Lely East, the Polish subsidiary of agricultural equipment and service provider Lely from Maassluis, has won the Dutch Polish Business Award 2013 today for being the most successful Dutch company in Poland. Lely is particularly successful in Poland because of its so-called milk robots for mechanising the milking process.
“Lely has distinguished itself, not only as a very reliable provider of sophisticated products,” says jury chairman Geert Embrechts, also chairman of the Netherlands Polish Chamber of Commerce in Warsaw, “but it also makes an important contribution to the continued economic viability of Poland’s vast rural countryside, which is seeing a population exodus towards the cities.”
Dutch entrepreneurs are optimistic about doing business in Poland, the fastest growing economy in the EU and the largest emerging market. This is indicated in research among Dutch entrepreneurs active in Poland, conducted by ING banker Ben van de Vrie, board member of the Netherlands-Polish Council for Trade and Investment Promotion. “But the competition in Poland is increasing and good market research and preparation are therefore becoming more important than ever for Dutch companies,” said Van de Vrie today during the award presentation.
Poland has its government finances in order again after the transition years of 2012/2013. Polish consumers are spending again and the Polish government has succeeded in avoiding problems that other emerging markets are facing, such as major balance of payment shortages. Now that Europe is recovering, Poland is profiting immensely and stands out as the fastest growing EU-member state. “Poland is shifting into the next gear and can become the rising economic star of the EU,” says Van de Vrie.
It also seems that Dutch businesses can seize opportunities from this development, according to the experiences of the candidates for the Dutch Polish Business Award. Alongside winner Lely, software solutions provider Goyello and logistical service provider ERS Railways were also nominated for the prize.
Gert Aerts, general manager of Lely East, accepted the prize today from Jan Borkowski, Polish ambassador to the Netherlands, during a ceremony at ING House in Amsterdam. The prize is an initiative of the Dutch-Polish Chamber of Commerce and the Dutch-Polish Centre for Trade and Investment Promotion.
“The prize is not only a recognition of Lely East’s outstanding performance to date, which is visible for all stakeholders,” says Cees Werff, chairman of the Netherlands-Polish Council for Trade and Investment Promotion. “The prize has also provided an extra boost for previous winners’ business in Poland.” Prior winners include Kersten Europe, Raben Transport, Goossens Flevoplant, Addit, CoBouw Polska, Nijhof Wassink, Zeelandia, Dutron and De Heus Group.
Source: NCH – press realese
Photo © Lely
