-The value of 53 investments completed with the support of PAIiIZ has amounted to €905.2 m. However, the average value of a single project in 2013 reached up to €17 m. That was less than in previous year – summarised director of the Foreign Investment Department Iwona Chojnowska. This is due to two factors: the increasing number of projects in the service sector, which do not bind with high capital and due to high share of reinvestments. Companies already operating in Poland do not have to bear with the high costs of the completely new projects. Director Chojnowska also stressed that the average number of new jobs created due to a particular project (358 new jobs) is much higher than in previous year.
From 53 inward projects completed in 2013, the majority came from: the US (17 projects), Germany (7 projects), UK (5 projects). In 2013 PAIiIZ has also supported three projects each from France, Belgium and Finland. The majority of completed projects in 2013 were provided by BPO & ICT (22 projects) and automotive sector(10 projects) and R&D (7 projects) sectors.
– It is worth to note that the food sector, which during the last year became the engine of Polish exports, is getting more important. In 2013, we closed only two projects in this sector, but currently we are working on many other investments from this area – said director Chojnowska.
Not only in the food sector, but also in other industries PAIiIZ observes a clear trend of reinvestments. From the 53 projects completed in the past year, 42% (22 projects) are reinvestments. It is a very good sign which confirms that foreign companies appreciate the investment climate in Poland and are ready to stay in Poland for longer. Majority of investors that completed projects in 2013 have mostly chosen Dolnośląskie, Śląskie and Mazowieckie provinces. 28% of all projects were located in the SEZs.
Poland gets more projects from business services sector, noted PAIiIZ President Sławomir Majman. As he argued, in the past year 23 of all 53 investments were dedicated to that business activity. President Majman also noted the increasing dominance of American capital.
PAIiIZ is currently providing 164 investment projects (more than a year ago) with a total value of €3.3 billion, which in the future can create 30 487 jobs. Among the supported projects, majority come form US, Germany, China and Japan. Sectors that dominate in the newest investments are: BPO & ICT, automotive industry, R&D sector and aviation. – Among the supported investments there are few really big projects – revealed president Majman.
– The activity of PAIiIZ goes far beyond the investments. The Agency supports not only foreign investors but also the Polish companies – added Sławomir Majman, recalling the large promotional projects as GoChina and GoAfrica.
Last year, the investment climate in Poland remained at 3.4 points in the five-point scale. Poland as a place for investments is perceived better especially by large and medium size companies.