen that the knowledge of India in Poland, and especially in Central Europe is quite limited. It is due to the small number of centres of excellence dedicated to this field of research and study. In Central and Eastern Europe there is no such research centre addressing the need of both continents based on today’s demand and supply model of economic growth. Despite the presence of a significant number of universities with oriental study programmes, there is a very poor level of academic and industrial ties which address needs of academic changes and industries demands. Most of the courses run by the existing universities/ institutes are not appropriate for the industrial requirements and not encouraging industry’s involvement with academia. It increases the numbers of job seekers rather than job givers.

Thus, we provide a platform as IEEF by addressing today’s needs of academia and industries. The platform is called academia-industry interlinked model of business cooperation. We believe that business can take place only when interested parties get proper information about the potential market with efficiency of policies & government willingness, which must address the needs of the people from that market and provide a proper channel of supply of that needs.

What is Academia-Industry Interlinked Model of Cooperation?

It’s academia who creates industries, and guide them for successful conduct with future possibilities. Academia does not mean only research scholars or experts but it also includes learners as students and creators of thousands of ambassadors for a nation by spreading the knowledge. We believe that today’s students are tomorrow’s entrepreneurs. So relations between academia and industries are interlinked- one is creator and the other is runner/maintainer. In the similar manner education will offer wider prospects for creating business in the interest of both countries.

Ongoing Projects launched by IEEF

• CET-India Test: Common Entrance Test (CET-India) is an online aptitude test in the interest of Polish Partner Universities to get number of well qualified students from India and Indian regions (Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Maldives, Bhutan, etc.). It’s a platform for unification of Indian students interested to go for higher education in Poland and EU for the purpose of higher education under Bachelor, Master and PhD courses. All incoming students must appear for this test and secure highest points to get their confirmed places at interested universities. CET-India Test take place twice a yearin the month of December and in the month of June.

• Conferences: Indo - International Conference on Business Risk in Changing Dynamics of Global Village, (BRCDGV-2017, Nysa, Poland), International Conference on "Ongoing Research in Management & IT" (INCON – XIIIth editions at ASM Group of Institutes, Pune, India), Business Meetings and training for filling the gap left from decades through the academia-industry interlinked model of business cooperation by addressing each-other’s needs and requirements.

• IEEF's Branch Office for Opole and Dolny Śląsk Region at the University of Applied Sciences (UAS) in Nysa for the purpose to improve regional cooperation with India and other EU member states. IndoEuropean Centre is an unique institutional platform at UAS, specially in Opole and Dolny Śląsk region for Poland-India, EU cooperation to foster civil society dialogue and cooperation between individuals, enterprises, scholars, research institutions, universities, GOs and NGOs.

Therefore, Indo-European Education Foundation (IEEF) has been established as inter-active, interdisciplinary and holistic approach to create a bridge between India, Poland and EU. IEEF provides a real platform for students, scholars, universities, institutes, organisations, industries, NGOs, GOs, and individuals, where the stimulation of ideas, visions and plans for alternatives, and long-term partnership can be developed.

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POLAND AND INDIA: OPPORTUNITIES GALORE The Indo-Polish Chamber of Commerce and Industry has been actively fostering business relations between the two countries for more than a decade. In an interview with “Polish Market”, the Chamber’s President J.J. SINGH discusses present undertakings and outlines a vision of future relations.

Would you say that Poland and India are fully tapping the potential of bilateral cooperation? In what areas do you think it could be developed?

Trade between the two countries stands at a little below USD 3 billion at present, yearover-year trade in 2017 increased by 15%, but there is still a lot of potential which can be developed.

Both sides have exchanged a number of visits on important trade and business occasions such as in the beginning of 2018 where a strong business delegation from Poland under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs economic division and the Ministry of Energy attended the Bengal Global Business Summit. It was a good platform for companies from the energy sector to explore opportunities in the mining sector (coal extraction, combating issues with methane gas and further training programmes for deep mining.) A memorandum of understanding was signed between the Polish province of Silesia and West Bengal to expand business and trade cooperation between the two regions.

A team at the Polish Ministry of Energy under the guidance of Deputy Minister Grzegorz Tobiszowski is working on joint efforts of Polish energy companies to provide a comprehensive product range for the Indian mining sector. We strongly believe that this will produce results in this important sector for both sides.

A delegation of the Polish Ministry of Agriculture participated in the AHHAR food fair in New Delhi in March and there should be a continuation of such visits to enhance and capitalise on the changing landscape and opportunities in India. There will be a delegation from Punjab in May 2018 to explore the opportunities in Poland for various sectors involving PM

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investments and joint ventures. Our chamber is there to advise and assist any governmental and business institutions to develop trade and cooperation.

Poland is in the process of transforming its economy to move from a mid-level development phase to an innovation and new technology-driven economy. India is doing a lot to promote itself as a place where foreign companies can bring in new technologies as part of the Make in India initiative. These two facts make Poland and India ideal partners, don’t they?

We have been extensively involved in promoting the Make In India Programme in Poland and there are various other programmes, including Digital India, Smart Cities and Start up India. We are planning to send a delegation to the Smart Cities convention in India in May together with the Polish Chamber of Commerce.

Under the Make In India programme we have identified certain sectors where Polish business can gain a foothold besides the energy sector. There are immense opportunities in food processing , IT, chemical industry, medical equipment, automobile, defence and pharma industries, ports, railways, renewable energy, thermal power and textile/garments industry.

With possibilities of up to 100% direct investment in the above mentioned sectors, foreign investors have control over their intellectual property and resources. Investors can get access not only to the Indian market but also to markets of the neighbouring countries.

We have to make sure that the message gets through to Polish business and that Polish government programmes help Polish business to expand beyond Europe.

PM

Who are your Chamber’s members? In what way do you offer them a helping hand in bridging the two different legal systems, mentalities and cultures?

The majority of the founding members are Indian businesses registered as legal entities in Poland and various Polish companies dealing with the Indian market. For a decade now the Chamber has been playing an important role in successfully promoting and bringing business and industries from both countries closer to each other. We are collaborating with the Polish administration in creating awareness through an exchange of business delegations, seminars and roadshows to tackle issues related to legal and cultural differences where our member companies play an important role.

PM

How do you see your Chamber’s future role in fostering the development of business contacts between the two countries?

The Chamber will continue to follow the successful road map laid out for the last decade in promoting businesses in both countries.

We need to make sure that the momentum of contact and cooperation will increase further with the participation of business and administration in various important events promoting trade and business.

We need to underline that for Poland, India has proved to be a worthwhile partner for years and the future can be fruitful for both countries if business exchanges and investments are intensified by making the existing platform stronger with the cooperation of the Chamber and administration on both sides.

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Contact: www.ipcci.pl; jjsingh@ipcci.pl

POLAND HAS TECHNOLOGICAL

POTENTIAL

TOMASZ PISULA, President of the Polish Investment and Trade Agency, talks to "Polish Market".

The Polish Investment and Trade Agency is currently developing a network of Foreign Trade Offices. What criteria are applied in the selection of new locations?

Above all, we do our best to follow current business trends. We take note of where Polish firms operate and what markets they look at. We talk to entrepreneurs about the markets they find interesting. Not so much help is needed wherever Polish firms are doing well by themselves and where they have been active for some time. But support is needed in those markets where the market potential is growing and where international competition is becoming fierce. In these places either no diplomatic activity was undertaken before, or more frequently, the first attempts were made to open a government credit line or to sign international agreements. A good case in point is CETA, the free trade agreement between the European Union and Canada. We try to aggregate all these factors, and on their basis, to map new directions together with the government side. Apart from countries which have always been important economic partners for us, we mainly focus on developing countries where a demographic explosion is taking place. These are usually countries where less advanced, reasonably priced but reliable technologies are in demand. They are attractive markets for Polish companies.

PM

What value do Foreign Trade Offices present to the potential foreign investor? What are their responsibilities in terms of attracting foreign capital?

Attracting foreign capital to Poland remains part of our mission and it will be one of the PM

responsibilities of Foreign Trade Offices, especially in countries or regions of the world whose economies are well-developed. However, the offices’ primary goal is to assist Polish investors in their foreign expansion. When we know that a Polish firm tries to set up a plant or purchase an existing company abroad, we do our best to help it in its undertakings. We provide information about good business opportunities outside Poland, we help to verify the credibility of partners, we offer advice on the choice of location. I have personally taken part in negotiations which followed business leads our Trade Offices came up with. We have extended our assistance to investment projects in Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, and most recently in Germany. We have provided considerable amounts of information and business analyses to companies which planned to invest in Mexico, the US and in East African markets.

I would like to stress that we are talking not just about simple exports but also complex investment activities outside Poland.

In what way is Poland’s perception abroad changing? Are we successful in persuading foreign investors that Poland is moving away from its former role as a country of cheap manpower to become a country which is open to innovation?

One good example is the fact that Silicon Valley investors have started arriving in Poland. They openly say that Poland has world-class technological talent. Poland is famous for its very high work culture. To answer the question whether Poland has technological potential, I can definitely say that it does.

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POLISH FOREIGN TRADE OFFICE TO OPEN IN MUMBAI A new Foreign Trade Office operated by the Polish Investment and Trade Agency is scheduled to open in India’s business hub, Mumbai, later this year. Its experts will be responsible for: - providing market information (analyses, reports, guides), - networking with local companies and institutions, - organisation of training for Polish and local companies, - verification of business partners.

In addition, the Office staff will assist in: - organisation of business missions, - participation in exhibitions, - B2B meetings, - search for business partners, - introduction of products to the market, - creation of promotional and media campaigns.

Employees of the Trade Office will work together with entrepreneurs to strengthen the recognition of Polish products on the local market. In addition, they will help to modernise the export offer, support the new directions of expansion of Polish companies and pilot new projects which are introduced to foreign markets, including the local market.

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KEYNOTE SPEAKERS DR. SANDEEP R. PACHPADANE, Chairman, ASM Group of Institutes, India EDUCATION SYSTEM- A NEW PERSPECTIVE

“How to teach and educate for the future? The labour market versus the aspirations of young people.”

ASM Group of Institutes, of which I am the chairman, has MOUs with University of Applied Sciences in Nysa, and Wroclaw University of Technology, Wroclaw, Poland, and since 2011 has been an active member of the Indo-European Education Fundation (IEEF). Since 2011, it has closely interacted with the president of IEEF and research scholars from Poland.

My participation in EEC 2018 along with 25 students from our ASM Group of Institutes is to improve our network and interact with experts in education and innovation during the event and also share my thoughts on globalising higher education opportunities between India and EU with concerned authorities.

With the new administration in India and the recent formulation of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), as well as ongoing talks on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), there has come new commitment to speed up Indo-European cooperation. Excellent opportunities are seen in education, science and culture. There are great opportunities for economic cooperation, global governance, development co-operation, defence and education.

K.C.TYAGI, Secretary General and Chief Spokesperson, Janata Dal (United) This is to congratulate the Indo-European Education Foundation (IEEF) and the European Economic Congress for organizing the 10th Economic Congress.

Aiming to build a bridge between India, Poland and European Union, based on the academia-industry interlinked model of business cooperation for strengthening the present academic, business, cultural and social activities between these countries, the foundation has been doing a marvelous job for the last few years.

It is indeed a noble initiative by IEEF to boost and encourage the role of academia in establishing relations in different fields. In today’s context, when innovation in the field of science and technology has grown by leap and bounds, it becomes pertinent not only for India or Poland but for the whole world to create a scientific environment which empowers the economy and impacts the social set up of a nation.

Such initiatives will pave the way for academicians from both countries to exchange ideas on development and scientific inventions.

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PROF. MUKUND SARDA, Ph.D., Dean, Faculty of Law, Principal, New Law College, Pune Bharati Vidyapeeth, (Deemed To Be University), Pune, Maharashtra, India OPPORTUNITIES FOR FOREIGN INVESTMENTS IN EDUCATION INDUSTRY IN INDIA

The education industry in India is currently valued at USD 100 billion and is expected to nearly double to USD 180 billion by 2020. India’s higher education system is the largest in the world, enrolling 70 million students while in less than two decades.

India has managed to create an additional capacity for over 40 million students, and also witnesses spending over USD 6.93 billion. The total amount of Foreign Direct Investment inflow into the education sector in India stood at USD 1.67 billion from April 2000 to December 2017.

By the year 2030, it is estimated that India’s higher education will adopt transformative and innovative approaches in higher education and have an augmented Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) of 50%. Also by 2030, India will emerge as a single largest provider of global talent, with one in four graduates in the world being a product of the Indian higher education system.

I am quite certain that the figures cited above are adequate enough to attract the Polish and European industries to try their luck in Indian education industry which is presently witnessing a drastic and dynamic transformation. The potential partnerships with India in education shall definitely be a great strategic welcome move, which shall yield reciprocal advantages to both regions for sure.

Email: mukund.sarda@yahoo.co.in

M.A. SAYEED, Former Principal Law Secretary and R.L.A., M. S., Member, Maharashtra State Human Rights Commision HUMAN RIGHTS ROLE IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

For any country to develop and grow from all angles, be it diplomatic, cultural, trade or economic, humanity plays a vital role and that is how human rights come into play in strengthening and advancing a country in the above spheres. I will be emphasising how human rights have originated in India and are gradually assuming a significant role in almost all aspects of life, and have been incorporated in our Indian Constitution based on the basic Vedic percepts & notions.

With India growing globally and having secured a prestigious place for itself in the international market, with foreign investment

FOSTERING POLISHINDIAN BUSINESS TIES Who to turn to if you want to get involved in Polish-Indian business co-operation? How to go about the practicalities?

The following governmental and non-governmental organisations and institutions are there to assist you.

flowing into the country, primarily because of its rich heritage and economic development through new tax reforms (GST), and with India already a large trade partner and an export destination for Poland, I am sure that with changing regulations and with both countries having agreed to develop a strong bonded partnership in almost all the vital areas, they are bound to benefit from their partnership.

PROF. VIJAY KHARE, Ph.D., (Fulbright Scholar), Dean, Faculty of Humanities; Professor & Head, Department of Defence & Strategic Studies, Director, International Centre; Director, Yashwantrao Chavan National Center of International Security and Defence Analysis (YC-NISDA), Director, Dr. Ambedkar Studies Savitribai Phule Pune University INDIA-POLAND STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP: CHALLENGES & OPPORTUNITIES

Historically, relations between the two countries have been close and friendly, characterised by understanding and cooperation on the international front. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, both countries have focused on improving ties with the European Union and America.

Major Indian companies have signed several agreements on investments. Several delegations to Poland have been sent by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) to explore economic opportunities in various sectors.

Both countries have longstanding history of cooperation in science and technology. Now the Indo-European Education Foundation is playing a wider role to bring academia and industries together. In recent years, thanks to Indo-European Education Foundation (IEEF) the Savitribai Phule Pune University in Pune, and the University of Applied Sciences in Nysa became academic partners under Erasmus+ KA107 Programme. Our students and scholars have participated in it since last year and visited the University of Applied Science in Nysa.

While considering the strengths and weaknesses of strategic relations between the two countries, there is a need to review the strategic partnership between India and Poland.

Email Id.:vkhare@unipune.ac.in, kharevijay95@hotmail.com

POLISH INVESTMENT & TRADE AGENCY (PAIH) • • • • • • • • • •

Business advocacy Business co-operation Comprehensive tailored service Invest with us Investment incentives Location advisory services Regional co-operation Foreign expansion Conference services PSLO

POLISH – INDIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE POZNAN (PIIG) •

The purpose of the Chamber is to support the development of business and trade relations between the Republic of Poland and the Republic of India and to protect and support Polish economic interests in India and Indian economic interests in Poland

INDO POLISH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (IPCCI) • • • • • • • •

International mobility solutions Corporate Profile, Partner Screening and Due Diligence Service VAT refund Registered office address – Office rental Trade mission Partner search and selection Marketing Trade shows

POLAND INDIA BUSINESS COUNCIL (PIBC) •

To develop, inspire, and facilitate mutual projects, and enable mutual knowledge and experience exchange, especially in those very important sectors, like IT, new technology, environmental protection, modern forms of education.

WEST POMERANIAN INDIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE (WPICC) •

The Chamber has been established to promote international cooperation, including commercial relations with companies based in India, in particular in the State of Maharashtra, Mumbai (Bombay), and New Delhi, the Republic of India. For the purpose of its international cooperation, the Chamber is going to use its name translated to other languages.

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Regions

BUSINESS TOURISM IN KATOWICE IS BOOMING

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he year 2017 was yet another period marking exceptional growth for Katowice's meetings industry. The city saw the arrival of new investors from various sectors of the economy, including the hospitality market. An increase was also observed in the number of visitors who came here to attend conference meetings and business events. One of the key factors determining success in this area is the tremendous potential of the International Congress Centre (MCK) opened in 2015 – along with the Spodek arena, it offers the largest conference space in Poland.

In 2017, Katowice was the scene of 6334 business events, including the subsequent editions of the Intel Extreme Masters e-sports tournament with an impressive audience of 170 thousand, in addition to the European Economic Congress, the International Fair of Mining, Power Industry and Metallurgy, and the Womex World Music Expo. In total, the events throughout 2017 attracted 826,883 participants.

“More than 826 thousand guests at conference and fair events came to Katowice in 2017, making this yet another record year! Compared to 2016, the city was visited by 64 thousand more people, which was an 8% increase. This shows that the business-tourism strategy we’ve been consistently pursuing, as well as our efforts aimed at attracting new and expanding current business events, are being successful. This year, Katowice will host a UN Climate Change Conference, to be followed next year by the World Anti-Doping Conference,” says Marcin Krupa, Mayor of Katowice. “We stress on every occasion that those thousands of guests translate into an actual profit for Katowice and its residents, contributing to the growth in the hotel and conference facilities, restaurants, taxi operators, and even small local shops. A conference participant who uses accommodation will, on average, “leave” nearly PLN 628 in Katowice, in addition to PLN 141 from those who do not stay here overnight. What's important, many people who initially come here on business return later, for example to listen to a concert by

ESL Intel Extreme Masters event in the Spodek arena

the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra in one of the world's best concert halls, or to attend one of the Katowice festivals, famous all over Europe. All these are a great way to promote Katowice,” adds Mayor Krupa.

In 2017, Katowice saw a total of 6334 business meetings, every fourth of which lasted at least two days. A fact worth noting is that participants in conference events spent over PLN 140 million. As revealed by surveys, they see Katowice as a place which truly meets their requirements when it comes to business-related occasions. The growing demand in the meetings industry goes hand in hand with the development of the local accommodation facilities, with new investors arriving, and the infrastructural projects currently in place, improving the transport accessibility of Katowice, which is already very good.

MCK in Katowice hosted a major business event in Poland called Intel Extreme Masters, which is an international computer games and software fair. During the three days, more than 170,000 people came to MCK. It is worth mentioning that in 2018, due to the high interest

among the visitors, Intel Extreme Masters lasted for two weekends. During this year’s edition of Intel Extreme Masters the Spodek arena and the International Congress Centre were visited by 169,000 people. Live transmissions, video footages and other publications on Twitter and Facebook were displayed 187 million times, generating 9.3 million engagements. A recordbreaking value of prizes for all tournaments played in late February and early March in Katowice, exceeded PLN 7 million. The high-status competitions included the Dota 2, CounterStrike: Global Offensive and StarCraft II games.

There was also IEM Expo, a side event attended by leading tech companies and influencers.

The area housed four e-sports stages and the Intel Experience Zone, where the visitors had an opportunity to learn about cutting-edge technologies.

Business tourism has become an important product of the city, impacting on various spheres of economic and social life, as well as being a major element in the promotion of Katowice, both on domestic and international markets.

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INCREDIBLY CREATIVE POTENTIAL KAZIMIERZ KAROLCZAK, President of the Board of Metropolis GZM

Early April marked the first 100 days since the Metropolis GZM was established. What has been achieved over this period?

First of all, the solutions awaited for nearly 20 years by those living in the Silesian conurbation finally came to fruition. From the very beginning, I perceived the Metropolis as an instrument designed to aid in improving the living standards for the local population. Three months later, I can definitely say that establishing the Metropolis has unlocked an incredibly creative potential in everyone, inspiring us to break down all those barriers which stood in the way of faster progress. This motivates us even more to work hard to strengthen this potential and turn it into workable solutions. We need to “switch to second gear” so that the Metropolis GZM grows into a strong partner for other urban centres, and that we develop a showcasefeeling for this region as a good place to live, work, and do business.

PM

The main hub of activity so far has been in the sphere of public transport.

Yes, and that's because it has involved tasks to be done “ASAP” to further encourage integration between the cities and municipalities of the Metropolis. This has made travelling around the Metropolis much easier, because rather than two different tickets, passengers can now use a single, combined, ticket. But this is just the beginning of the transport revolution in the Metropolis GZM. We also want to continue to modernise the current bus fleet, and this should be largely possible thanks to the agreement we made with the National Centre for Research and Development for the purchase of 300 low-emission electric vehicles. After all, the growth of electromobility and the concept of MaaS (Mobility as a Service) is one of the challenges we wish to take up and put into practice.

PM

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How are you going to do it?

We wish to expand the transport capacities available within the Metropolis, a goal as important for the local population as for visitors. Consequently, we will be integrating transport services to form a single, cohesive, and intuitive solution, allowing passengers to cover any route between points A and B. As a target, passengers will receive an app to be able to choose from various means of transport and generate a single ticket for every transport service. By creating an attractive transport system, we have a good chance of achieving a reduction in the number of private vehicles, and hence generate lower gas emissions and fewer traffic jams.

PM

Recently, you have announced plans to purchase electricity jointly. Will this group-purchasing organisation be limited only to the Metropolis municipalities?

It is with satisfaction that I’m answering “no” to this question (smiles). By mid-April, more than 100 various entities had applied for membership of our GPO. While its core is formed by the cities and municipalities of the Metropolis, the GPO also has such members as hospitals, children's homes, and cultural institutions from the whole of the Śląskie Province. Katowice Airport, and the recently modernised and reopened Silesian Stadium, have also declared their willingness to purchase electricity with us. Affiliation with a group-purchasing organisation means the security of electricity supply for its members and attractive market-level prices negotiable, owing to synergy and large volumes of electricity purchased. We hope that the joint purchase of electricity, and in the future also of gas, will provide measurable benefits to those interested. It's worth noting that the previous rounds of the GPO’s spending, coordinated by a voluntary association which carried out PM

preparatory work prior to establishing the Metropolis, had resulted in savings to a total of PLN32 million for its members.

You have said that the Metropolis aims to improve the living standards of its residents.

On the other hand, one of its tasks is to support economic development. How do you want to tackle this challenge?

Our role is chiefly to create viable conditions for the growth of businesses, for example by launching pilot projects which facilitate the development of a dedicated industry, as is the case with drones, for instance. We also see potential in cooperation along the business-science and local-government route, along with joint measures carried out with business-environment and higher-education institutions. An example of such a measure is the joint efforts to bring an investor to the Metropolis.

• PM

METROPOLIS GZM

• • • •

Launched on 1 January 2018.

Consists of 41 municipalities in the central part of the Śląskie Province.

Has a population of 2.3 million people.

It is the newest metropolis in Poland, established under a law enacted specifically for this purpose.

•

The region's local governments had fought for nearly a decade for the Metropolis to be established.

•

The Metropolis’ goals include the coordination of tasks related to issues such as socio-economic development, spatial planning, the integration of public transport, and the promotion of the metropolitan association and its region.

•

Katowice International Airport, the Silesian Logistics Centre, and the Sławków Euroterminal, are located within the borders of the Metropolis.

Infrastructure

DEVELOPMENT, INNOVATION,

tolerance

ELŻBIETA ANNA POLAK, Marshal of Lubuskie province, talks to “Polish Market.”

Elżbieta Anna Polak, during the Przystanek Woodstock Festival in Kostrzyn How is Lubuskie province developing?

Very dynamically. Economic indicators are growing and in recent years they have actually skyrocketed. This is clearly reflected in our budget statistics - since 2010 the province’s contribution to PIT and CIT tax revenues has been increasing steadily, which means that local businesses have been faring on the market increasingly well and paying taxes fairly. Secondly, it also means that the number of businesses is on the rise in our province. In 1999, when Lubuskie province was established, there were only 84,000 businesses. Today their number exceeds 112,000. Most of them are small and medium enterprises. The favourable indicators are confirmed by data released by the statistical office. The GDP of our region has gone up from PLN17 billion in 2000 to PLN41 billion in 2016. Business investment is also expanding, indicating that our local firms are not afraid of investment risk, despite the uncertain political situation in Poland associated with undermining the independence of the judiciary and taking powers from local governments. But the Lubuskie province government is doing excellently.

PM

They say there is no development without innovation. Science and technology parks designed to transfer research findings to the marketplace have been established in Lubuskie. Recently there has been more and more talk about plans to set up Poland’s only space technology park in the province.

Indeed. Even Prime Minister Morawiecki has agreed with us – we have signed an agreement with the government, thanks to which the plan to build a space technology park in Nowy Kisielin, outside the province’s capital Zielona Góra, has been included in the Territorial Contract [a contract between the central government and a local government - ed.] for Lubuskie. Of course, we are not thinking about space flights, but about using space technologies in everyday life. There are many examples of modern space technologies which have been adopted for civilian use. One example is parenteral treatment. The technology was developed for astronauts and is now used in medicine. Another example is GPS systems. And you can cite many other such examples.

In Lubuskie we have the potential to set up and develop a space technology park through cooperation among the province government, the Space Research Centre, Polish Space Agency, University of Zielona Góra and Hertz Systems, a Zielona Góra-based company which has delivered state-of-the-art military technologies for a long time now.

PM

56 polish market

Hertz Systems is the pillar of the project. The park is to be a scientific research institute serving business. Albert Einstein once said: “Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere.”

Lubuskie is a border region and you have co-chaired the Polish-German Intergovernmental Commission for Regional and Border Cooperation for many years. As a result, you have the best knowledge of the situation. Has Lubuskie benefited from its proximity to Germany.

Is the border with Germany still a dividing factor or a uniting one?

We are lucky to see historical developments taking place in front of our eyes. Cities once divided by the border are getting united: Zgorzelec-Görlitz, Gubin-Guben, Słubice-Frankfurt an der Oder. New cross-border communities - with Brandenburg and Saxony - are coming into being. In this case, political and national divisions are completely irrelevant. Germans do their shopping in Lubuskie, Polish people buy flats in the German city of Cottbus, receive hospital treatment in Guben, because Gubin has no hospital, and study at a university in Frankfurt an der Oder. In Lubuskie we have 674 foreign-owned companies, half of which are German-owned. Germans are eager to invest in our province, which means they know us and trust us. Being located close to the border is a value added rather than a drawback. It turns out that our cultural diversity, strengthened by the removal of the border, has made Lubuskie residents the most open and tolerant people in Poland. This is confirmed by sociological research.

PM

What are the rules that guide you in your public activity?

You have to listen to people because Polish people have potential.

I follow this rule through our civic budgets where residents themselves decide what the money should be spent on. One programme, Young People on-Life, is intended for the young, the other one, Lubuskie Initiatives for Seniors, is intended for the elderly. Both programmes enjoy enormous popularity. I attach great importance to social consultation and highly value support from social activists and non-governmental organizations. The authorities have to be as close to people as possible to be the most effective. The principle of my deceased mentor, Prof Jerzy Regulski, one of the architects of the local government reform in Poland, is very close to me. He said: “Let the government be occupied only with what it has to be occupied with. And let the citizen do what • the government does not have to do.”

PM

LODZ SEZ: FORGING BUSINESS LINKS WITH

I

ndia is an untapped partner for Poland and offers a potential for cooperation with Asia’s third biggest economy, which has based its growth strategy on the development of the modern business services sector catering mainly for external markets.

The share of this sector in Indian exports is very high and exceeds 30%. What is more, Indian services exports have been growing at one of the fastest rates in the world. Modern business services are among the most rapidly developing economic sectors in India. Infosys, the largest Indian company operating in the IT/BPO sector, listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market, has been present in the Lodz Special Economic Zone for 10 years now.

The Infosys investment in Łódź was a result of efforts taken 13 years ago when the city started to carry out a McKinsey strategy to make the IT/BPO sector one of the pillars of its development. Since that time a dozen or so firms from the sector have become established in Łódź, among them Infosys Poland Sp. z o.o, Ericsson, Deloitte Digital BPO Sp. z o.o., Fujitsu Technology Solutions Sp. z o.o. and Globitel

58 polish market

INDIA

Sp. z o.o. Most of the companies operate in the Lodz Special Economic Zone.

“Attracting these companies to the Zone was possible because it offers good conditions for investment and a favourable climate for the development of the IT/BPO sector,” says Marek Michalik, president of Lodz SEZ, the company which manages the Lodz Special Economic Zone. Łódź offers investors access to wellqualified human resources as local universities turn out 20,000 graduates a year, one fourth of whom have economics degrees and 90% say they have a command of the English language.

The Zone also provides 360,000 sq m of modern office space, with monthly rents ranging from EUR11.5 to EUR12.9 per square metre.

Another advantage is a well-developed startup ecosystem.

“The largest IT/BPO investor in the Zone is Infosys, which still sees a potential in Łódź,” says Agnieszka Sygitowicz, vice-president of Lodz SEZ “Infosys has not only invested in the Zone, but has also decided to reinvest here [two permits, USD14 million invested and 2,500 jobs created – ed.]. Thanks to our direct contact with

Indian business, which wants to recommend the Zone to investors from that country, and having analysed global trends, we have decided to develop business activities on this market.”

Last year, Lodz SEZ organized a economic mission to India to establish economic contacts and present the investment potential of the Zone to Indian businesses, especially those active in the IT/BPO sector. President Marek Michalik took part in the Global Entrepreneurship Summit 2017, which was attended by over 1,500 participants from 127 countries. The Lodz SEZ delegation was the only delegation representing a Polish special economic zone at the summit. “While in India we also visited the headquarters of Infosys in Bengaluru. The contacts we have established and the experience gathered helped us in taking the decision to establish cooperation with a representative with extensive experience in attracting global firms to advise the Lodz SEZ Management Board on matters concerning the Indian market. It promises to be an Indian year at the Lodz Special Economic Zone,” says President Marek Michalik.

•

www.uniejow.pl The Health Resort Uniejรณw Park

The thermal complex of pools Termy Uniejรณw

Restaurant Herbowa

Medical Spa Hotel Lawendowe Termy

THE BEST PLACE

FOR BUSINESS Castellan Bath

Thermal water and the thermal complex of pools

Conferences and small business meetings

Unique apartments and restaurants

Relax and SPA zone

Photo: Beata Kowalska

The Warmińsko-Mazurskie Province (Warmia and Mazuria region) seems to be a region where you can easily combine work with a quiet life. How is it possible?

Where you work determines how you work.

This is something the nearly 1.5 million people who were born in the region, or who have chosen to live here, know very well. Large numbers of visitors come here to spend their holidays. They can’t imagine any other way than sailing or pitching their tent among the many lakes, rivers, forests and quaint villages. But not everyone realises that living and working here is just as enjoyable as spending your holiday. You can earn good money without losing touch with nature.

PM

The region’s nature determines the way local business operates…

The region is known as the Land of One Thousand Lakes, but actually, there are more than 3,000. The fact that the region is one of the finalists in the New7Wonders of Nature competition serves as the best recommendation. And when it comes to business, let’s look at some figures. One in three yachts under 10 metres in length comes from Warmia and Mazuria. Kitesurfing boards used by leading world sportsmen are made here. Furniture and wood products are exported from the region to over 60 countries. 3D printers featuring advanced functions well ahead of their time are also made here. And these are just some of our export hits. Thanks to the unspoilt nature, more than 4,000 producers of organic food operate locally. This is their biggest concentration in Poland. The Warmia and Mazuria region is also Poland’s first to have joined the European Cultural Heritage PM

60 polish market

UNIQUE NATURAL SETTING, UNIQUE DEVELOPMENT SOLUTIONS GUSTAW MAREK BRZEZIN, Marshal of the Warmińsko-Mazurskie Province

Information Network, one of the largest associations in Europe.

Back to tourism, but with a different flavour: business tourism. It seems it can make the region stand out.

Business tourism is an increasingly dynamic sector of the economy. New hotels, both five-star and smaller hotels, as well as B&Bs are mushrooming. They are mostly situated in forest surroundings or on a lakeside, and yet they meet even the most exacting standards both in terms of conference facilities and accommodation. They usually have a spa or other wellness and relaxation facilities. They offer attractive ways of spending leisure time. What more can you ask for than a conference room overlooking a lake? And you can take your coffee break on the jetty.

PM

The local government is now promoting the region’s image more broadly. How to interpret the slogan “Healthy life. Sheer profit?”

Is it just a catchy phrase or indeed the essence of life in the region?

At a time when environmental pollution is causing far-reaching consequences for our health, it seems a necessity. We should be careful what we eat, drink and what air we breathe.

Warmia and Mazuria offers fresh air and healthy, organic, low-processed food. A healthy person works more effectively and creatively. Add to that the shorter time you need to commute to work or reach a weekend break destination, and you get more room for rest and recreation, meeting friends and spending time with your family. Given that the region’s economy is based on environment-friendly solutions, renewable energy sources and a low level of PM

industrialisation, “sheer profit” is very tangible in money terms. That’s what the region’s duality is all about - seemingly contradictory needs and values dovetail in a perfect manner.

Early June will see the Warmia and Mazuria Congress of the Future to be held in Olsztyn. During the opening of its first edition you quoted Goethe to the effect that whoever doesn’t move forward actually lags behind. Where is Warmia and Mazuria headed right now?

The activities of the region’s local government are primarily geared toward economic growth and innovation, forging partnerships with investors, local councils and the academic community. This is meant to give the region a competitive edge, which translates into better living standards. We live in a place of striking beauty, which means that we need to find innovative ways to develop.

PM

How to work them out?

There is clearly a need for dialogue and a flow of visionary ideas. We have long looked for the concept of a platform where creative people, local government, new technologies, business and academics could become integrated. We assessed our needs and capabilities and have achieved unique results with the WM Group.

The Congress of the Future is one of the most advanced platforms of dialogue in the Warmia and Mazuria region. The success of the first edition and the interest it generated in pursuing an innovative dialogue about the region, have convinced us to carry on the project. It bodes very well for the future. I would like to encourage all those interested in the region to take part in another edition of the congress on June 7-8.

• PM

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MAKE YOUR CITY SMART T

he development of technology in Poland is increasingly affecting the way cities function. It inspires local government to introduce revolutionary changes which positively affect the living conditions of their inhabitants. Cities aim to develop and are looking for worthwhile solutions. To meet the expectations of the Warmińsko-Mazurskie region, the Expo Mazury trade fair and conference centre has come up with an event whose aim is to help cities find the best way to flourish.

Smart City is a fair whose mission is to showcase technologies and services with the aim to create a modern space which is friendly toward the environment and local inhabitants. Taking care of the natural environment in the Land of a Thousand Lakes, Expo Mazury devotes special attention to the mounting problem of air pollution. That is why the fair will be attended by producers and distributors of anti-smog technologies and solutions aimed at reducing harmful emissions from home boilers and transport.

Visitors will be shown products designed to streamline the administration of cities. Exhibition halls will be filled with equipment used in renewable energy installations, energy storage, e-mobility, energy-efficient street lighting and recycling.

Smart City Expo is a pioneering promotion of Polish engineering solutions aimed at building cities of the future.

Until now Poland has not had an exhibition venue devoted to these issues. The organisers’ aim is to hold a professional event during which selected technologies and products will be presented, covering a range of topics.

“It is evident that innovative solutions now applied by local governments are not comprehensive enough. For a city to deserve to be called ‘smart’, it should have a competitive edge in economic terms, smart transport networks and smart management. A smart city is a creative, balanced city in which the quality of life is improving, the environment becomes friendlier and prospects for economic development are strong. During Smart City Expo, we will showcase exhibitors whose solutions will make it easier to introduce changes in all these areas, while conferences and panel discussions will enable local government representatives to pick their development path,” Marta Sadowska, director of the Smart City Expo project, explains.

The project is addressed to decision-makers and those directly responsible for investment in urban areas: city mayors, heads of investment departments (roads, construction), utility management cadres (heat-only plants, thermal power stations, waste management, road management,) designers, architects and engineers.

The fair will be held at the Expo Mazury exhibition centre in Ostróda on October 3-4, 2018.

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Events

THE MARSHAL AWARDS "THE BEST OF THE BEST" LAURELS IN WARMIA AND MAZURIA FOR THE 15 TIME TH

This award was introduced to distinguish those among us – residents of Warmia and Mazuria – who are successful in Poland, Europe, and beyond.

I

n a ceremony held on April 5, Marshal of the Warmińsko-Mazurskie Province (Warmia and Mazuria) Gustaw Marek Brzezin awarded the Best of the Best Laurels to the region’s residents and institutions that had achieved success in 2017, thereby making Warmia and Mazuria a household name in Poland and beyond.

The 15th awards gala was held in the Feliks Nowowiejski Philharmonic in the province’s capital Olsztyn.

Gustaw Marek Brzezin, Marshal of the Warmińsko-Mazurskie Province present an award to Edward Trzosek, President of Pearl of Krutynia holiday and tourist resort

62 polish market

“The intention of the local government of our province is to praise you in your own community, in the presence of your close relatives and friends,” said Marshal Brzezin.

“The news about your achievements does not always reach the general public. We want to bring these achievements to its notice, as they surely deserve it.”

Since 2004, 355 people, teams, institutions, organisations, and enterprises have been awarded the Laurels. Some of the laureates have already won the award for the fourth, fifth or even sixth time.

This year the Laurels have been awarded in 10 categories, honouring 30 people and institutions.

“This is thanks to your hard work, honesty, success-oriented attitude, emotional intelligence, talent and negotiating skills that Poland, Europe, and the world have heard about you,” added Marshal Brzezin. “I would like to extend my sincere congratulations and thanks to you for your contribution to the heritage of the Warmińsko-Mazurskie province. I can say that last year was very favourable for us, residents of Warmia and Mazuria. Together we were able to achieve a lot, which has not gone unnoticed, either in Poland or internationally. You have had a significant share in the achievement of this.”

The Diamond Laurel for outstanding achievements, special contributions and the promotion of Warmia and Mazuria in Poland and abroad was awarded to the OPEGIEKA Company from Elbląg.

The official part of the gala ended with a concert by Anita Lipnicka and The Hats. •

CLOSER TO NATURE • U Faryja port • Pearl of Krutynia holiday and tourist resort INNOVATION AND DEVELOPMENT • The Dramiński S.A Company • The MK Natural Cosmetics Company • The Snail Garden Company SMART SPECIALISATION • OCTIM Wytwórnia Octu i Musztardy Sp. z o.o.

• The Kormoran Brewery (Gold Laurel) • Szynaka Meble

• The Romantyczna restaurant at the Dr Irena Eris Wzgórza Dylewskie Hotel Spa (Bronze Laurel) • The “Refektarz” restaurant at Zamek RYN Hotel

ENVIRONMENT • Krzysztof Nalepa, Mateusz Pietkiewicz, Adam Wojtkowiak, Andrzej Ostrowski from the University of Warmia and Mazury • The Eltel Networks Energetyka S.A. Company • The Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Olsztyn

PERSONALITY

TOURISM

• Andrzej Matracki (Gold Laurel)

• The Pałac Mortęgi Hotel & Spa

• Monika Dąbrowska

• The Galiny Palace & Farmstead

• Irena Kierzkowska

• The Przystań Hotel & Spa SOCIETY, SCIENCE, CULTURE • Ewa Nisiewicz • The Światowid cinema in Elbląg • Robert Bolesto SPORT • Jakub Kochanowski • Konrad Bukowiecki • Tomasz Barniak

HEALTH • The Independent Public Centre for Tuberculosis and Pulmonary Diseases in Olsztyn • The Regional Specialised Children’s Hospital in Olsztyn (Bronze Laurel) • The team under the supervision of Professor Marcin Jóźwik, MD, PhD

CULINARY ART • The Cudne Manowce restaurant

THE DIAMOND LAUREL • OPEGIEKA Sp. z o.o.

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

Lubelskie Region - one of the most dynamically developing regions in Eastern Poland INFRASTRUCTURE

5 national roads

2 important railway lines

7road border crossings

4 rail border crossings

2h to Warsaw

2 points providing railway &

running through the region: No: 12, 17, 19, 2, E30

3 with Belarus and 4 with Ukraine

approximate travel time

No 2 (to the border with Ukraine) No 7 (to the border with Belarus)

1 with Belarus and 3 with Ukraine

road transport services:

Koroszczyn - car terminal for customs clearance & Małaszewicze - railway cargo transshipment port, container terminal

13 destinations:

Burgas, Doncaster, Dublin, Eindhoven, Kiev, Liverpool, London (Luton, Stansted), Milan, Munich, Oslo, Stockholm, Tel Awiw

1st place in Poland in terms of

passenger growth dynamics

1600 operations

realised in the sector of general aviation

BUSINESS SERVICES

47 modern office buildings in

Lublin

ca

180 000 m2

of existing office space

ca

27 000 m2

of office space for rent

28 000 m2

of office stock under construction

8 - 12 € /m2 /month prime asking rent

300 000 m2

office space in the city in 2020

59

of BPO/SSC, IT, R&D

centres in Lublin

5 700

employed in

Business Service centres in Lublin

Lublin as a

winner

of “Emerging city of the Year Poland” (1 February 2018)

3rd place in the “Polish Cities

of the Future 2017/18” ranking (fDi Intelligence, Financial Times)

2017 Europe Prize award given each year by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE)

ECONOMIC POTENTIAL

HUMAN RESOURCES

6 key sectors

18 institutions of higher education

4 intelligent specialisations: bioeconomy,

Competitive labour costs

machinery, automotive and aviation industries, BPO/ IT/SSC, furniture and food processing industry

medicine and health, low-emission power generation, IT and automatics Lublin awarded in the category

Smart City

of 2015 with a population of between 100,000

in the Lubelskie Region

and low staff retention rate

914 EUR gross

the average renumeration in the business sector

and 350,000

FRIENDLY TO INVESTORS

18 subzones of 4 Special Economic

Zones in the region, including office buildings with SEZ status

105 R&D units

15

over cluster iniciatives

REGION TEEMING WITH LIFE

over

80 cultural events

including those of an international character

2 national parks

17 landscape parks

67 lakes

14 ski slopes

4 industrial and science and technology

parks

Do you want to find out more about our region?

Contact The Biznes Lubelskie Team

Marshal Office of the Lubelskie Region Department of Economy and International Cooperation Trade and Investment Promotion Section Artura Grottgera 4 St., 20-029 Lublin

Investors and Exporters Assistance Centre +48 81 537 16 15 +48 81 537 16 21 coie@lubelskie.pl

Find us on:

invest.lubelskie.pl/en fb.com/investinlubelskie linkedin.com/company/invest-in-lubelskie @investlubelskie

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INDIA AND WEST POMERANIA –

HAND IN HAND

I

ndia is the Poland’s major partner in South Asia. Since the two countries have already developed intensive trade relations, the Polish Ministry of Economy established the Go India Programme to shift them to another level. It is a direct counterpart of the India’s strategy of ‘Make In India’.

India provides tremendous opportunities for Polish exporters and investors, since it is a country of ample opportunities, open for the cooperation with Poland. Indian companies have already invested U$3 bn, and some of them are present in West Pomerania. Those companies include Liberty Forging Group, which has bought Barlinek-based Bomet and manufactures agricultural machines, Foresight Plastics & Engineering having its plastics distribution centre in Police, and the Szczecin-based Genpact Group, the global leader in business process outsourcing. ‘I am certain that together with the Western PomeraniaIndia Chamber of Commerce, we are capable of attracting the Indian business to the West Pomerania. This region can be interesting for companies from India due to its geographic location. It is a gateway leading to German and Scandinavian markets that are so important for the India’s economy, said Marshal Olgierd Geblewicz.

The collaboration between the Region and the Chamber concentrates primarily on Mumbai and the State of Maharashtra, the third largest region in India as regards its size and the second largest in terms of its population.

Natural fields of collaboration between Maharashtra and West Pomerania seem to include agriculture, IT and RES. The signing of a relevant agreement between the Region and the State has been scheduled in the second half of the year. ‘Although we are thousands kilometres away, it is a particularly interesting challenge. We are working towards a solution that will benefit both parties’, said Marshal Geblewicz.

The first joint event of the Western Pomerania-India Chamber of Commerce and the Marshal of Westpomeranian Region, with the involvement of representatives of the Indian Embassy in Poland Charge d’affaires Mr. Takhi

66 polish market

Marshal Olgierd Geblewicz and Chamber President Mariusz Łuszczewski during the panel „Supporting economic growth by facilitating business“

and First Secretary of Commerce Mr. Surendra, took place in December last year. During the seminar there were presented opportunities for investors from West Pomerania on the Indian market and attendees discussed, inter alia, transport, logistics, waste management, and digitization of services. The seminar was crowned by the performance of Vidya Shah, a star of Indian ethnic music.

In result of the effort made by the Chamber of Commerce, the Region received an invitation to the Global Economic Summit in New Delhi, the largest business event in India. At the end of February 2018, the capital of India attracted over 30 heads of state, including the Prime Minister of India. The discussion on the ‘New Economy’ involved representatives of such global corporations as Oracle and Netflix. Marshal Olgierd Geblewicz together with Mariusz Łuszczewski, the President of the Western Pomerania Chamber of Commerce, took part in the panel discussion on ‘supporting economic growth by facilitating business’. ‘The Summit was an opportunity to attract Indian foreign investment to West Pomerania. Indian businesses have already showed their interest in such

locations as Szczecin and Goleniów. It is also worth mentioning that on 9th March, in Szczecin, the CEO of Baijnath Melaram, a company specialising in ship recycling, announced the opening of their European headquarters in Szczecin’, said Olgierd Geblewicz.

During their stay in India, a meeting was held between the Indian Minister of Railways and representatives of the Szczecin-based Autocomp Management. The company, known for its innovative simulators, is a party bidding for the supply of 14 simulators for the Indian Railways. Moreover, Autocomp has considered moving a part of its production to India. ‘India has been fascinating people for centuries. While searching for India, Christopher Columbus discovered the New World. While looking for their path to Europe, India is about to discover their New World too. Although it is not easy, opportunities are always there. The Indian market attracts everyone. I really cross my fingers for the first contract and initial investment, since the interest in our region has been already triggered, and it will certainly bring benefits in the future’, said Olgierd Geblewicz.

•

THE 25TH WELCONOMY FORUM IN TORUŃ

O

n 12-13 March 2018, the CKK Jordanki culture and congress centre in Toruń hosted the 25th edition of the Welconomy Forum in Toruń, organised by the Integration and Cooperation Association.

This year’s Forum provided a space for a public debate to identify effective ways of supporting economic growth in our country in the next decades, to allow Poland to successfully compete on global markets. The Forum welcomed anyone interested in gaining or sharing knowledge on the variety of topics addressed during the meetings, or, most importantly, in making valuable business contacts both domestically and internationally. The conference attracted nearly two thousand participants from Poland and abroad, including eminent figures from the worlds of economics, politics, and science.

During the two days of talks, there was a Plenary Session and a number of panel discussions. The first day was dominated by economic issues, and on the second day the focus was on social and cultural affairs.

The Plenary Session entitled “The economic situation of Poland compared to the rest of the European Union and the world” featured addresses by many renowned guests. The Opening Session was led by Professor Michał Kleiber, PhD Eng., Polish Academy of Sciences, and its participants included Jerzy Kwieciński, PhD, Minister of Investment and Development, Krzysztof Tchórzewski, Minister of Energy, Paweł Borys, President of the Polish Development Fund, Marek Cywiński, PhD, CEO of Kapsch Telematic Services, Krzysztof Krystowski, Vice President at Leonardo Helicopters, owner of PZL - Świdnik S.A., Professor Henryk Skarżyński, MD PhD, General Manager of the World Hearing Center, Sławomir Jastrzębowski, Editor-in-Chief of "Super Express”, and Tomasz Sakiewicz, Editor-in-Chief of "Gazeta Polska”.

During the Opening Session, there was a Gala to award winners in four categories.

The Ambassador of the Polish Economy award was given to three winners for their innovative management policies and their ability to ensure integration and cooperation in different areas of life: - Marek Cywiński, PhD (CEO, Kapsch Telematic Services), - Jarosław Józefowicz (President of the Management Board and CEO, Toruńskie Zakłady Opatrunkowe), - Dariusz Sapiński (President of the Management Board, Mlekovita Group).

The awards were presented by Jerzy Kwieciński, PhD, Minister of Investment and Development, and Jacek Janiszewski, PhD. The Forum also made Welconomy’s 25th Anniversary Ambassador awards to recognise people who have been committed for years to supporting the idea behind the Event, and have honoured it with their presence.

The awardees were: - Artur Balazs, politician, former oppositionist, minister in several governments, founder of the European Fund for the Development of Polish Villages, and co-organiser of the Forum during its early years,

Regions

- Professor Jerzy Buzek, PhD, former PM of Poland, former President of the European Parliament, Knight of the Order of the White Eagle, - Andrzej Jonas, well-known and highly regarded journalist, publicist, publisher, founder and Editor-in-Chief of "The Warsaw Voice", - Professor Henryk Skarżyński, MD PhD, excellent otorhinolaryngologist, audiologist and phoniatrist, founder and director of the Warsaw Institute of Physiology and Pathology of Hearing, and the World Hearing Center, - Walerian Szułczyński, outstanding activist supporting democratic transformations in Poland, who honoured with his presence all 25 editions of Welcomony organised in succession in Międzyzdroje, Ciechocinek, and now in Toruń, - Krzysztof Tchórzewski, Polish politician, MP for several terms, Minister in several governments, now Minister of Energy in Mateusz Morawiecki’s cabinet, - Janusz Tomaszewski, politician, union activist, in 1997-1999 Deputy PM and Minister of the Interior and Administration.

This year was the first to see the Welconomy Emerald awarded by Welcomony organisers to a person whose attitudes and actions inspire hope for the successful development of our country.

The award was presented to Jerzy Kwieciński, PhD, Minister of Investment and Development in Mateusz Morawiecki’s cabinet. The Welconomy Award was presented by Jacek Janiszewski, PhD, Piotr Całbecki, Marshal of the Kujawsko-Pomorskie Province, and Michał Zaleski, Mayor of Toruń.

This year, the Stefan Meller Award, sponsored by the Nicolaus Copernicus University (NCU) in Toruń and the Integration and Cooperation Association, was presented to Karolina Finc, a 1st-Year student at the Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science at NCU, for the best start-up run by an NCU student. The award was handed out by Professor Jacek Kubica, PhD, NCU Vice-Rector for Research, and Jacek Janiszewski, PhD, of the Integration and Cooperation Association.

During the evening gala, the Teraz Polska Promotional Emblem Foundation presented its awards.

The Promoter of the Polish Economy awards were given to companies from the Kujawsko-Pomorskie Province whose many successes have helped build brand Poland both in national and international awareness.

The award-winning companies included: - BIN sp. z o.o, - Kolejowe Zakłady Łączności, - Klinika Uzdrowiskowa “Pod Tężniami”.

The “Promoter of Poland” awards were presented to people whose exceptional achievements have built our national brand - Marek Harat, Polish neurosurgeon, professor of medical sciences, author of many innovative neurosurgical procedures, - Marek Żydowicz, organiser of the Camerimage film festival, - Jacek Janiszewski, PhD, founder of Welconomy.

The awards were presented by the President of the Teraz Polska Foundation.

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Export

POLISH E XPOR TERS AND IMPOR TERS MOS T OP TIMIS TIC IN THE EUROPE AN UNION

A

ccording to a global survey of businesses involved in international trade, conducted by market researcher Kantar for HSBC bank, 78% of Polish exporters and importers expect that their trade turnover will expand in 2018. This level of optimism was the highest among the European Union businesses surveyed.

In global terms, Poland ranked 10th when it comes to the optimism of companies involved in international trade.

Bangladesh, India, Thailand, Vietnam, China, Malaysia,

Mexico, Argentina and Turkey were found to be more optimistic about their future trade prospects.

Asked about reasons behind their optimism, Polish exporters and importers pointed mostly to the following factors: a rise in demand for their goods and services among consumers and business clients (39%), falling transport and logistics costs (27%) and a favourable economic situation (26%). Additionally, one fourth of the Polish respondents indicated the growing use of technology.

Exporters and importers’ optimism about their trade turnover growth (%)

Source: “HSBC Trade Research” conducted by Kantar. The bar chart shows the percentage of respondents who expect their trade turnover to increase in the next 12 months.

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Export FUTURE MARKETS Asked to indicate the most promising markets for business expansion in the next three to five years, most of the surveyed Polish exporters and importers pointed to Germany (24%) and France (11%). “In this respect, Polish firms do not differ from exporters and importers from other countries who also see trade with their neighbours as the best opportunity for a rise in turnover,” says Piotr Winnicki, head of trade and receivables finance at HSBC Bank Polska SA. “Having established a strong position for themselves in their ‘backyard’ at home, they are now taking their chances on markets in the same region where geographical and cultural proximity works to their benefit and a possible failure may be less painful than a failure on distant markets. There are more and more examples on the market of firms which, having gained a strong position in the immediate vicinity of Poland, in Central and Eastern Europe, are now betting on expansion in Western Europe where they see opportunities for the development of their business.

For many of them, building their brand awareness in this part of the Old Continent is another step on the road to building a global brand,” the HSBC expert adds.

“Foreign expansion is an important element of Wielton Group’s strategy,” says Mariusz Golec, president of Wielton SA. “The Group’s unique business model is about building a global scale of business by taking over strong local brands. Wielton operates as a multi-brand group. The companies we acquire are partners for us which we want to develop. Thanks to the acquisitions, Wielton is already present on seven foreign markets, including France, Germany and Italy. In the middle of 2017, we have taken over an 80% stake in the German company Langendorf. And at the end of last year, we acquired a 100% stake in the French company Fruehauf. Undoubtedly, in the process of acquiring and managing a foreign company, it is worthwhile to use the experience of other firms, take into account cultural differences and be prepared for changing market conditions. However, our experience shows that commitment on the part of previous owners is key, especially at the beginning of the process of taking over the company, that is for around two to three years in the post of managing director, so that we can jointly integrate the company into the Group.”

Among the Polish firms which are strengthening their position on Western European markets are: • Amica - last year it became the sole owner of Sideme, one of the leading distributors of household appliances in France, after it acquired in 2015 a 100% stake in the British company CDA; • LPP – it has 19 company stores in Germany and in September 2017 started its expansion on the British market by opening a Reserved store on Oxford Street, a prestigious shopping street in London; • Tele-Fonika Kable – last year it acquired the British company JDR, a supplier of world-class undersea solutions for the oil, gas and renewable energy sector.

Among the markets indicated by Polish exporters and importers as the most promising, apart from Germany and France, is the United States – it was indicated by 15% of the businesses surveyed in Poland.

“The great interest of Polish firms in the American market comes as no surprise because of its size and the pragmatic

approach of local business clients to choosing suppliers, something Polish medium-sized firms told us when we asked them in a different survey about a recipe for international success.

Some Polish firms intentionally start their foreign expansion with the American market so as to avoid the need to cope with stereotypes, which they sometimes encounter in Europe and which are translated into expectations of a lower price,” says Piotr Winnicki of HSBC. Seco/Warwick, a leading global producer of heat treatment furnaces and equipment, is an example of a Polish company which has achieved success on the American market and has actually taken over its mother company located in the United States. Korona Candles, one of the world’s largest producers of scented candles, also operates in the United States. In 2015, it opened a plant in Dublin, Virginia. The president of Asseco Poland, the largest Polish software company listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange, has recently announced that the company is also going to enter the U.S. market.

FINANCIAL NEEDS 66% of the Polish companies surveyed expect that as their international business expands so will their trade finance needs.

Asked about access to this kind of financing, only 5% said they expected the access to be diminished while an overwhelming majority believe it will remain unchanged (39%) or will improve (56%). As regards challenges in access to financing, the companies pointed to exchange rate volatility (33%) and regulatory barriers (32%). Only 12% of those surveyed indicated insufficient knowledge of finance products or a lack of access to advice on trade finance.

For more information contact: Magdalena Ujda-Tarczyńska, HSBC Bank Polska SA, +48695070388, magdalena.ujda@hsbc.com Krzysztof Kulasza, Havas PR, +48693150664, krzysztof.kulasza@havas.com

ABOUT THE SURVEY The survey among exporters and importers was conducted by market researcher Kantar for HSBC bank. Over 6,000 businesses involved in international trade from 26 countries took part, including 200 Polish companies. The groups of respondents from individual countries were selected so as to reflect the structure of the local economies.

ABOUT HSBC HSBC Group, based in London, is one of the biggest financial institutions in the world. It has around 3,900 outlets in 67 countries and territories in Europe, Asia, North America, Latin America and the Middle East. In Poland, it operates through its subsidiaries HSBC Bank Polska SA and HSBC Service Delivery Sp. z o.o. HSBC Bank Polska SA, based in Warsaw and with branches in Gdańsk, Katowice and Poznań, is focused on providing services to corporate and institutional clients. The latter company, based in Kraków, is a global services centre for other HSBC companies operating in 27 countries.

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Cultural Monitor

CM – April 2018 THIS MONTH, CULTURAL MONITOR REVOLVES AROUND WELL-ESTABLISHED STARS, BUT ALSO PROMISING DEBUTS. THE EVENTS AND NEW CD RELEASES ARE RECOMMENDED BY MACIEJ PROLIŃSKI.

FESTIVALS, CONCERTS: EASTER FESTIVAL MARKED BY ANNIVERSARIES AND THE PRESENCE OF STARS

The 22nd Ludwig van Beethoven Easter Festival closed on March 30 with Antonín Dvořák’s great and monumental “Stabat Mater” performed at Teatr Wielki – Polish National Opera in Warsaw. The National Philharmonic Orchestra and the Choir of Teatr Wielki – Polish National Opera were led by maestro Christoph Eschenbach. The soloists were Genia Kühmeier (soprano), Michelle Breedt (mezzosoprano), Steve Davislim (tenor) and Mikhail Petrenko (bass). The festival, which came into being in 1997, has quickly become an important fixture in the cultural life of Poland and Europe. Every year, the Easter Festival has a different programme. Presenting European music in an interesting and diverse way, it enables the audiences to see where the composer of the “Ninth Symphony” drew inspiration, what impact his music has had on the composers that followed him, and what place his work occupies in contemporary European art. The programme of this year’s concerts marked important anniversaries: the 100th anniversary of Leonard Bernstein’s birth, the 85th anniversary of the births of Krzysztof Penderecki and Henryk Mikołaj Górecki, and the 125th anniversary of George Gershwin’s birth. To mark the 100th anniversary of Poland’s regaining independence, an event which is celebrated this year, the programme of the festival featured the most outstanding works written by Polish composers. These included Symphony No. 2 (“Copernican” Symphony) by Henryk Mikołaj Górecki and “Polish Requiem” by Krzysztof Penderecki. Young Polish pianists – Szymon Nehring, Krzysztof Książek and Łukasz Krupiński – played outstanding compositions by Chopin and Ignacy Jan Paderewski. It should be stressed that Elżbieta Penderecka, the organizer of the festival, has managed to bring to Poland this year such great music stars as violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter, pianist Krystian Zimerman, who appeared for the first time at the festival, conductors Lawrence Foster and Cristian Măcelaru, and outstanding symphony orchestras, like Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, Israel Camerata Jerusalem Orchestra and Junge Deutsche Philharmonie.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO SINFONIA VARSOVIA

Sinfonia Varsovia, one of the most eminent Polish orchestras, winner of a “Polish Market” 2014 Honorary Pearl award in the Culture category, is celebrating its 34th anniversary. On this occasion, the musicians invite music lovers to a celebratory concert at Teatr Wielki – Polish National Opera on April 15. The orchestra will be led by maestro Grzegorz Nowak. The evening will begin with the overture to Feliks Nowowiejski’s opera “The Legend of the Baltic.” During the recently celebrated Year of Nowowiejski Sinfonia Varsovia has made a major contribution to promoting his music. The musicians recorded a complete set of his ballet music and performed his monumental oratorio “The Discovery of the Holy Cross.” Bomsori Kim, a South Korean violinist, winner of the Second Prize and nine special prizes at the 15th Henryk Wieniawski Violin Competition, will be a special guest at the anniversary concert. She is regarded as one of the greatest stars of the young generation. Bomsori Kim will play Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 35 by Pyotr Tchaikovsky. The programme of the anniversary concert would not be complete without a composition written by Krzysztof Penderecki, the artistic director of Sinfonia Varsovia. The musicians will play his Symphony No. 4 “Adagio” commissioned by the French government to mark the 200th anniversary of adopting the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen. American critic William Mootz said that “the work acknowledges the past, while moving triumphantly towards the future.”

FESTIVAL ACCORDING TO LESZEK MOŻDŻER

The 54th Jazz on the Odra festival, one of the oldest and most interesting Polish jazz festivals, will be held at the Impart club in Wrocław from April 24 to April 30. World renowned stars of improvised music will play at the concerts. Among them will be Yellowjackets, who will present pieces from their latest album “Cohearence,” outstanding pianist Leszek Możdżer, the artistic director of the festival, who will play with American clarinet giant Eddie Daniels and double bass player Darek Oleszkiewicz. Trondheim Jazz Orchestra will make a debut at the festival. The Scandinavian band will play with saxophonist Marius Neset, who is already known to the festival’s audiences. Pianist Dan Tepfer will also come to Wrocław.

He will play with Michał Barański, a leading bassist on the Polish music scene. The organizers of the 54th Festival will also be looking for young stars. At the two-day Jazz Individuality contest the audiences will hear concerts of finalists who will be competing for Grand Prix and honourable mentions for the best soloist, band and composer.

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Cultural Monitor

NEW TRADITION 2018

The 21st Polish Radio Folk Festival New Tradition will be held at the Witold Lutosławski Concert Studio in Warsaw on May 10-13. An important festival for Polish culture, it is composed of contest auditions for young Polish artists performing music inspired by tradition, a competition for the most interesting folk recording of the year, a concert of laureates, and concerts by Polish and foreign music stars. The competition is aimed to popularize contemporary music inspired by our traditional culture. Both professional musicians and amateurs fascinated with Polish folk music, and the music of ethnic minorities living in Poland, take part in the festival.

RELEASES “MOCNA NUTA. TISCHNER” (STRONG NOTE. TISCHNER) – AGORA – CD

Kayah, the Trebunie-Tutki band, Wojciech Waglewski, Mateusz Pospieszalski, Muniek Staszczyk and Jorgos Skolias are only some of the artists who have marked their presence on this very interesting newly released disc. The music has been composed by Jan Trebunia-Tutka and Mirosław Kowalik, the bassist of the Raz, Dwa, Trzy band. The lyrics, written by Izabela Domańska-Kowalik, combine the thought of Prof. Józef Tischner (1931-2000), an eminent Polish priest and philosopher, with reflection on the contemporary world.

The project has been initiated by Kazimierz Tischner. Fulfilling the will of his deceased brother, he has set up the Tischner Association and the Tischner School Family, and has also taken care of his brother’s legacy.

The compositions on the disc make a mixture of melancholy and liveliness, a mixture which is interestingly arranged and stylistically diverse, although all of the pieces are rooted in highlanders’ tunes and philosophy. The musicians move around this distinctive landscape very consciously and creatively. One listens to the songs – which make reference to the notions of freedom, goodness and hope, so important for Tischner – with attention and pleasure.

ADAM MAKOWICZ – “SWINGING IVORIES” – POLISH RADIO – CD

Adam Makowicz is a jazz legend, master of improvisation and outstanding pianist. He has recorded a few dozen albums and has played at the most important concert halls in the world, in the company of the greatest contemporary musicians, including Benny Goodman, Herbie Hancock, Al Foster, Tomasz Stańko, and Charlie Haden. He has received many distinctions. In 2008, on the anniversary marking 400 years of the presence of the Polish diaspora in the United States, he was officially called one of the Poles who have rendered the greatest service in the history of the United States. In November 2017, the Polish Radio Music Agency organized his recital in the Witold Lutosławski Concert Studio. The recital has been recorded and the CD has just been released. It is an extremely valuable item in the Music Agency’s catalogue because it is the first album recorded by the artist in many years. In his case, a new album is always an excellent, technically perfect and charmingly swinging music – sometimes lyrical, sometimes rousing and always high class. It contains the refinement of tone and fire. An old master who does not need to prove anything to anyone, his playing outshines many other musicians. The music will be a journey full of surprises even to listeners who have heard many of his earlier recordings. Among the composers featuring on the CD are George Gershwin, Cole Porter, Duke Ellington and Makowicz himself.

JUDYTA PISARCZYK – “CONCERT AT RADIO 4, VOL. 21” – POLISH RADIO – CD

Judyta Pisarczyk has graduated from a vocal art school at the Academy of Music in Katowice and now studies jazz vocalism at the Jazz Institute in Nysa, leads a gospel choir, composes music, writes lyrics, and takes part in numerous vocal workshops and contests. She has already scored her first successes. She delighted audiences with her singing at the Ladies’ Jazz Festival in Gdynia in 2017. The jury, headed by Urszula Dudziak, unanimously chose her as the winner of Grand Prix at the festival contest. Urszula Dudziak said after Pisarczyk’s performance: “When I listened to Judyta Pisarczyk I was overjoyed that we can see a rise of a new generation of excellent jazz vocalists. Judyta improvises and phrases beautifully and with great ease, she is technically perfect. I think she is ready to occupy a leading place in our jazz singing firmament.” The album was recorded during a concert at the Agnieszka Osiecka Music Studio in Warsaw in November last year.

Judyta Pisarczyk’s songs are classical and modern at the same time, swinging, very jazzy and elegant. They will certainly meet the taste of those who are drawn to nostalgia and like well-tried pieces. But Pisarczyk consciously chooses her repertoire and uses it to improvise and create her own artistic narrative.

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Culture

THROUGH

SZUMOWSKA'S

EYES...

Małgorzata Szumowska, a former student of one of the greatest artists in the history of Polish cinema – Wojciech Jerzy Has (1925-2000) – has been making controversial films for several years now. Her most recent work "Twarz" (Face) was recognised by the jury of the Berlin International Film Festival headed by German director Tom Tykwer, and received a Silver Bear. The film will open in Polish cinemas on 6 April 2018.

Maciej Proliński

S

he was first recognised abroad with her movie "33 Scenes from Life" (2008). This story, which follows the life of a thirty-something artist, is one of the most interesting, and certainly one of few truly mature, takes on the issue of death in the young Polish cinema.

This is also the film which has already given us a glimpse of the character of her artistic voice.

She creates art which is true to her, neither stylised nor mannered, but still defiant.

Sometimes overstated, sometimes mischievous, often filled with overtones of salubrious humour, but at its core undoubtedly lyrical.

"Sponsoring" (2011) (Elles) was an international production which came to life through the joint efforts of Polish, French, German and Danish companies. It starred the great French superstar Juliette Binoche. She was supported by leading Polish artists Joanna Kulig, Krystyna Janda, and Andrzej Chyra, and the rising star of French cinema Anaïs Demoustier.

The film infiltrates the world of student call girls. And again, it’s provoking, irking, but also entertaining. The unquestionable talent of the filmmaker behind it shines through. Sponsoring is an excellent example of a film which makes an impression on audiences both in terms of its form and message. The ending is especially impactful - smilingly tranquil but still significant, as it seems to destroy the whole world we have been introduced to at the beginning of it...

"Body/Ciało" is yet another film by Szumowska awarded with a Silver Bear, during the 2015 Berlin International Film Festival - it follows the relationship between a prosecutor (Janusz Gajos) and his anorexic daughter (Justyna Suwała) who attempt, each in their

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own way, to learn to live on after the death of a loved one. One day, the girl’s therapist Anna (Maja Ostaszewska) tells them that the person they had lost had contacted her from the netherworld to give them a message, and as a result they are forced to confront their ideas about life and death. The film opens with an equally baffling scene as in Fellini’s 8½. Later, its simple way of storytelling (in terms of imagery) invokes contemporary Austrian cinema. However, the film ends on an uplifting and philosophical note. A true and liberating opening to another person (also with a smile).

Her latest film, the recent Silver Bear winner, "Twarz", follows the story of a man who has lost his face in a freak accident - he works on the construction site of “the world’s tallest statue of Christ - the Jesus Christ King of Poland monument” (the Świebodzin statue certainly had something to do with the film’s inception).

After a successful and pioneering transplant, he goes back to his home town, but people are not sure how to behave around him. The film stars Mateusz Kościukiewicz, and the supporting cast includes Agnieszka Podsiadlik and Małgorzata Gorol - winner of prestigious theatre awards in Poland, but a first-timer in front of a camera. Michał Englert and Jacek Drosio, Szumowska's long-term collaborators, were responsible for the cinematography and editing respectively. Marek Zawierucha prepared the production design, while Waldemar Pokromski was responsible for hair and makeup.

“The Polish right wing will want to forget this ever happened” - observed Polish film critic Janusz Wróblewski in an article published in the "Polityka" weekly. I would like to add that in my opinion this is as true for the right wing as it is for the left for whom Christ

is a mere avatar... Szumowska’s latest film is filled to the brim with primitive stereotypes concerning Catholicism, otherness, Poland, and so called Poland “B”...

Where you obviously believe in one thing but say and do something else, like consuming alcohol during the formal Christmas Eve dinner, telling racist jokes during the said dinner(!), boorish arguments about an inheritance from a recently deceased relative right in front of their grave. The opening scene also includes such thinly veiled allusions (the quality of its cinematography is worth noting), as depicting people “choking with capitalism” (A holiday sale for the naked people... And a great many unattractive residents of small towns deciding to take advantage of it, especially where brand new electronics are concerned, so the shops are teeming with crowds of half-naked, frenzied shoppers). Exactly the same thinly veiled allusion, almost unbearable in its singularity of view, was applied to indicate the omnipresence of indifference and aversion of this small typical Polish community, including almost all his family, towards the main protagonist following the face transplant. At one point his own mother will turn against him, as she thinks that he was possessed by evil spirits, and she calls an exorcist for help.

The people who believe that "The Elephant Man" by David Lynch is a crown jewel of world cinema in terms of its depiction of Otherness (the value of said Otherness) or those who are not hard to convince about the greatness and value of the Polish cinema of the 1950s and 1960s, will watch Szumowska’s new film with a true Gombrowicz-like smirk... I happen to be one of those • people...

Events

THE 16 TRADE FAIR AND 20 ANNIVERSARY OF PSB GROUP TH

TH

This year's 16th PSB Trade Fair, accompanied by the celebration of the 20th Anniversary of the PSB Group, which operates a chain of building materials warehouses and DIY stores, was exceptional. It was surely a unique event for all the partners in the PSB Group. 15 thousand contracts with a total value of PLN 374 million were entered into during the two-day trade fair. The value of the contracts was 2% higher than at the previous year's fair, and the result would have been much better if it had not been for the shortage of some materials, in particular wall materials.

O

ver 5000 people attended the trade fair, which took place in Kielce on March 6 and 7, 2018. 347 partners in the Group (building depots, PSB Profi and PSB Mrówka stores) concluded contracts with 375 exhibitors (PSB suppliers).

The PSB Trade Fair is perceived as one of the most important events for the building industry. The general partners in the trade fair were manufacturers Blue Dolphin Tapes, Kreisel, and Rockwool. Supporting

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partners included such companies as Atlas, Baumit, Cement Ożarów, Hörmann, Isover, Polbruk, Swiss Krono, Trzuskawica and Ursa.

In addition to the business contracts, the trade fair's format contributes to fostering mutual relations between companies and exchanging experience between manufacturers and distributors. Its objective is also to present the most recent solutions and products.

It is for these reasons that the PSB Trade Fair is perceived as one of the building industry’s leading events.

Events

The trade fair also featured a fascinating lecture by Prof.

Krzysztof Obłój entitled "Life, Work, and (Im)Balance", and a press conference attended by representatives of major building sectors and regional media.

The participants in the trade fair obtained an exceptional publication - a book entitled "Grupa PSB, czyli jak stawić czoła zagranicznym sieciom" (PSB Group - how to compete against foreign chain stores). The publication, issued on the occasion of the Group's 20th anniversary, presents the story of PSB's creation and development, and describes the way small family-owned companies established a group which is a major player on the domestic market for building-material distribution, by using their mutual trust and a successful strategy for cooperation with manufacturers.

Also, a charity auction was organised for the fourth time.

The proceeds will be handed over to two children's homes located in the Świętokrzyskie Province, which are under the patronage of PSB Group's head office. This year, Rockwool joined the Blue Dolphin Tapes company. Several dozen thousand zloty were collected during this year's auction.

The first day of the trade fair was concluded with a Jubilee Banquet which was organised to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the PSB Group, and attended by nearly 4 thousand guests. During the Banquet, the Management Board of PSB honoured 89 companies and individuals for successful cooperation over the past two decades. The prize-winners include the Group’s partners (stockholders), suppliers, public institutions, financial institutions, consulting companies, agencies and the media. Maryla Rodowicz, a legend of the Polish music scene, was the star of the Jubilee evening.

PSB GROUP

Grupa PSB Handel S.A. (PSB Group), based in Wełecz near Busko Zdrój, has been present on the market for twenty years, and it is the largest and the fastest-developing Polish chain of wholesale stores and retail stores selling building materials. The Group currently incorporates 382 small and medium-sized family-owned companies across Poland, which trade from 315 building depots, 269 PSB Mrówka stores and 53 PSB Profi shopping centres. Over 12 thousand people in total are employed in these entities.

Revenue from the sales of building materials in the stores which are partners of the PSB Group reached the level of PLN 6.24 billion at the end of 2017 (9.5% higher than in 2016). The revenue of Grupa PSB Handel S.A. (the head office) amounted to PLN 2.45 billion in 2017, and were 13% higher than the year before. Its share of the domestic building-materials-distribution market is estimated at 14%, while the share of the wholesale market is 18%. In 2017, approx. 46% of Poles declared that they were familiar with the PSB Group brand, 57% were familiar with the PSB Mrówka brand, and the PSB Profi brand was recognisable • to 21% of the respondents.

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Food Industry

DATES THE BREAD OF LIFE

The famous Małysz bread roll should be eaten with a date, not a banana * fit for a satchel and a rucksack * amazing fruit instead of medicine * a natural aphrodisiac and a great health booster during and after pregnancy

Motto: “... and the dates dance the rumba like butterflies.”

From a poem by Jacek Cygan

I

s there an optimal food for skiers, long-distance runners, amateur sport enthusiasts, mountain climbers and canoeists? Why, of course!

Among the many varieties of dates, the Medjool is the best natural source of energy, and of 15 minerals. Its potassium level alone is 50% greater than that of bananas. Someone probably should mention this to the Ski Jumping and Nordic Combined Director in the Polish Skiing Federation, Adam Małysz, or put up a sign in the locker room reading “Do you need to reinvigorate yourself quickly – eat some dates or a bread roll... with date spread.” According to experts, dates are best for the fast alleviation of muscle soreness and have anti-inflammatory and antithrombotic properties. They are also recommended to new mothers during and after pregnancy. Ophthalmologists also speak highly of this fruit, due to its positive effect on the eyes. It also boosts the immune system, due to the fact that it contains antioxidants.

Krzysztof Olek, nutritionist at the Organic House of the Polska Ekologia Association, date specialist, shared with us: “Fresh Medjool dates should not be lumped together with dried fruits and nuts, as it is possible that this date species is the healthiest fruit in the world. It has everything needed to boost the immune system and reinvigorate the body.

Just a few green Medjool dates a day are enough to make you feel healthy and full of energy. This somewhat baffling richness in beneficial properties results, among other things, from the high potassium content (696 mg per 100g). Fresh Medjool dates are an amazing source of natural energy, fibre, antioxidants, phenolic compounds, salicylates, naturally occurring sugars, and vitamins, including A, B2, B3, B5, B6, K, and minerals such as potassium, phosphorous, iron, calcium, magnesium and zinc. Medjool dates are good for people suffering from such disorders as cardiovascular diseases, low energy, hyperacidity, constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, insomnia, and osteoporosis. They are effective because they naturally lower the sugar and cholesterol levels. They also have analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antithrombotic properties, and, due to the antioxidant content, they boost the immune system.”

The date species mentioned above thrive better in cold temperatures, due to the low water content, which is also the reason why the fruit does not freeze when stored at -18°C, and it retains its beneficial properties.

However, we need to keep in mind that not all dates have similar properties. It does make a difference whether we buy green produce or an artificially fertilised, fresh, or dried one.

“Medjool is superior to all other dates, and its green, fresh state is the most favourable of them all”, said Ilona Olek, international relations expert at Organic House. “There are more than 400 date species in the world (!!!!), which differ in terms of appearance, flavour and nutritional value, and only about 15 species are imported into Europe. Each species can be grown on a green or a conventional farm. The chosen cultivation technique dictates the price. All our products marked with a BIO label come from certified green plantations, where the fruit is grown using only natural compost without artificial fertilisers and pesticides. Warning: dates labelled “NATURAL” without the green certificate are grown using pesticides, genetically modified, often contain preservatives, and are dried with complex chemical agents. At first glance, a green, fresh

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Medjool date might not differ in appearance from one grown using pesticides, which can be often very misleading to consumers.

Dates should be valued not only by athletes. They can serve as a healthy snack for students, for instance, as they improve focus and brain functioning. Given the efforts to find healthy alternatives to crisps and sugary, unhealthy candy bars, which up to now have monopolised school shops, introducing fresh dates in their place appears to be a smart idea to pursue. March saw an introduction into the shops of the first energy boosting snack called Enjoy, which includes three unique fruits.

This fruit won an audience award and a gold medal for Best International Green Product at the 2016 International Fair of Organic and Natural Food NATURA FOOD, received an honourable mention at World Food Warsaw 2017, and a merit diploma at the 2017 Eco Time in Kielce in the Eco Flavour category.

"I would like to suggest a few ways in which gourmets could apply dates in their culinary endeavours, as dates are an excellent cooking ingredient, which, aside from being a palatable snack to eat raw, can be roasted with bacon instead of dried plums or even grilled. They taste deliciously and can be used when making sandwiches, salads, cocktails, muesli, or shish kebabs, and, due to their size, are perfect for stuffing with cheese and nuts, and serving with hot chocolate," said Ilona Olek.

• Bon appétit!

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Food Industry

“POLSKA RÓŻA (THE POLISH ROSE)” OR LIQUID HEALTH Celebrated by poets for its beauty in the past, the rose has now been tested and assessed by scientists. And, as it turns out, it might be a valuable food supplement. But not all roses are equally beneficial. In the 1950s the Warsaw Forest Research Institute carried out an assessment of the properties of four rose species, which led to the conclusion that the rosa rugosa has the greatest potential.

A

s luck would have it, roses also caught the attention of engineer Ernest Michalski, who made the first rose nectars. And this is how the company Polska Róża, of the Polska Ekologia Association, was established. After nearly 40 years on the market, the company has set itself a new direction.

“Considering the increasing demand for green products, we decided to introduce them into our product line," said Agnieszka Michalska, President of the Board of Polska Róża.

“Rose-hip juice is of high quality, as its fruit is hand-picked, so that only the fully ripe and best-quality fruit is gathered. And the fruit coming from green farms is especially valued by us. We use the rosa rugosa species because it has a high vitamin-C content, which can be preserved in juices and nectars if you apply the appropriate production process. Ernest Michalski, Eng., who was interested in the properties and vitamin content of fruit, came across a study by American researchers, which indicated the existence of a genetic disorder in humans preventing the production of vitamin C. The vast majority of other mammals can produce vitamin C on their own; similarly our bodies also contain enzymes designed to do so, but one of them is inactive. It means that we need to supply vitamin C to our bodies in large quantities in the food we consume.”

Consumers have become more aware of the beneficial properties of the rose, including the improvement in children’s health by boosting the immune system, stimulating brain functioning, and conditioning normal growth, as well as cell and tissue development. And what

78 polish market

is especially important these days, it does not lead to developing a preference for sweet foods resulting in a tendency to gain weight easily. It is also beneficial for teenagers, as it helps them to manage the hormonal imbalances and alleviate the stress related to puberty and coming of age. And, if that were not enough, it is also beneficial for the skin (acne). It also helps to protect the eyes. Due to the favourable influence of rose juice on the cardiovascular, musculoskeletal and nervous systems, nutritionists recommend it to senior citizens as well. It boosts the immune system and slows down the ageing process.

“I simply must add," said Agnieszka Michalska, “that it would be desirable for juices like ours to become a standard, and a reference point for similar products on the market – our juice has a 1125-mg fruit-based vitamin-C content per 250 ml bottle. And now let us share some consumer advice: it is important to select high-quality rose juices and syrups – the ones without artificial flavourings, colours and preservatives. In fact, this rule applies to any juice or syrup, not only the rose kinds. Most regrettably, the majority of products being manufactured at present are made from concentrated fruit juice, which loses its unique properties during the water evaporation process. Only the correct treatment allows the retention of the valuable nutrients, minerals and vitamins found in raw fruit such as rose hip.”

“It is recommended to read the juice or syrup label to check whether it was made from a vitamin-rich squeezed juice, or concentrated juice; we should also pay attention to the vitamin and mineral content, and the juice

content in a syrup" added Agnieszka Michalska. "We need to remember to choose the products with the shortest lists of ingredients, as it indicates that there are no chemical and artificial additives, which are not really required.

In line with the applicable legislation, the ingredients are listed according to the percentages of each ingredient, in descending order. If the fruit juice is listed as the number one ingredient, it means we are dealing with a good product. We should avoid those with juice listed below syrups, colours, etc. Many people are aware of this, but there is still a substantial group of consumers who pay no attention to such things. By following the advice given above, we can be certain that we choose products which will benefit our health and fitness”.

Given the fact that rosa rugosa farms in Poland cover approx.. 150–200 ha, the dream of our cuisine being a bed of roses is not unrealistic.

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