NEWS

151 investment projects

Polish Information and Foreign Investment Agency has currently been running 151 investment projects worth jointly EUR 5.7 billion which may generate nearly 40 thousand new jobs.

The majority of the investments comes from the US: 43 projects worth jointly EUR 1.38 billion will create 8547 new jobs. On the second place there is United Kingdom (16 projects, total value EUR 373 million, 5802 new jobs). Third is Germany (16 projects,  EUR 525 million, 4527 jobs) followed by China (10 projects worth EUR 207 million, 1271 jobs).
Among the most popular sectors the first place is taken by the  automotive (29 projects, total value of EUR 1.9 billion, 11444 jobs), followed by the BPO (28 projects, EUR 27 million 6457 jobs), the machine sector (11  projects, EUR 654 million, 2909 jobs) and R&D (8 projects worth EUR 11,1 million, 795 jobs).

Franck Boston- Fotolia.com

The inflow of foreign direct investments (FDI) to Poland in the period of January-November 2011 amounted to EUR 9.38 billion - 3.2 bn (54%) more than in the previous year. (PAIiIZ/MG)

* * *

5th International Conference and Exhibition AIRPORT 2012

On February 16th 2012, at Warsaw Palace of Culture and Science, the Polish Monthly RAPORT, Skrzydlata Polska Aviation Magazine and Warsaw Exhibition Board S.A. organize the International Conference and Exhibition AIRPORT 2012.

This initiative is aimed at promoting and popularising issues connected with the plans for building, modernizing, and equipping airports as well as airport infrastructure and related infrastructure in Poland.

Among the invited guests there are: representatives of the government, local government and cities; authorities, boards of regional airports, airline representatives, companies operating in the construction, IT and aviation sectors.

The programme of this-year’s event includes: new technologies and trends in the managing of air traffic control in Europe, airport expansion, new terrorists threats to air traffic and its development in Europe and technologically advanced means of prevention.

More information: Agnieszka Nieradko, +48 22 8496006.  (ZTW)

* * *

Resume Revolution Webinar

by Phil Rosenberg

Tuesday night, 1/24/12 

Thursday, 1/26/12 

When there are job shortages, there are plenty of candidates who meet the basic 

employer needs - so it takes more than skills to win. 

The candidates who win jobs have 2 things in common: 

1) They have better information than their competitors 
2) They understand the employers' hiring processes (both formal and informal) 

   better than their competitors 

Why let others beat you in the job market, when you can learn how to get your resume seen more often, get more interviews, and beat the job market in 2012? 

Career advice by live webinar at 

http://ResumeWebinar.com

Investments in 2012

Investments in 2012 - optimism prevails!

It will be more difficult but not worse - in this way the PAIiIZ president, Sławomir Majman, summed up the experts’ discussion on 2012 foreign direct investment inflows forecasts.

The conference „What will 2012 bring for the investment sector?”, held on January 12th 2012 at the PAIiIZ seat, was to discuss changes that are likely to occur in the FDI inflow this year.

All the speakers agreed that turbulences on the global market and diminution of Poland’s investment incentives are factors that can have substantial influence on the level and structure of the foreign direct investments. Teresa Kamińska, the President of the Pomeranian Special Economic Zone, underlined that one of the key factors for investors is stability - not only financial or political but also legal. Therefore, an uncertain future of the Special Economic Zones (SEZ), that are due to end in 2020, do not encourage current investors to further develop their business in Poland. The SEZ, from the very beginning of their existence, were one of the most important investment incentives. Thus, no clear information about their fate can have a negative effect on the Poland’s appeal for the investors. Listing positive symptoms, she mentioned development of harbours in Poland that already receive the largest units. Thanks to that, Poland has an opportunity to become a transit centre and receive more and more investments from the logistic sector.

From the left: Adam Żołnowski - PwC, Marek Łyżwa - PAIiIZ Vice-President, Janusz Jankowiak - Chief Economist, Polish Business Roundtable, Paweł Tynel - E&Y,  prof. Ryszard Michalski - Director of the Institute for Market Research,  Marek Cieślak - First Vice-President of Łódź City, Teresa Kamińska -Presient of Pomeranian SEZ Board,  Sławomir Majman - President of PAIiIZ Board.

As it was mentioned by the PAIiIZ’s President Sławomir Majman, the EU funds for supporting large investments will end this year - the last call for proposals is going to take place this month. PAIiIZ will be able to carry on doing its job, yet it will have less and less instruments - as it was summed up by Paweł Tynel, the Head of Grants and Incentives Advisory Services Department, Ernst & Young.
Adam Żołnowski, Director in PwC, drew attention to good sides of the crisis: - American investor, that we have been cooperating with for some time already, is able to purchase an investment area for 20-30% less now than a couple of months ago. He underlined also that the government grants played a very important role for the investors - last week three companies - Samsung, PGW and TJX received a government support in the framework of a multi-year programme. These grants do not constitute a substantial financial support but are a signal for the foreign investors that the government supports their activities. Janusz Jankowiak, Chief Economist in the Polish Business Roundtable, sees a risk in a unit cost of working that are prone to considerable changes - There is still enough room for manoeuvre in comparison to the developing countries but not necessarily to our neighbours - he said.

Experts’ opinions on the geographical structure of the FDI inflows in 2012 were divided: it was pointed out that foreign investments flows can be expected from big European countries and the USA but also from Latin America and Asian countries with special stress on China.

2012 FDI inflows forecasts were in the most part relatively positive. President Kamińska said that judging from the situation in the Pomeranian SEZ this year will not be worse from the previous one. According to prof. Ryszard Michalski, Director of the Institute for Market, Consumption and Business Cycles Research (IBRKK) 2012 will be the year of decreasing prices for the land and workforce, as an effect of a weak currency (PLN). Janusz Jankowiak paints the nearest future in rather break colours: - 2012 will be slightly worse that 2011 with further deterioration of Polish net investment position - he said. The representatives of the consultancies cooperating with foreign investors were of the opposite opinion.

They mentioned that currently Poland is in the lead among the countries the most often chosen by foreign investors as their investment locations. It is a clear improvement in comparison to the situation that we witnessed a couple of years ago when Poland was being rejected at a very early stage of selection. Adam Żołnowski from PwC stated that 2012 will not be worse than 2011. Paweł Tynel expects that this year will be competitive but he does not exclude some deterioration after 2014.

Last year proved very good for foreign investments - despite the global economic crisis the investment projects concluded with the participation of the Polish Information and Foreign Investment Agency in 2011 consist 173% of 2010 value (PAIiIZ)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tuesday night, 1/24/12 

Thursday, 1/26/12 

When there are job shortages, there are plenty of candidates who meet the basic 

employer needs - so it takes more than skills to win. 

The candidates who win jobs have 2 things in common: 

1) They have better information than their competitors 
2) They understand the employers' hiring processes (both formal and informal) 

   better than their competitors 

Why let others beat you in the job market, when you can learn how to get your resume seen more often, get more interviews, and beat the job market in 2012? 

Career advice by live webinar at 

http://ResumeWebinar.com

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ANALYSES AND REPORTS

Manpower - perspectives on a labor market in 1^st quarter of 2012

The percentage of Polish entrepreneurs who plan to increase the employment is still higher then of those expecting reductions. The majority of companies expects no change in the level of employment.

Of the 750 Polish employers surveyed 14 percent expect to add to their workforces in the coming quarter, 11 percent plan reductions and 71 percent expect no change in payrolls in the January-March time frame.

The strongest optimism for 1st quarter of 2012 is reported by employers from the Transport, Storage & Communication and Finance & Business Services industry sectors. Job seekers in the Construction (+8%) industry sector may also expect some offers in the quarter ahead; the Outlook declines slightly from previous quarter, but improves from Q1 2011 by 8 percentage points, suggesting employers may be moderately more confident in their ability to justify adding to their payrolls compared to last winter season.

Regional Outlooks are modest and indicate the first-quarter hiring pace will slow. Positive hiring intentions are reported in five of the six regions. The strongest regional Outlook is reported in the South region (+7%). (Manpower Group)

Polish equities among the cheapest on emerging markets

According to HSBC Global Research Poland offers the cheapest equities in the CEE.

The authors of HSBC report “Mispriced. CEEMEA equity projections” find Polish valuations among the cheapest on emerging markets what bears testimony to its attractiveness and great investment opportunities compared to the rest of Europe.

Furthermore, the HSBC’s experts note relatively good macroeconomic data: remarkably steady growth, inflation and interest rates under control.

Valuations are attractive by historical standards, and both domestic and foreign liquidity could provide support.

In 2011 EPS (Earning per Share) growth is 27,7%, while the forecasts for EMEA is 20,5%, and for emerging markets 10,4%.

- Our key overweights are Russia, Turkey and Poland - the HSBC’s analysts report - we are reducing Hungary to neutral. Czech and Egypt stay neutral. (HSBC)

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Resume Revolution!

Thursday, 1/12/12 

Tuesday night, 1/17/12 

When there are job shortages, there are plenty of candidates who meet the basic 

employer needs - so it takes more than skills to win. 

The candidates who win jobs have 2 things in common: 

1) They have better information than their competitors 
2) They understand the employers' hiring processes (both formal and informal) 

   better than their competitors 

Why let others beat you in the job market, when you can learn how to get your resume seen more often, get more interviews, and beat the job market in 2012? 

Career advice by live webinar at 

http://ResumeWebinar.com

***

Why Poland?

Why Poland?

Polish Information and Foreign Investment Agency in co-operation with PwC consulting company released second edition of Why Poland - guide for foreign investors.

The publication presents Poland as an ideal location for investments pointing out country’s economic stability, educated people, strategic location and investment incentives. It includes also the information on Poland’s strategic sectors - e.g. automotive, BPO, aviation, IT, electronics and R&D.

From the left: Olga Grygier-Siddons - President of PwC in Poland, Sławomir Majman - President of PAIiIZ, Marek Łyżwa - Vicepresident of PAIiIZ

Why Poland is published in English. The electronic version is available here: www.paiz.gov.pl/publications/about_poland.

The publication was presented during the conference which was held on December 13th at the PAIiIZ premises. Among the speakers there were: Undersecretary of the Ministry of Economy Ms Ilona Antoniszyn-Klik, Bridgestone Board Member Mr Takayasu Iwata, professor Witold Orłowski, Director at PwC Adam Żołnowski and Tobiasz Kowalski from Samsung Electronics Poland Manufacturing. (PAIiIZ)

From the left: Takayasu Iwata - Bridgestone Board Member, Adam Żołnowski - Director at PwC, professor Witold Orłowski, Ms Ilona Antoniszyn-Klik - Undersecretary of the Ministry of Economy, Tobiasz Adam Kowalczyk - Samsung Electronics Poland Manufacturing, Sławomir Majman - President of PAIiIZ

Investor at the Kraków Technology Park increases employment

Ericpol Telecom a company active in the Park launches a new recruitment process and plans to hire 250 persons over the next few months.

This year the company has hired over 200 engineers but the demand on Polish specialist has been growing. By the end of 2012 the company will hire experienced programmers, analysts, testers and graduates of IT and electronic faculties. Due to the fact that future Ericpol Telecom employees will have to cooperate with international teams, the employees have to know English.

Ericpol is the biggest Polish IT exporter and provider of outsourcing and consulting services. The company has production centers in Belarus, Ukraine and Sweden. At the moment Ericpol hires 1200 people. (KPT)

Financial Times promotes Poland

Financial Times

On November 2^nd, 2011 Financial Times issued a special report “Investing in Poland” . The Polish Information and Foreign Investment Agency cooperated with the Financial Times in the field of Poland's promotion in the report.

The report which provides useful information concerning investment conditions in Poland has been issued by FT for several years now.

This year PAIiIZ like in previous editions of the report cooperated with FT.
We helped publish a text Poland: A haven for investors by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy, Mr Waldemar Pawlak.

The report is available for download:

www.ft.com/cms/s/2/70beb51a-0429-11e1-98bc-00144feabdc0.pdf
                                   
(PAIiIZ)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

Career Advice: http://www.recareered.com

 "If you're frustrated about your job search- Resume Revolution is for you"

   

A new resume strategies to help you stand out as a unique candidate in, in today's jobs market.

How to optimize your job search and resume to 2011's market realities?

H

ow to stop selling yourself as a commodity candidate in your job search? 

                                                    

     Resume Revolution! Enroll please and learn more at  http://ResumeWebinar.com 

Latest on recareered: 

http://www.recareered.com/blog/2011/11/16/looking-for-jobs-in-all-the-wrong-places/

http://www.recareered.com/blog/2011/11/15/how-to-get-employers-to-take-a-risk-on-you-part-1/ 

http://www.recareered.com/blog/2011/11/14/how-employers-view-your-follow-up-desperate-stalker-or-assertive/

http://www.recareered.com/blog/2011/11/11/nigel-tufnels-11-ways-to-turn-your-job-search-up-to-11/

PAIiIZ helps new investors enter the Polish market

PAIiIZ helps new investors enter the Polish market

Within the last three weeks the Agency closed 9 new investment projects.

As of September 27^th, 2011 the Polish Information and Foreign Investment Agency supports the development of 150 investment projects jointly worth EUR 5.9 billion which may generate 45,857 jobs.

No changes were recorded in the group of investors who constitute the most numerous group interested in investing in Poland - still Americans head the ranking with 39 projects from the USA.

The 39 American projects are jointly worth EUR 1.14 billion and are expected to generate 8,384 new jobs.

The second most numerous group of projects run by PAIiIZ by country constitute projects from the UK (15 projects worth EUR 323.8 million and expected 6,032 jobs). The UK is followed by China (15 projects, EUR 251.5 million and jobs for 2,246 people), Germany (12 projects), North Korea and Japan (10 from each of the countries).

Also the automotive sector is still the most attractive - we have currently been running 28 automotive projects which are worth EUR 2.13 billion and are expected to generate 14,721 jobs. The second most popular sector is BPO - we have now 24 projects located in the field. Investment outlays in the projects reach EUR 36 million with 8,841 possible jobs. Moreover, we run projects in the machine industry (13, EUR 675.8 million, 3,436 jobs) ICT (8 projects) and the electronic and chemical sectors (7 project in each of the industries).

Last three weeks saw 9 projects finalised and a start of negotiations with 3 new investors. Thanks to the recently closed projects, foreign companies will invest in Poland EUR 96.4 million. The projects should generate jobs for 490 people.

In 2011 the Agency has already closed 45 investment projects worth over EUR 1 billion. The projects will create 9,000 jobs.(PAIiIZ)

Copyright Yuri Arcurs-Fotolia

ANALYSES AND REPORTS

Special Economic Zones after 2020

The Ernst & Young report: "Special Economic Zones after 2020 - analysis of the SEZ up to date activity and consequences of their future functioning" was presented on September 28^th, 2011 at the Ministry of Economy.

The Report, which was prepared by a team led by Paweł Tynel - Director of the Grants and Incentives Advisory Services at E&Y, presents the influence Polish SEZ have on economic condition of regions and puts forward solutions concerning the functioning of SEZs after 2020. Entrepreneurs’ opinions concerning the functioning of the zones were gathered in a survey conducted among 215 companies active in all 14 zones in Poland. The companies were active in all the major sectors of the economy.

Since the establishment of the first SEZ in Poland, i.e. 1995 the managements of the zones issued 1354 business activity permissions. The joint value of investments developed within the SEZs totalled PLN 73.2 billion and the number of new jobs created thanks to the projects reached 167,141.

The E&Y analysis proves that regions which host a special economic zone have on average a lower unemployment rate - from 1.5 to 2.9 percentage point and higher GDP 3.9% - 7.5%.

The survey shows that over 50% of the investors who have currently been running business in the zones do not consider establishing new projects if the zones are to exist only by 2020. At the same time the percentage of those who declare to start new projects should the zones exist after 2020, reaches 81%. As many as 96.7% of the surveyed named the CIT exemption as the major advantage which encouraged them to locate their business in a SEZ. Extension of the activity of the Special Economic Zones in Poland would also send a positive signal to investors who consider entering such a zone now. 9 years i.e. the time which is now left till 2020, do not guarantee that all the incentives offered by the SEZ will fully be used by new investors.

The European Commission should not hamper attempts to extend the time of SEZ functioning beyond 2020 if the idea behind zones complies with the common EU regional policy and the regulations in the zones do not violate regulations concerning common regional aid. More in the report which is available for download on our website (only in Polish):
www.paiz.gov.pl/publications/how_to_do_business_in_poland. (E&Y)

Weyerhaeuser starts construction of its first European production facility in Gdańsk

The factory will be the most modern facility of its kind in the world.

On 2 August this year, the ceremony of laying a foundation stone for the construction of a new modified fibres processing facility took place in the premises of Weyerhaeuser Poland Company located at the MASZYNOWA Industrial and Technology Park.

The foundation act of commencing construction works was signed in the presence of the representatives of US Embassy, Gdańsk authorities, the representatives of the Pomeranian Special Economic Zone, and guests. The construction site was consecrated by His Eminence Senior Archbishop Tadeusz Gocłowski. „I am very happy that in this symbolic way we can start the realisation of our investment. I hope that the plant will start its basic production activity in the beginning of 2013.” said Tomasz Włodarczak,  Plant Director of Weyerhaeuser Poland, at the ceremony.

The Plant in Gdańsk Kokoszki is the first European investment of the company and the most modern object of this kind in the world.

fot. Weyerheauser

The Weyerhaeuser Company, which was founded in 1900, is a world leader among timber processing companies. It operates in 10 countries and employs over 14,900 employees, mainly in the USA and Canada. Its innovative solutions concerning the use of modified fibres are applied in the production of everyday use hygienic articles. The company was running social actions since 1948 via the Weyerhaeuser Company Foundation, now renamed Weyerhaeuser Giving Fund.

For more information:
Zuzanna Szopowska,
e-mail: z.szopowska@thinkspire.pl,
tel +48 785 340 300,

Tomasz Włodarczak Head of the Weyerhaeuser Poland factory in Poland
tel.: +48 605 880 195,
e-mail: tomasz.wlodarczak@weyerhaeuser.com

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

Career Advice: http://www.recareered.com

 "If you're frustrated about your job search- Resume Revolution is for you"

                                                       

     Resume Revolution! Enroll please at http://ResumeWebinar.com 

New resume strategies to help you stand out as a unique candidate in, in today's jobs market.
How to optimize your job search and resume to 2011's market realities?

H

ow to stop selling yourself as a commodity candidate in your job search? 

Latest on:

 http://www.recareered.com/blog/2011/08/19/avoid-5-common-resume-traps-to-beat-the-odds/

 http://www.recareered.com/blog/2011/08/18/how-to-keep-your-job-search-from-being-obsolete/

 http://www.recareered.com/blog/2011/08/17/are-you-a-job-search-sniper/

   Resume Revolution! Every Tuesday and Friday   http://bit.ly/gf82qU

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------