2014/2015. Member Directory

Transcription

1 2014/2015 Member Directory

2 ADVERTISEMENT? In the CEE region we offer the following services: TRANSACTION CONSULTING VALUATION PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CAPITAL MARKETS 2

3 Member Directory Netherlands-Polish Chamber of Commerce 2014/2015 3

4 Publisher: Netherlands-Polish Chamber of Commerce ul. Bielańska 12, Senator Building, Warsaw, Poland Editor: Netherlands-Polish Chamber of Commerce Graphic Design: Studio Szkarada * Catalogue: Magdalena Leśniewska, Elro van den Burg, Anna Kawałowska Proofreading: Simon Clare: smnclare@gmail.com All information in this catalogue has been verified. However, the NPCC is not liable for any changes that might have occurred recently. Copyright: Netherlands-Polish Chamber of Commerce 4

5 Table of Contents A Word from the Ambassador 6 A Word from the Chairman 7 About the NPCC 8-9 Board Members Committee Members Wielkopolska 12 Committee Members Łódź 13 About the Embassy 14 About the NPCH 15 KPMG Article Company Directory Indexes 239 Index in alphabetical order Index by sector Index by province Notes 258 5

6 A Word from the Ambassador Trade between the Netherlands and Poland is flourishing. Over the past years the Dutch export to Poland has been steadily increasing. The total value of export in 2013 was equal to almost EUR 10 billion, more than for example to countries like China or Brazil. An impressive figure that illustrates the importance of Poland as one of our main trading partners. The Embassy finds that more and more Dutch companies realize the chances of this attractive nearby market. The large number of companies that joined the Trade Mission in June 2014 during the State Visit is a clear indication of this trend. In that respect I very much welcome the initiative of the Netherlands- Polish Chamber of Commerce to publish this Member Directory. It provides an overview of the many Dutch companies and Dutch entrepreneurs that are member of the Chamber. By publishing this directory the Chamber significantly contributes to the visibility of Dutch business partners in Poland. In addition, the directory serves as a meeting point for our entrepreneurs and helps them to connect. I can assure you that the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands remains fully committed to supporting Dutch entrepreneurs in doing business in Poland in every step of the process. To achieve maximum results, we work closely together with the Chamber, our valued partner. I wish the Netherlands-Polish Chamber of Commerce success in all its many activities. Paul Bekkers Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands 6

7 A Word from the Chairman Dear Members and Friends of the NPCC, We are delighted to offer you the first edition of our member directory, a Who s Who that gives you an overview of those companies that are important business partners for Dutch- Polish business. We are seeing an increasing trend of Dutch companies being active in Poland. At the same time, more and more Polish companies are interested in doing business with Dutch companies in Poland. Membership of the Netherlands-Polish Chamber of Commerce helps a company to grow their business, expand their network and deal with any challenges that they may experience. With this booklet, which is funded by many sponsors and through your continued membership of the NPCC, we hope to further increase the visibility of our members to many new partners and potential clients. This ultimately achieves the mission of the NPCC, which is to connect Dutch and Polish companies in Poland with each other. Our Chamber is growing rapidly and has doubled its membership in the last three years. We are present in Warsaw, Poznań and Łódź. If you would like to join an organisation that is working hard to strengthen the Dutch business community in Poland, sets up meetings with government officials and has a network in the major Polish cities, the Netherlands-Polish Chamber of Commerce welcomes your participation and encourages your membership! As the Chamber s Chairman, I greatly look forward to working with you and your organisations. Please do not hesitate to call our office ( ) to discuss ways in which we can cooperate or how we can enhance our service. Geert Embrechts, Chairman of the Netherlands-Polish Chamber of Commerce 7

8 About the NPCC The number one goal of the Netherlands-Polish Chamber of Commerce is to help businesses of all sizes to grow and prosper. We offer our 200 members exposure in our business community, a strong networking base and opportunities for professional development. Browse our website to find out how the Chamber of Commerce can serve your needs. Advocacy The Netherlands-Polish Chamber of Commerce plays a significant role in the business community in Poland acting as an advocate and leader for business interests in the region. Representing around 200 companies, we are the voice of our membership. The Chamber will always play an active role in the event of any important legislation or political activity that may help or hinder local businesses in order to protect its members interests. We work directly with political leaders to sustain a productive and profitable business community. In addition, the chamber is a member of the International Group of Chambers of Commerce (IGCC). Together with other bilateral chambers of commerce, we regularly meet with government representatives at the highest level to address our issues, which results in more business-friendly legislation in Poland. Referrals The Chamber office receives many enquiries every month from people looking for recommendations on the provision of goods and services. That s the kind of credibility we have after more than 15 years of operation in Poland! Your membership assures you of a recommendation over any non-member company every time. That s a legitimate edge over the competition! Discount program Our Member Discount Program offers exclusive savings for Chamber members and their employees. We offer Exclusive Discounts Year-round No expiry Can be redeemed multiple times 8

9 About the NPCC This program is a FREE marketing vehicle for each of the participating companies. Marketing for each participating company appears in the Chamber s newsletter - the Bulletin. Participants are announced at the Chamber s business drinks and will appear on this website. Educational programs The Chamber s seminars are designed to provide the knowledge and expertise of business experts at no cost to our members. On a regular basis, the Chamber hosts seminars on diverse topics such as: social media, financial management, merchandising, networking, and more! Remember all seminars are FREE OF CHARGE for our members. Marketing The Netherlands-Polish Chamber of Commerce offers its members a multitude of opportunities to market their companies products and services to other chamber members and to the business community at large. Whether it s sponsoring a chamber event like our monthly business drink, or taking advantage of our newsletter or membership directory, there is no more cost-effective way to introduce yourself to prospective customers. Recognition The Chamber hosts an event to highlight our outstanding businesses. Each year, together with the NPCH, we organise the Dutch Polish Business Award, which recognises a Dutch company which has made a significant commitment to investment in Poland. 9

10 Board Members Geert Embrechts Chairman Tjeerd Bosklopper Vice Chairman Maurice Idsardi Treasurer Remco van der Kroft Secretary Paweł P. Mlicki Board Member 10

11 Board Members Elro van den Burg Board Member - Director Marcin Klammer Board Member Stefan van Herpen Board Member Jarek Skowronski Board Member Katarzyna Borucka Board Member 11

12 Committee Members Wielkopolska Christine Colijn Board Member and chairperson committee Wielkopolska Rob Colenbrander Member committee Wielkopolska Marek Kaszewski Member committee Wielkopolska Paweł Posadzy Member committee Wielkopolska Tomasz Wielgus Member committee Wielkopolska Jean Paul van Dijk Member committee Wielkopolska 12

13 Committee Members Lodz Jasja van der Veen Board Member and chairperson committee Łódź Sławomir Karasiński Committee member Łódź Contact details Anna Kawałowska Executive Assistant to the Director of NPCC Netherlands-Polish Chamber of Commerce Bielańska St. 12, Senator Building Warsaw tel.:

14 About the Embassy Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands The Economic Section of the Netherlands Embassy in Warsaw supports Dutch entrepreneurs in doing business in Poland. We provide general information on doing business in Poland, sector information and answers to specific trade questions. We also organise events for the so-called Top Sectors. These are the sectors which, in our opinion, offer the best opportunities for Dutch entrepreneurs: Water, Logistics, Energy and AgriFood. We can carry out a Business Partner Scan on request (cost 500). The trade advisers of the Economic Section will find out which distributors could be of interest to you for potential cooperation. Are you eager to know more about our other responsibilities and what we could do for you? Visit our website for additional information. Contact details Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands Economic Section ul. Kawalerii Warsaw war-ea@minbuza.nl

15 About the NPCH Netherlands Polish Council for Trade Promotion (NPCH) The NPCH is founded by and for companies which are active or have plans to do become active in Poland. The NPCH is one of the major business councils of the Netherlands Council for Trade Promotion (NCH). Membership of the NPCH offers members direct access to this network. The NPCH organizes network meetings, seminars and trade missions and offer entrepreneurs the opportunity to gather relevant information, to exchange experiences and to build a network. Membership Membership of the NPCH is interesting for companies which already have extensive experience in doing business with Poland as well as for companies which are still discovering the possibilities of the Polish market. The membership fee is 530, - per year. NPCH Board members & observers Mr. C. Werff InterEurope AG (Chairman) Mr. S. Pruijs Rabobank International Mr. B.L. van de Vrie ING Bank Mr. F. van Gool Otto Workforce Mr. J.W. Drijver Lely Mr. P. Keegel Gardner Denver Ms. H. Poppens Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands Mr. P. Perczyński Embassy of the Republic of Poland to The Hague Mr. T. Waźbiński Embassy of the Republic of Poland to The Hague Ms. M.C.J. van der Wilk Netherlands Council for Trade Promotion More information? In case your company is interested in becoming a member of the NPCH or wishes to compete for the DPBA, please contact: Ms. Marieke van der Wilk Project Manager Poland Netherlands Council for Trade Promotion P.O. Box CA The Hague tel.: +31 (0) mvanderwilk@nchnl.nl Mr. Cees Werff Chairman of the Netherlands Polish Council for Trade Promotion (NPCH) cwerff@nchnl.nl 15

16 KPMG Why invest in Poland now and what challenges to prepare for By: André Schuurman, Director, KPMG Advisory Introduction In our everyday business practice supporting foreign investors in their activities in Poland, we observe five major drivers that compel many of these investors to enter the Polish market or expand their operations in this country. Western EU markets with resource-rich countries like Russia. Land is still amply available at relatively low cost. However, the labour force is no longer only praised in terms of cost levels, but also as highly skilled, hard working and reliable. While in earlier years Poland was primarily considered as a well-located low-cost production base for Western Europe, more recently many investors are attracted by Poland s large population, its steadily growing economy and its rising middle class. Poland seems to be establishing itself as one of the EU s Big 6 markets, especially in the eyes of investors from outside Europe. Naturally, the initial attractions still stand. Poland remains centrally located at the heart of the New Europe, linking The Polish authorities are highly appreciated for their steady and supportive policy towards foreign investors, although executives mention that red tape should be cut further. Last but not least, many investors are keen to take advantage of the truly massive flow of EU funds towards the Polish economy and especially its infrastructure. Poland has been allocated 106 billion in EU funds for the next six years, by far the largest amount of all the countries. 1 2 Large domestic market with good growth prospects Location at the heart of the New Europe 6 th largest EU market Rising middle class, propelled by steady GDP growth Heart of Europe, with direct access to Dutch/ EU markets Bridge between Western Europe and resource-rich CIS countries 3 High skill + Low cost labour 4 Steady and supportive authorities 5 EU funds High skill labour: Craftsmanship comparable to Germany Low cost of workforce in comparison to Western Europe Stable political situation, safe environment Open mind about foreign investment Many institutions designed to help foreign investors to operate in Polish environment, including Special Economic Zones EU allocated 38% of structural and cohesion funds to Poland until 2013 Major investment in Polish infrastructure and rural development bolstered by EU funds (planned increase of Polish allocation by 4% for ) 16

17 KPMG Nevertheless, investors need to be aware of a number of challenges that are common to most transition economies in the region, including Poland. Although property rights and transparency are deemed relatively strong compared to other countries in the region, institutional risks still exist, albeit mostly at the local level. While EU membership is gradually bringing stability, legislation is still changing relatively rapidly and is sometimes inconsistently applied. Legal procedures can be inefficient and the administrative requirements for setting up a company or doing business remain cumbersome; in particular, the labour code is complicated as well as strict. Furthermore, the accessibility, timeliness and robustness of financial and commercial information are not always up to international standards, and the condition of plant and equipment should be carefully considered. Infrastructure quality can also vary and local supply chain limitations can be a challenge for foreign investors. Given Poland s attractive opportunities and strong underlying fundamentals, it is no surprise that many companies are considering expanding into the Polish market. Although the country s appeal is justified by many factors, any entry does require comprehensive research, due diligence and planning. While the investment prospects may be attractive, decisions made now will have enduring consequences. Whether you are considering an acquisition, a greenfield investment or a restructuring, you need to understand the strategic and financial impact of your decisions as well as the implementation risks. Understanding where the European Union countries by size and growth - circle size represents GDP (2012) 9% 7% 5% The Big 6 GDP CAGR E (%) PL 3% DE FR GB 1% NL RO IT ES -1% -3% -5% GR -7% Population (million) Note: Chart does not present data for countries with population less than 1 m Source: EIU; KPMG analysis 17

18 KPMG 10 largest metropolitan areas in CEE Core city Country Population (mln) Warsaw Poland 3,3 Budapest Hungary 3,0 Katowice Poland 2,8 Prague Czech Republic 2,5 Bucharest Romania 2,3 Sofia Bulgaria 1,7 Belgrade Serbia 1,6 Cracow Poland 1,5 Gdańsk Poland 1,3 Ostrava Czech Republic 1,2 Sources: Eurostat Urban Audit 2013; Wikipedia opportunities and risks lie, the size of each opportunity and what competitors are doing will arm you with the confidence to make a sound investment decision. Large domestic market with good growth prospects As the largest economy to join the European Union (EU) over the last decade, Poland s combination of sustained growth with economic and political stability is drawing a great deal of interest from around the world. Fuelled by the growing number of middle-income consumers and a wave of infrastructure investments, the economic environment has blossomed. While Poland features among Europe s growing economies, with around 38 million inhabitants it is also becoming one of the EU s six biggest markets. Poland also accounts for four of the largest urban areas in Central & Eastern Europe, including Warsaw (3.3 million inhabitants), Katowice (2.8 million), Cracow (1.5 million) and Gdansk Tri-city (1.3 million). Poland s economy, measured in GDP, has grown to become larger than those of the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary combined, and contributed to more than one-third of the total GDP of CEE by Based on information from the World Bank, GDP per capita for 2012 is roughly 17,300 and had reached 66% of the EU average. Poland has been a leading economic performer in the region since 2005, with annual GDP growth rates ranging between 3.6% and 6.8% in most years. In 2009, it was the only economy in the EU to show positive GDP growth, and grew by 3.9% in 2010 and 4.3% in Growth cooled in 2012 and 2013 to 1.9% and an estimated 1.6% amidst a renewed Euro zone recession. However, forecasts for the coming years point to a rebound in growth which, according to the European Commission, could reach 3.2% and 3.4% in 2014 and 2015 respectively. The Wall Street Journal explained Poland s position among neighbouring CEE countries as follows: Poland is a bright spot compared with Hungary and the Czech Republic as robust domestic consumption and rising exports helped the country escape the fate of others in Central and Eastern Europe dragged down by the troubles in the neighbouring Euro zone. 2 Poland has a large and steadily growing number of middle-income consumers with increasing disposable income. Upper and middle-income groups (earning a gross monthly income above PLN 3,100), currently at 2.7 million, are expected to surpass the 3 million milestone by Total disposable income in Poland grew at over 7% per annum before the financial crisis, and continued to show positive growth even over the period, while according to EIU projections, 1. Central Statistical Office in Poland 2. Wall Street Journal: Polish Economy Avoids Trouble Marcin Sobczyk, May 31, KPMG analysis based on historical data provided by Polish Ministry of Finance and Economist Intelligence Unit projections (2013) 18

19 KPMG Total personal disposable income in Poland 1, , PLN billion 1, ,011 1,072 1, , PLN thousand A 2006A 2007A 2008A 2009A 2010A 2011E 2012E 2013F 2014F 2015F 2016F 2017F 0.0 Total personal disposable income (left axis) Personal disposable income per capita (right axis) Note: Please note that population statistics may not be accurate due to relatively high migration of Poles to Western Europe not fully reflected in official statistics Source: The Economist Intelligence Unit (2013), KPMG analysis the rate of growth should be picking up to around 5% per year 3. The disposable income of upper- and middleincome groups is growing at above-average rates, with the EIU forecasting over 6% per annum. However, although disposable incomes are growing, they still have a long way to go to catch up to Western European levels, particularly in rural areas where more than a third of the Polish population lives. and did not require any financial support from the state. So strong have been the fundamentals and so steady the growth of the Polish economy that Barclays Capital featured it on its global list of 10 Advanced Emerging Markets economies graduating from emerging market status, with risks similar to developed nations paired with the higher returns that are typical of emerging markets. Poland is not burdened by excessive debt and government debt levels are constitutionally capped. The inflation rate in 2012 was 3.7% and slowed to 0.9% in 2013, while the current reference interest rate is 2.5%, allowing the government to pursue mildly expansionist policies 4. The Polish banking system has proved relatively resistant to the recent global financial crisis Location at the heart of Europe Poland is well located, both as a nearby manufacturing base for many companies from Germany and the Benelux, but also as a natural east-west corridor in northern Europe, linking Western Europe s ports with the resource-rich former Soviet states. 4. National Bank of Poland; Central Statistical Office in Poland 19

20 KPMG Poland s infrastructure is still underdeveloped when compared to other EU countries. This can be viewed both as an issue and an opportunity. The situation has been improving gradually from the start of the new millennium, especially after Poland joined the European Union. Of the 67 billion of EU funds allocated to Poland for , as much as 20 billion was allocated for immediate priorities relating to transportation infrastructure. Moreover, a large portion of funds related to Regional Operational Programmes has been spent on infrastructure investment at the regional and local levels. Between 2011 and November 2012, approximately 1,115.6 km of major roads and city bypasses had been built, with over PLN 21 billion being spent in 2012 on highway projects. According to official statistics from the Polish Ministry of Transport, about 1,657 km of railways were put into use between 2011 and Approximately PLN 1.5 billion was allocated from the national budget and an additional PLN 1.7 billion of EU funds for the construction and modernisation of railway facilities in Poland s IT infrastructure is also rapidly being upgraded and can compete with its peers in Europe. For example, the Polish Internet exchange, the world s 11th-largest Internet Exchange Point in terms of maximum throughput, is located in Warsaw. Poland s solid economy and funding from the EU will allow Poland to invest heavily in improving the transport and energy infrastructure throughout the country in the coming years. High skill low cost labour Labour costs in Poland are substantially lower than in Western Europe, but also lie below those in, for example, Czech Republic or Hungary. According to statistics published by the European Commission, the total hourly labour costs in Euro increased by 1.4% in 2012 compared to This outperformed not only the EU as a whole (1.7%) but in particular neighbouring Czech Republic (1.9%), Slovakia (2.5%), Hungary (2.7%) and Romania (4.8%). Redundancy costs also compare favourably with most European Hourly labour cost in 2012 (EUR) Redundancy cost (in weeks of salary) Country CEE Rank Global Rank Western Europe CEE France Germany United Kingdom Czech Republic Slovakia Hungary Poland 76%-79% saving CEE Western Europe Romania 1 24 Poland 5 38 Hungary 8 60 Czech Republic Slovakia France n.a. 51 Germany n.a EUR/hour of labour Sources: Eurostat; KPMG analysis Sources: The Global Competitiveness Report prepared by World Economic Forum 20

21 KPMG CEE Western Europe Current tertiary education enrolment rate Example countries Score Rank / 144 Poland 70,5 21 Hungary 61,7 30 Czech Republic 60,7 32 Romania 58,8 39 Slovakia 54,8 42 United Kingdom 58,5 40 Switzerland 54,8 43 France 54,5 45 Sources: The Global Competitiveness Report prepared by World Economic Forum Real labour productivity y/o/y change (a) Poland 2,2 3,7 3,9 5,5 3,8% Slovakia (2,3) 4,4 2,3 2,4 1,7% Slovenia (0,3) 2,8 3,9 (0,4) 1,5% Czech Republic (1,5) 1,6 1,9 (0,2) 0,4% Germany (2,5) 1,8 1,8 0,5 0,4% Hungary (3,6) 1,0 0,4 2,7 0,1% Note (a): Real labour productivity growth per hour worked % change over previous year Source: Eurostat; KPMG analysis markets. However, foreign and local investors alike frequently state that labour laws are unnecessarily complicated and at the same time often strictly implemented. Issues mentioned include the definition of working hours being unclear, sick leave regulations and excessive paperwork. Labour is relatively highly qualified, above the EU average. Poland ranks in the top three in CEE in terms of tertiary education enrolment rates, with 18% of people between the ages of 15 and 64 having completed some form of higher education. Poland also has one of the lowest dropout rates in Europe, with approximately 4.5% of the population aged not enrolled in some form of primary or vocational programme compared to the EU average of 12.8%. Foreign investors tend to praise the Polish labour force for its craftsmanship and dedication. A Japanese investor recently put it aptly: The technical skills of Polish employees are very developed, to the point that they are comparable to those of Germans. On the other hand, investors point out that foreign language skills are sometimes limited, especially outside the major cities. As a result, the Polish worker ranks among the most productive in all of Europe. According to data published by Eurostat, Poland is a leader in CEE in terms of real labour productivity, measured as real output per unit Ease of doing business ranking Country Rank /185 Estonia 21 Latvia 25 Lithuania 27 Slovenia 35 Slovakia 46 Hungary 54 Poland 55 Czech Republic 65 Bulgaria 66 Romania 72 Croatia 84 Serbia 86 Source: World Bank

22 KPMG Property Rights Country Value Rank /144 Estonia 5,2 35 Slovenia 4,4 60 Poland 4,4 63 Lithuania 4,3 67 Latvia 4,2 70 Slovakia 4,1 75 Czech Republic 4,1 76 Romania 3,9 92 Hungary 3,8 93 Croatia 3,8 100 Bulgaria 3,5 115 Serbia 3,1 130 Source: The Global Competitiveness Report prepared by World Economic Forum Strength of auditing and reporting standards Country Value Rank /144 Estonia 5,5 24 Poland 5,2 38 Hungary 5,1 43 Lithuania 5,0 47 Czech Republic 4,9 51 Latvia 4,7 61 Slovenia 4,7 64 Slovakia 4,3 88 Bulgaria 4,3 92 Croatia 4,2 100 Romania 4,0 110 Serbia 3,9 117 Source: The Global Competitiveness Report prepared by World Economic Forum of labour input. Poland is also the only country in all of Europe that has maintained an increasing trend in productivity since Steady and supportive authorities The international companies we work with often praise Poland s authorities as steady and investor-friendly. The government is seen as solid, equitable and genuinely pro-business. It is interesting to observe that Polish law and tax regulations, which are commonly criticised by Polish entrepreneurs and perceived as complicated and unclear, are not an insuperable obstacle for many investors from abroad. On the contrary, they are seen as stable and fair. In addition, the foreign investment agency PAIiIZ is considered helpful in building bridges with the relevant authorities. International institutes such as the World Economic Forum confirm that Poland consistently features among the better performers in the CEE region on institutional strength and transparency. The country scores modestly, however, on Ease of Doing Business. Foreign investors frequently complain about red tape and bureaucracy, for example in customs clearance procedures, or redundant paperwork for tenders, and that all formal communication must be in Polish. EU funds The EU promotes the balanced development of its member countries, and of the 28 member countries, the EU has contributed the most subsidies to Poland. Between 2007 and 2013, the EU allocated 38% of all CEE structural and cohesion funds to Poland. From 2014 to 2020, the EU is expected to increase the amount contributed to Poland to 106 billion, of which 73 billion will be from structural and cohesion funds, with Poland s share rising to 43% of 22

23 KPMG planned EU funds dedicated to CEE. The EU funds are likely to be designated not only to infrastructural works, but also to support entrepreneurship, innovativeness, R&D, training and other areas. The Polish government is currently finalising the rules for the implementation of the new financial perspective. Besides EU funds, the Polish authorities offer a pool of diverse incentives for investors, depending on the type of business, the scale of operations as well as the location of the investment. Prime among such mechanisms designed to support FDI are the Special Economic Zones (SEZ). SEZs are separate parts of the country s territory where business activity can be conducted under preferential conditions. The main benefit of investing in an SEZ is the possibility of obtaining a corporate or personal income tax exemption. Investors can also obtain real estate tax exemptions granted by local authorities. The tax exemptions for the companies operating within an SEZ are a form of EU-approved state aid. Public incentives in SEZs can also go toward the cost of two years employment for newly-hired employees. The above state aid is classified as regional aid and can be cumulated with other forms of state aid, i.e. EU or state-funded grants. To enjoy the tax allowances, a permit to operate within the SEZ has to be granted by the management of the respective zone. Currently, there are 14 SEZs in Poland, covering an area of over 15,000 ha spread out over 210 municipalities. Last summer, the Government decided to extend the SEZ arrangement from 2020 to Investment projects may combine different incentive sources, which require additional negotiations which have to be coordinated with the relevant authorities. At the same time, there are maximum aid limits which differ by region. In Poland, the grants and incentives are allocated on a competitive basis, hence it is crucial to prepare your application well. Conclusion: Why invest in Poland now? Whereas most of Europe has been in the doldrums over the last five years, Poland has gained much traction. We observe that while inward investment from Europe has been slowing, US and Asian investors have made strong inroads into the country. Privatisation is still going strong and the country is awaiting the next wave of infrastructure investment. EU membership is driving the modernisation of institutions, the legal environment as well as business culture, but good professional advice grounded in local experience is required in getting Poland right. In all, Poland is a large and attractive market with a growing middle class, which has withstood the economic crisis well and has just been allocated 106 billion in EU funds for the coming six years. Labour is highly skilled, increasingly productive and remains relatively cheap. There are currently not many countries presenting such a great opportunity less than a day s drive from the Netherlands. 6. Warsaw Business Journal: SEZ lifetimes to be extended through 2026, 24 July,