Małopolska conquers China

Małopolska is another region of our country promoted during the Shanghai EXPO.  In the Polish Pavilion investment was promoted by the Undersecretary of State in the Ministry of Economy, Dariusz Bogdan, as well as by the entrepreneurs and representatives of the Małopolska region delegation consisting of Marek Sowa, a member of the Board of the Małopolska Region, Krzysztof Krzysztofiak, the president of the Małopolska Regional Development Agency joint-stock company (MARR S.A.) and Sławomir Kopeć, the president of Kraków Technology Park.

EXPO is one of the best platforms to promote Polish regions in China. In Shanghai, Małopolska is present together with the city of Kraków, and it wants to acquaint Chinese partners with requirements for investment in our country.

A cooperation agreement was signed in Beijing between Beijing Technology Park, the birthplace of the top Chinese companies of the new technologies sector, and Kraków Technology Park. We want to establish identical operating conditions for companies in Kraków and in Beijing, said the president of Kraków Technology Park, Sławomir Kopeć.

The conclusion of the agreement constitutes an incentive for world corporations operating in Kraków Technology Park to invest in Kraków. Several dozen Chinese entrepreneurs and representatives of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) participated in the economic presentation of Małopolska Region at the World Exhibition.

The seminar was attended by more than 100 Chinese entrepreneurs interested in establishing business contacts with Małopolska.  During the seminar, Chinese production and service companies were encouraged to invest in Małopolska, particularly in the Kraków Special Economic Zone. The seminar was opened by Sławomir Majman, the president of the Polish Information and Foreign Investment Agency and the Commissioner - General of the Polish Pavilion at Expo.
Marek Sowa, the member of the Board of the Małopolska Region, presented a speech entitled “Małopolska as a gateway for Chinese business in the EU”. Marek Sowa emphasized that Małopolska is one of the most dynamically developing regions of the New Europe, distinguished by very good communication accessibility, strong academic centers, as well as by the development of clusters and innovative economic enterprises. 
During the seminar, Krzysztof Krzysztofiak, the president of the Małopolska Regional Development Agency, discussed the investment opportunities in southern Poland and Sławomir Kopeć, the president of Kraków Technology Park, presented investment incentives pertaining to Special Economic Zones. Kraków’s investment offer was presented by Leszek Jasiński from the Municipal Office of Kraków.

Expo visitors particularly interested in Poland
Before the opening hour, hundreds of people gather in front of the Polish Pavilion, willing to become acquainted with the Polish exposition at the EXPO 2010 World Exhibition in Shanghai. During the first two days of the exhibition, approximately 14,000 Chinese people have visited the Polish Pavilion.
Asked about the reasons for being interested in our Pavilion, visitors most frequently mention the architectural attractiveness of the Pavilion’s structure, which resembles a folded sheet of paper with a popular motif of a folk cut-out, also rooted in Chinese culture.
The internal exhibition of the Pavilion, as well as presentations created by means of modern multimedia techniques, aroused visitors’ admiration. Visitors are particularly interested in Tomasz Bagiński’s film entitled “The Animated History of Poland”. This eight minutes long production, created in 3D version, presents 2,000 years of Polish history in a dynamic and artistic way. Each time the film is screened, the Pavilion’s cinema is full to the last seat. Other films, prepared specially for the Shanghai EXPO (films presenting Polish immigration, and a film devoted to Polish economy) by the Polish Agency for Enterprise Development, are also deeply appreciated by the audience. The interactive Chinese-speaking dragon also appeals to the visitors, particularly to children. 
Visitors are also attracted by an exhibition devoted to modern Polish design organized by the Institute of Industrial Design from Warsaw.

Poland third among the best Pavilions at Expo 2008!
The Polish Pavilion was awarded third place in the category of the most attractive Pavilions at the Expo 2008 International Exhibition in Saragossa.  Poland was third in terms of the most attractive Pavilions, preceded by the Pavilions of the United Arab Emirates and Denmark. The Japanese, Turkish and Mexican Pavilions were awarded in other categories. The German Pavilion was first in the category including the topics of “Water and sustainable development” exhibition. Polish participation in Expo 2008 was facilitated by Polish Agency for Enterprise Development, upon the request of the Ministry of Economy. EXPO 2008 Exhibition in Saragossa was a great success for Poland, and the biggest international promotional undertaking in which Poland has taken part since the accession to the European Union.
On 13th September, during the gala in the Aljaferia castle, the Expo Commissioner Emilio Fernandez Castano, accompanied by the Heads of BIE (Bureau of International Expositions), presented an award to Maciej Pawlicki, the Commissioner-General of the Polish Section of Expo 2008, for third place in terms of the Pavilion’s attractiveness, achieved by the Polish presentation at the Exhibition. The decision was made by an international jury after visiting over 100 Pavilions several times. It is the first medal for the overall presentation in the history of Polish participation in the Expo exhibitions.
None of the attendants of Expo 2008 were surprised. Enthusiastic opinions regarding the Polish Pavilion came from everywhere, both from the visitors, media representatives and other Exhibition participants. The Polish Pavilion was surrounded 12 hours a day and opinions were circulating in Saragossa and in whole of Aragon that a visit to the Pavilion was a must. Almost every important delegation visiting Expo included a visit to the Polish Pavilion in their itinerary.
The main creators of the Pavilion include: Marcin Przygoda (architect), Norbert Narożnik and Tomasz Bagiński (authors of the animations) and Andrzej Kałuszko – director and Andrzej Jaroszewicz – author of the shots for the film screened on 3 screens; the film which became a great success during Expo. Andrzej Szewczyk was the director of the Polish Pavilion, and Maciej Pawlicki was the Commissioner for Polish participation in Expo 2008.

Source: www.malopolskie.pl and www.parp.gov.pl, pic. Marshal’s Office of the Małopolskie Region