In 2014 food industry has been added to the list of top priority sectors of Polish economy. “The sector generates 13% of Polish GDP”, said Polish Infomation and Foreign Investment Agency president Sławomir Majman during the meeting. “The total value of food industry investments reaches €9,5bn. Due to food investments in Poland 6,000 new jobs were created while 750 new ones can appear in 2015”, he added.
Trends, analysis and economic correlation between food industry and Polish economy were presented by Michał Koleśnikow from BGŻ. The scale of investment in the sector dependents on economic situation in the country and the public aid. Good results of the food sector are caused by increasing export competitiveness of Polish companies. During last 10 year, Polish exports of food products have grown 5-fold, or 16% a year, while the increase in sales in the domestic market has doubled. Koleśnikow also argued that the crisis helps Polish food industry to grow due to a weaken polish zloty and growing interest of costumers in European Union in cheaper food help to develop the sector. “In 2015 the food industry exports will continue to grow, despite the embargo imposed on some food products” he predicts.
Among factors that make food industry completive, Ferrero CEO, Cezary Więcław mentioned: workforce, innovativeness, fast investment decisions and flexibility in production.
However, still there are areas that need to be improved. As speakers pointed, primarily is the access to information, both about the European and distant markets such as Saudi Arabia, China, and North Africa. Also the concentration of the industry, which means creating groups or organizations, supporting economic diplomacy by changing the operation of the Trade and Investment Promotion Sections of Polish Embassies, and increasing finance in support exports is important.
Source: Polish Infomation and Foreign Investment Agency
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