Download projects, more investments, more new work places

More projects, more investments, more new work places
Over 1.3 billion EUR has been invested in Poland, as a result of last year’s
efforts from the Polish Information and Foreign Investment Agency (PAIiIZ) – it
was stated at a conference which reviewed the PAIiIZ operations for 2007. The
conference took place on Wednesday 30th January, in Warsaw.
Prof. Stanisław Gomulka, the Deputy Minister for Finance was the guest speaker at the
meeting, which was hosted by Dr Paweł Wojciechowski, the PAIiIZ president.
In 2007 the Agency completed 57 investment projects, due to which 18 thousand
workplaces were created. When compared to 2006, the Agency recorded an increase in
all of its areas of operations. Not only were 57 investment projects realised – 14 more
than in 2006, but also a 200 million EUR increase in capital investments was recorded
last year.
- Of the success of the Agency in 2007testified not only the record number of projects
executed, but also the marked increase in advanced technology projects – said Dr Paweł
Wojciechowski, the PAIiIZ President.
Minister Gomułka summed up the economic situation in Poland and its 6.5% GDP growth
in 2007. – The results are very good and these were the results we expected – he said.
In his opinion the rate of growth for 2008 will be close to 5.5% expected by the
government in the budgetary act. – We expect that on an annual scale the average
inflation rate will reach app. 3.5% - the minister added.
The most capital was invested by American firms – 387 million EUR. Japan was in second
place in terms of investment capital (280 million EUR), and their fall from first place in
2006 was noted. In third place was Great Britain (77 million EUR). However, in terms of
the number of investment decisions, Japan was placed in equal first place with the USA
(8 each). The investors most eagerly located their investments in Dolny Śląsk (10), in
Mazowsze (8) and in the Łódzkie voivodships (8).
Among the 57 projects, the most (13) were related to the sector of electronics and the
value of these investments reached 492 million EUR. As a result of which, 8.5 thousand
jobs will be created. In the sector of service centres, 11 projects were finalised, of a joint
value of 30 million EUR and an estimated employment figure of 3,600 workplaces. The
value of the eight investments in the automotive sector is 230 million EUR, resulting in
the creation of over 2,300 jobs. The Agency also realised four projects in the chemicals
sector (of a value of 135 million EUR) and in research and development (1.7 million
EUR), which will result in 510 and 310 new jobs respectively.
The initial estimates provide a very favourable account of last year. The forecasts for
Poland’s economic development are very good; and the interest in Poland from foreign
investors isn’t slackening. As it appears from PAIiIZ’s figures, Poland is achieving
increasing regard among investors from the US and Asia. The largest share of FDI inflow
to Poland remains of origin from the EU countries (88%), however this proportion should
steadily decrease in favour of American and Asiatic firms.