The Business in Małopolska Center is One Year Old
The Center celebrated its first anniversary during the Annual Meeting of politicians, local government members and investors, under the theme of “Małopolska Economy on the Threshold of a New Decade”
“We are promoting a modern Małopolska. We would like traditional symbols such as oscypek, lajkonik or the Wawel dragon to be seen as tourist attractions of the region, whereas the economy should be associated with knowledge and modernity” is the unanimous message from representatives of the Business in Malopolska Center. As a result, foreign investors are becoming increasingly interested in Małopolska. Effective promotion – including activities under the BiMC banner - is resulting in prestigious distinctions. Małopolska was the only region in Poland chosen to participate in the Polish economic mission to India, which took place several weeks ago.
Undersecretary of State Marek Grabowski, representative of the Ministry of Finance, author of works on the National Strategy 2007-2015 and member of the Board of Strategic Advisors to the Prime Minister of Poland was the special guest at this year’s event. The Minister attempted to convince participants in the meeting that Polish finance does not require a revolution, but rather gradual and consistent transformations and reforms which should be well prepared, considered and above all, permanent. Additionally, the Minister discussed changes regarding procedures for setting up companies and conducting business activity. He mentioned, among other things, the concept of replacing certificates with representations/statements/declarations**, which would radically change company operations in our country.
During the Annual Business in Małopolska Meeting, business representatives working in Małopolska debated the issue of whether our region fully exploits its economic potential. The following persons participated in discussions led by Andrew Hallam (Secretary General of ASPIRE): Dagmar Zechmann (General Manager, Sheraton Krakow Hotel), Ramon Tancinco (Chairman of the High Tech Committee for AMCHAM Poland and Head of Strategy and Business Development Cisco Central and Eastern Europe), Patrick den Bult (General Manager Shell Poland), Michael Dietz (Site Leader, Member of the Management Board) and Sameer Chavla (Managing Director HCL Poland). In their opinion, Małopolska is an attractive place for investment mainly thanks to people: well educated employees, including engineers, with a very good knowledge of European languages. Transport difficulties and the fact that the offer is aimed at the local, rather than the global market constitute the only factors that may discourage investors.
The Annual Business in Małopolska Meeting was inaugurated a year ago as part of the Invest in Małopolska project. During last year’s inaugural conference, the Business in Małopolska Centre was opened – a joint initiative by three institutions: the Małopolska Regional Development Agency, the Marshall’s Office and Kraków Technology Park.
Consequently, a professional Investor Service Office was established. Furthermore, the Małopolska Investment and Innovation Tree, a symbol of the modern Małopolska economy currently located in front of the Business in Małopolska Centre, was also presented a year ago in Kraków. Edward C. Prescott, the Nobel Economics Prize winner, was a special guest at the conference.
Business in Małopolska attempts to treat regional promotion of foreign markets in a non-standard manner. It is worth mentioning that the Małopolska Investment and Innovation Tree constitutes one such unconventional measure. This modern installation designed by Aleksander Janicki has already been presented twice in Krynica during the Economic Forum, as well as in Brussels at a conference devoted to cinema digitization during Małopolska Days. It is attracting interest both as a work of art and as an original way of promoting the economy.
