“I have a great pleasure to announce a new award granted by the Minister of Foreign Affairs – Polish Diaspora Product of the Year. As of today it will be presented every year on 2nd May, which is a very important day for the Polish diaspora and Poles abroad “– stressed the Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Katarzyna Kacperczyk, while presenting the Ministry of Foreign Affairs honorary award, Polish Diaspora Product of the Year, for the first time.
The gala award ceremony took place at the Presidential Palace during the Day of the Polish Diaspora and Poles Abroad celebrations.
“The award has an honorary character and it is granted to a Pole living abroad or a person of Polish origin. In this way we emphasise that Poland appreciates the successes that Polish people achieve abroad. I believe that this award will also contribute to promoting their economic activities” – stressed the Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the gala.
The award is a new initiative undertaken by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and it fits into the programme of cooperation and support for the Polish diaspora. This year’s laureate is Mirosław Pieńkowski – the founder and president of Trinon GmbH from Karlsruhe. He received the award for his Q- Implant system for dental surgeons and prosthodontists, which not only shortens the time of preparing an implant but also reduces the transplantation costs. His system has already been implemented in Europe, North and South America, Middle East, Central and Eastern Asia as well as Australia.
The award is addressed to Poles and people of Polish origin living abroad. Its aim is to promote their business and economic activities but also to spread the knowledge, achievements and experience of entrepreneurs who come from Poland in our country.
The award committee appointed for the first edition of the Polish Diaspora Product of the Year Award includes people from the world of business and enterprise, journalists specialising in economy as well as representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Economy.
The Day of the Polish Diaspora and Poles Abroad, which falls on 2nd May, has been celebrated since 2002. It was enacted by Sejm at the Senate’s initiative “in recognition of many centuries of achievements and contributions of Polish diaspora and Poles living abroad in regaining independence, loyalty and attachment to Polish roots as well as helping the country in the most difficult situations.”
Source: Press Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Republic of Poland
Photo © M. Kosiński/MFA