www.bizpoland.pl containers used in the transportation of components for further manufacturing process.
Films and Movies – the newest FDI opportunity? Central and Eastern Europe has a great chance to attract a new kind of foreign direct investments – film blockbusters, according to new research from PAIZ. Revenues of the international film industry are growing and Hollywood is looking for cheaper places to produce under$100-million budget movies. The world’s film industry is experiencing a time of prosperity. In 2012, total revenues of cinemas around the world amounted to $34.7 billion, 6% growth year-on-year. However, due to rapidly rising costs, the production of blockbusters in the American “factory of dreams” has become unprofitable. Thus the film industry has started to search for new, attractive and cheaper locations and found them in the CEE region. Central Eastern Europe can offer not only beautiful, historic surroundings and lower cost of filmmaking, but also good investment incentives. Among the most popular film destinations there is Hungary, Bulgaria and the Czech Republic. The last one is considered as the Hollywood’s “back office” in this part of the world. In 2010, Poland’s southern neighbour introduced a special system of incentives for foreign film investors. In 2013 the Czech government invested $25m in the programme. Recently, Poland has been chosen by filmmakers, mostly from Bollywood, while the last American blockbuster - Steven Spielberg’s “Schindler’s List” was made in Poland 20 years ago.
“INVEST-PARK” brings in new jobs A further PLN 14m are to be invested by Electrolux and Sacher in Wałbrzych SEZ. Under new investment, Electrolux’s factory in Świdnica that employs 800 people to produce gas, gas-electric and electric stoves, will be expanded and equipped with new machinery. The company also plans to create 30 new jobs. The value of Electrolux’s investment will reach PLN 11m. For Sacher this is the next investment permit. The company has been in the market for 15 years. Since the beginning of its activity under the SEZ programme, Sacher has increased employment by 50%. The new investment will be worth nearly PLN 3m and will cover the costs of the expansion of the factory in Bolesławiec as well as of a new machine park.
2014 April
FDI News Automotive components in Legnica Voestalpine Rotec, a supplier of piping components for global automotive manufacturers, will invest PLN 6m in the Legnica Special Economic Zone. The firm will build a new factory in the LSEZ. Voestalpine Rotec already owns a plant in Komorniki near Środa Śląska, where since 2001, it has been producing metal parts for shock absorbers used by Ford, Mercedes, Skoda, Volvo, Nissan, Renault and Peugeot cars.
Three companies expand in Pomerania Three companies have been given permits to operate in the Pomeranian Special Economic Zone. MMP Neupack Poland, specialising in the production of offset packaging made of cardboard, and Gemalto and PanLink from the electronics sector will invest PLN 75m and create 60 new jobs.
and vegetable industry. The announcement was made by Prime Minister of Poland Donald Tusk at the meeting with his Moldovan counterpart Iurie Leanca.
Philips lights up Warmia-Mazury Philips Lighting has received permission to operate in the Warmia-Mazury Special Economic Zone. The project will see Philips’ factory modernised and ready to produce lighting fixtures and energy-efficient LEDbased flash. The company plans to invest PLN 50m and create 70 new jobs. The Philips Lighting factory in Kętrzyn specialises in the production of street, commercial and industrial facilities’ lighting.
German social-lending platform enters Poland
Delphi Technology Park Poland has been created in Ostrów Wielkopolski to carry out R&D activities by the Delphi company and other local parties. In the new facility, innovative technologies and heat exchange products for the automotive sector will be developed. Delphi Technology Park Poland was designed to encourage local entrepreneurial activity in the Wielkopolska province. It is aimed at organisations working within the business environment, such as incubators, chambers, training and consultancies. The cost of the investment is PLN 24m. The opening of the R&D centre is planned for the second quarter of this year.
Lendico, a German social-lending platform, will enter Poland. This is the next project of Rocket Internet, a company known for such Internet start-ups as Zalando and Groupon International. Lendico allows individual clients to take out a loan on the basis of social lending. It also allows users to give loans to other users and invest in the financial sector, that, til recently, has been dominated by traditional banking institutions. Due to an innovative algorithm, users are thoroughly validated. In Germany, repayment rate on Lendico platform is 98%. “We want to become an e-alternative for banks. Our lending marketplace does not only help to lend money, but it connects those who want to raise their cash flow with investors who count on high returns”, says Dominik Steinkühler, Lendico co-founder and MD. Poland is the third country, after Germany and Spain, where Lendico operates.
Moldova-Poland Investment Forum
Freelancer.com acquires largest Polish freelance marketplace
Polish Prime Minister paid an official visit to Chisinau, Moldova in late March. Donald Tusk met with the Moldovan Prime Minister Iurie Leanca and participated in the inauguration of the Moldovan-Polish economic forum where a number of bilateral agreements are expected to be signed. The PM also had meetings with of the President of the Republic of Moldova Nicolae Timofti, as well as with the Speaker Igor Corman. Poland will allocate 132,000 euros for retooling of the National Television’s Studio Nr.1 and to support the opening of a center for rural development in Moldova, as well as to provide a loan for the development of animal husbandry
Freelancer.com announced in mid-March the acquisition of Poland’s largest freelance marketplace dedicated to online work, Zlecenia.przez.net (Work through the Net). Founded in 2004, Zlecenia. przez.net is Poland’s leading marketplace dedicated to a range of online categories of work. The marketplace has grown to over 85,000 users who have sent over 1.1 million proposals to 115,000 projects posted on the site. The marketplace`s founders, Karol Kruzelecki and Slawomir Magdziarz, were pioneers in the online freelancing industry, with the concept being entirely new in central Europe when the first beta version went public on n March 1, 2004.
Delphi in R&D deal in Ostrów Wielkopolski
23