Waldemar Buda, who is Poland's Minister of Development and Technology, stated on Tuesday that there were "numerous potential investment topics and projects under consideration," though specific details remained undisclosed for now.
Three main reasons underpin this surge of interest, according to Buda.
First, Poland boasts a robust labor market, skilled workforce, and a large internal market. Additionally, following Russia's aggression on Ukraine, Poland has demonstrated its stability and secure borders, making it an attractive investment destination.
Second, the potential of Poland serving as a hub for reconstruction efforts in Ukraine is substantial.
Finally, he said, the Polish Investment Zone system offers appealing grant programs and tax exemptions.
“We constantly evaluate our offering compared to competitors in Europe, and improve it,” Buda declared.
Beata Daszyńska-Muzyczka, the CEO of BGK, a Polish state-owned bank, told the conference that more than 350 Japanese companies were operating in Poland, with 53,000 jobs created as a result.
She cited trade figures according to which Poland exported EUR 670 million worth of goods to Japan in 2019, while imports from Japan stood at EUR 4.4 billion, indicating substantial potential for collaboration from Polish companies.
Meanwhile, Buda said that "Japanese investments represent significant value addition to the Polish economy, leading to the emergence of suppliers and cooperatives for Japanese investors."
"We learn from the best – that's what we should be doing,” he asserted.
Buda told the gathering that recent events such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the conflict in Ukraine have underlined the importance of investing where there is a market, ensuring shorter and more reliable supply chains.
This perspective is evident in the latest project by Japanese heating system manufacturer Daikin, which plans to produce heat pumps for the European market in the Łódź Special Economic Zone in central Poland, he said.
The upcoming facility is touted to be Daikin's largest heat pump factory in Europe, Polish state news agency PAP reported.
Looking ahead, Buda highlighted that "the strong Polish-Japanese relations" will be on display at the global Expo 2025 in Osaka, with a Polish House being constructed "on a scale grander than a standard exhibition pavilion," the PAP news agency reported.
"We want to show the level of our partnership," Buda said.
Japan's ambassador to Poland, Akio Miyajima, also emphasized the blossoming economic relations between the two countries. He praised Poland's geographical location, relatively low costs, and skilled and dedicated workforce as key investment attractions.
Since the signing of an EU-Japan investment treaty in 2019, the volume of Polish-Japanese trade has nearly tripled, according to Miyajima.
“This shows how the Japanese business perceives Poland's potential,” Miyajima said.
"Despite immense challenges, Poles and Japanese are increasingly finding the best partners in each other," he added, as quoted by the PAP news agency.
Poland's Development and Technology Minister Waldemar Buda and Japan's ambassador to Poland, Akio Miyajima, attend the Karpacz Economic Forum conference on Tuesday. Photo: PAP/Radek Pietruszka
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Source: PAP
