Presenting the Presidential Business Awards at an economic conference in the southeast of the country, Duda said on Thursday that "the distinction aims to honour and promote Polish entrepreneurship, Polish companies."
He added he hoped the award winners "will gain credibility" and "find it easier to attract business partners at home and abroad for further ventures, for further projects together."
He also told those at the ceremony at the University of Rzeszów in southeastern Poland that the war in neighbouring Ukraine was "causing a global crisis that has also affected Poland."
He praised the winners, saying they were excelling "despite all these difficult economic conditions and soaring energy prices," Polish state news agency PAP reported.
The awards were presented in a number of categories, including Leading Small and Medium-Sized Business, National Success, International Success, Responsible Business, Best Polish Start-up, and Research and Development.
The winners included companies such as Ekoenergetyka Polska, H. Cegielski Fabryka Pojazdów Szynowych, Advanced Protection Systems, RST Roztocze, Chronospace and ADJ Nanotechnology, according to the prezydent.pl website.
The southeastern Polish region of Podkarpackie, which borders Ukraine, won a special award for promoting innovation and "providing unprecedented help to war refugees" during the ceremony at the Congress 590 business conference on Thursday, according to Duda's office.
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Source: PAP, IAR