Innovation
We are constantly looking FOR attractive markets Ilona Antoniszyn-Klik, Deputy Minister of the Economy
P
oland is a country with a stable economy, appreciated by foreign investors. According to data from the Central Statistical Office (GUS), the GDP growth rate in 2014 was 3.4% , while in the first quater of 2015 it is estimated to have reached 3.5% year-on-year. Such a result has a positive effect on the expectations of domestic entrepreneurs and helps plan exporting activity. Supporting Polish entrepreneurs and strengthening the reputation of the Polish economy is one of the priorities of the Ministry of the Economy. That is why we are constantly looking for attractive markets for Polish products and supporting Polish entrepreneurs seeking expansion to foreign markets. We also keep encouraging foreign companies to develop their business in Poland. China is one of the most promising economic partners for Poland. According to preliminary data for 2014, Polish exports to China increased by 6% and reached EUR 1.684 billion, compared to EUR 17.402 billion worth of imports from China (up by 19%). Polish exports to China in the period from 2008 to 2014 nearly doubled, while imports rose 1.5 fold. According to preliminary data, in the first quater of this year Polish exports to China amounted to EUR 447 million (an increase by 6% relative to the same period of 2014), and imports from China totalled EUR 4,845.6 million (an increase by 22% compared to the same period of 2014).
58 polish market
In its trade policy towards China, Poland strives to balance sales by means of faster growth in exports and supporting Polish companies on the Chinese market. We also want to take and encourage promotional measures that will contribute to establishing bilateral contacts and deepening those already existing. In 2012, the Ministry of the Economy initiated the programme “Go China” and launched www.gochina.gov.pl, a website addressed to Polish companies interested in economic cooperation with China. The programme revealed a great interest from domestic businesses in entering the Chinese market. Its implementation has become an impulse for the Ministry of the Economy to pursue policies supporting the development of economic relations with other countries. In November 2013, another dedicated website, www.gopoland.gov.pl, was put online, directed at the Chinese companies interested in investing in Poland. The agri-food production is an increasingly important part of Polish exports. It accounts for almost 12% of all Polish exports to Japan and more than 5% to the Republic of Korea, while with respect to China the share was below 2% until 2011. In 2012, as Polish pork was allowed to the Chinese market, the agri-food exports to China jumped to nearly 5% of total exports, and to close to 9% in 2013. China’s promises to increase agri-food imports from the CEE countries augur well, but its suspension of Polish pork imports since February
2014 poses a serious threat to the successful development of exports in this sector. For Poland, the priority areas of cooperation with China are all forms of economic cooperation associated with modern technologies. Among the prospective areas are metallurgy, engineering, automotive, agrifood and chemical industries. Cooperation is also possible in such sectors as energy including renewables, mining, construction, specialised aircraft and environmental protection. China’s investment in Poland is mainly in electronics (TV sets), machinery (Huta Stalowa Wola, Rolling Bearings Factory in Kraśnik), distribution (GD Poland in Wólka Kosowska) and IT (ZTE, Huawei). Also, two Chinese banks: the Bank of China and the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China opened their Polish branches in 2012. Polish companies are interested in investment cooperation in the mining, pharmaceutical and chemical sectors. According to data from the China Investment Promotion, there were 242 companies with Polish capital in China in 2011. The dynamic development of bilateral economic and trade relations leaves room for closer cooperation. Poland is today an attractive economic partner not only in Europe, but also globally. The Chinese economy is one of the fastest growing and most innovative economies in the world. We hope that our cooperation will continue to blossom to • the benefit of both parties.