Poland, the Czech Republic or Slovakia? Who's the best in attracting German projects?
First-hand data and opinions on the subject collected from German entrepreneurs were presented by PAIiIZ and the German-Polish Chamber of Industry and Commerce (AHK) on May 5th, 2011.

What is most important for German businesspersons in the investment decision making process? How the Germans see the economic situation in the region, what is their outlook into the future and what are their investment plans? Which country in Central Europe is the most effective in attracting German development projects? Was it a good or bad decision to locate their projects in Poland?

These and other questions were answered today during a debate chaired by the PAIiIZ President - Sławomir Majman. A general commentary of Poland’s attractiveness on international markets was made by Rafał Baniak - Undersecretary of State in the Ministry of Economy. The report “Poland’s investment attractiveness for German entrepreneurs in the context of Central and Eastern Europe” was presented by Michael Kern - Head of the German-Polish Chamber of Industry and Commerce (AHK).

Among panelist who took part in the debate, which followed the presentation of the report, there were: Iwona Chojnowska-Haponik - Head of the Foreign Investment Department at PAIiIZ, Michał Maliszewski PhD – from the University of Warsaw, Robert Bachorski representative of Sitech, Hans Jorg Otto – Head of the Management Board of EL-CAB and Michael Hepp – President of the Management Board of BASF Polska.

The AHK report shows that 86% of the surveyed entrepreneurs indicated Poland as the most attractive investment destination in Central Europe. The surveyed businesspersons are optimistic about the performance of their businesses - 70% plan to increase their turnover in 2011 and almost 45% expect growth in export and nearly 43% foresee increases in export to Germany.

Upward investment trends find their reflection in the number of German projects run currently by the Polish Information and Foreign Investment Agency (PAIiIZ). At the moment PAIiIZ negotiates 13 projects from Germany which are jointly worth EUR363 million while at the beginning of the 2 quarter of 2010 the Agency had only 6 projects from this country.

Data provided by the Polish Information and Foreign Investment Agency shows that Germany keeps its leading position as Poland's major trade partner and one of the major source of foreign investments. German foreign direct investment inflow to Poland in 2009 exceeded the value of investment from all other countries and amounted to EUR2.14 bn what accounted for 21.7% of the overall FDI inflow to the country and 23.9% of FDI from European countries. At the end of 2009 there were 5848 entities with German capital present in Poland and the German FDI stock in Poland reached EUR20.8 bn.

Poland’s political stability, employees’ qualifications, quality of suppliers and the country’s economic situation makes Poland the most attractive Central Europe investment location to German investors!

paiz.gov.pl