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    1992-2022. Best period in Poland’s history The Union of Entrepreneurs and Employers publishes new report

    Posted on by Weronika Marzec

    Warsaw, 14th July 2023


    1992-2022. Best period in Poland’s history
    The Union of Entrepreneurs and Employers publishes new report

    Poland has come a long way since the systemic transformation that begun in 1989. As a result, it has managed to make up part of the losses in terms of development and the country is now closer than ever to the level of the world’s largest economies. From the position of one of the poorest countries in Europe, a modest representative of the Eastern Bloc, we have become a significant producer and exporter of goods, a country with the lowest unemployment rate in the EU, with a GDP far away from the European bottom.

    Political changes turned out to be the driving force behind the economic transformation: we cut ourselves off from a communist legacy, chose democracy instead, and joined the European Union and NATO. Poland implemented several major reforms which helped liberalise economic law, and subsequently became a place to invest capital, reflected in an increase in GDP, a continuous decrease in unemployment, an increase in the average salary, and further changed to a number of other economic indicators.

    However, there is still much room for improvement in Poland. Our objective today should be to create a legal and regulatory environment that favours the development of entrepreneurship. On the one hand, it will fully unleash the potential of the SME sector while, on the other, it will attract more foreign investors. The investment rate at the level of 16.8% is one of the most severe shortcomings of the country’s present economy. We are definitely below the EU average, ahead only of Bulgaria and Greece.

    Nevertheless, the Polish economy made a leap that has changed our economic reality. Systemic transformation brought about progress in terms of the standard of living of citizens:

    • the number of places in kindergartens in cities increased from 680,000 in 1989 to 881,000 in 2017,
    • the number of tertiary education institutions increased from 98 in 1989 to 394 in 2019,
    • the number of students increased from 378,000 to in 1989 to 1.2 million in 2017,
    • the percentage of PhDs awarded to women increased from 29% in 1989 to 53% in 2017,
    • the number of cases of chickenpox fell from 220,000 in 1990 to 16,000 in 2016.

    These data show on how many levels the lives of Poles have changed. It is hard to undermine the argument that appears increasingly frequently in public debate that the last 30 years have been the best period in the history of Poland.

    The Union of Entrepreneurs and Employers has initiated the “1992-2022. Najlepszy czas Polski” campaign which can be translated to “1992-2022. Best period in Poland’s history”. It summarises the achievements of our country in the field of socioeconomics over the last three decades. As part of the project, a report was published which constitutes an analysis of the main macroeconomic indicators illustrating the changes that had taken place in Poland. It discusses the advances in the scope and structure of Polish exports, analyses the complicated situation on the Polish labour market, changes in the structure of tax revenues and a number of other important macroeconomic data. The authors of the report also attempted to outline the impact of the last three decades on the situation of the so-called average Joe or plain Jane.

    While the past three decades were a time of titanic work and spectacular challenges, the next few years – considering such factors as the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic or the war in Ukraine – will be crucial for solidifying the position of Poland and Polish enterprises internationally.

    ***

    Organiser: Union of Entrepreneurs and Employers

    Main Partners: Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego, ORLEN S.A.

    Partners: Agencja Rozwoju Przemysłu S.A. (Industrial Development Agency JSC), Polski Fundusz Rozwoju (Polish Development Fund)

    Supporting Partner: Kompania Piwowarska

    Institutional Partner: Akademia Leona Koźmińskiego (Kozminski University)

    Media Partner: “Dziennik Gazeta Prawna”

    Content Partners: Browary Polskie (Union of Brewing Industry Employers – Polish Breweries), Cyfrowa Polska (Association of Importers and Producers of Electrical and Electronic Equipment – ZIPSEE “Digital Poland”), Fundacja Republikańska (Republican Foundation), Instytut Jagielloński, Klub Jagielloński, Krajowi Producenci Leków, Ogólnopolski Związek Pracodawców Transportu Drogowego, Ośrodek Myśli Politycznej (Center for Political Thought), Ośrodek Studiów Wschodnich (Centre for Eastern Studies ), Polska Federacja Producentów Żywności Związek Pracodawców (Polish Federation of Food Industry Union of Employers), Polskie Stowarzyszenie Przemysłu Kosmetycznego i Detergentowego (Polish Association of Cosmetic and Detergent Industry), Stowarzyszenie Dystrybutorów i Producentów Części Motoryzacyjnych (Association of Automotive Parts Distributors and Producers), Warsaw Enterprise Institute, WiseEuropa

     

    View report: 14.07.2023 Report by the Union of Entrepreneurs and Employers: “1992-2022. Najlepszy czas Polski”

    ZPP’s comment: Poland – a good place for Ukrainian entrepreneurship

    Posted on by Weronika Marzec

    Warsaw, June 14, 2023

     

    ZPP’s comment: Poland – a good place for Ukrainian entrepreneurship

     

    • According to data from Info Credit, Ukrainians established 17,457 business activities in Poland in 2022.
    • Only from the beginning of 2023 up to May 29 (inclusive), 13,117 business activities run by Ukrainian citizens were registered in Poland.
    • Since the beginning of Russia’s armed aggression against Ukraine, Ukrainians have established the largest number of business activities in Mazovia and Lower Silesia.
    • As of early 2022, Ukrainians were most likely to locate their companies in Warsaw, Krakow and Wrocław.
    • The number of companies established by Ukrainians in Poland has been significantly influenced by the Special Act on assistance to Ukrainian citizens.

    Border Guard estimates show that 12 million Ukrainian refugees have crossed the border with Poland since the beginning of Russia’s armed aggression against Ukraine. In the period of February 24–28, 2022 alone, it was 355,000 people. Migration peaked in March 2022, when approx. 2 million Ukrainians entered Poland. Between April 2022 and the end of May 2023, Polish-Ukrainian border crossings were crossed by 584,000 people in February 2023 to as many as 781,000 people in August 2022. Obviously, not all of these people remained in Poland, but the vast majority nevertheless decided to settle in our country. A significant group are those who have taken up legal permanent gainful employment in Poland or decided to establish a business activity. According to estimates by the Ministry of the Interior and Administration, approx. 97 percent of Ukrainian refugees are women (most men are banned from crossing the state border).

    Business activity of Ukrainians in Poland in 2022

    The definite influx of Ukrainians into Poland has translated into a huge increase in the dynamics of Ukrainians starting businesses. Data from Info Credit shows that in 2022 Ukrainians established 17,457 business activities in Poland, of which 14,258 companies were active at the end of the calendar year. 1,191 business activities were deleted and 1,781 suspended.

    Ukrainians were most active in the Mazowieckie Voivodeship, where they established 4,256 companies last year. The second place was taken by the Dolnośląskie Voivodeship, where 2,673 Ukrainian businesses were established. The following voivodeships were ranked next: Małopolskie – 2,285 companies, Pomorskie – 1828, Wielkopolskie – 1,361, Zachodniopomorskie – 1,029, Śląskie – 979, Łódzkie – 687, Lubuskie – 520, Kujawsko-Pomorskie – 417, Podkarpackie – 357, Opolskie – 296, Warmińsko-Mazurskie – 118, Świętokrzyskie – 114 and Podlaskie 91.

    Ukrainians registered the largest number of companies in 2022 in Warsaw – 3,289. Many were also established in Krakow – 1,899, Wrocław – 1,873, Poznań – 840, Gdańsk – 835, Szczecin – 655 and Łódź – 484.

    Relatively constant over the years has been the group of major PKD codes indicated by Ukrainians within their business activities. Hairdressing and other beauty treatment led the way in 2022, with 2,144 indicated as the main PKD code. The second most frequently indicated type of activity was computer programming activities (1,995 companies), and the third was other building completion and finishing (1,243 companies). Significantly popular in 2022 were also (in parentheses the number of indications as the main PKD code): construction related to erection of residential and non-residential buildings (764), electrical installation (540), freight transport by road (533), mechanical working of metal elements (420), retail sale via mail order houses or via the Internet (383), restaurants and other eating places (376) and other specialized construction activities not elsewhere classified (372).

    Business activity of Ukrainian citizens in Poland in 2023

    A definite upturn in the establishment of companies by Ukrainian citizens came in 2023. Data from Info Credit shows that 13,117 such businesses were registered between January 1 and May 29, 2023 alone. Active during the indicated period remained 11,694 of them – 421 were suspended and 170 were deleted. There were 51 enterprises operating exclusively in the form of a company, and 3 with the end of the indicated period were waiting to start operations.

    The largest number of new business activities established by Ukrainian citizens between January 2023 and May 29, 2023 were registered in the Mazowieckie Voivodeship – 3,211, Dolnośląskie Voivodeship – 1,941 and Małopolskie Voivodeship – 1,793. The following voivodeships ranked next: Pomorskie – 1,285 companies, Wielkopolskie – 993 companies, Zachodniopomorskie and Śląskie – 772 companies, Lubuskie – 507, Łódzkie- 492, Kujawsko-Pomorskie – 333, Podkarpackie – 305, Lubelskie – 260, Opolskie – 182, Świętokrzyskie – 102, Warmińsko-Mazurskie – 98 and Podlaskie – 61.

    Also in 2023 (up to and including May 29), Ukrainians were eager to register their businesses within Poland’s largest metropolises. 2,500 companies were established in Warsaw, 1,549 in Krakow, 1,386 in Wrocław, 665 in Gdańsk, 591 in Poznań, 472 in Szczecin and 350 in Łódź.

    In the period from the beginning of 2023 to May 29, 2023 inclusive, the main PKD codes most frequently indicated by companies established by Ukrainian citizens were: computer programming activities (2,100 times), hairdressing and other beauty treatment (1,461), other building completion and finishing (817), construction related to erection of residential and non-residential buildings (549), freight transport by road (453), electrical installation (442), mechanical working of metal elements (365), restaurants and other eating places (335), retail sales via mail order houses or via the Internet (315) and other specialized construction activities not elsewhere classified (291).

    Poland is a natural migration destination for citizens from Ukraine plunged into war. Domestic legislation also favors the development of Ukrainian entrepreneurship in the Polish market. Of essential importance in this regard is the Special Act on assistance to Ukrainian citizens, which has contributed to a revival in the registration of sole proprietorships by Ukrainian men and women.

     

    See more: 14.06.2023 ZPP’s comment: Poland – a good place for Ukrainian entrepreneurship

     

    In order to ensure the development of SMR technology in Poland and Europe, we need fleet-oriented investments of regional coverage

    Posted on by Weronika Marzec

    Warsaw, 13 June 2023 

     

    In order to ensure the development of SMR technology in Poland and Europe, we need fleet-oriented investments of regional coverage

     

    That’s the conclusion of a discussion among industry experts, technology providers, investors and researchers who attended the “SMR – Modular Nuclear Energy for Business” conference on Monday, June 12, held in Warsaw by the Energy and Climate Forum of the Union of Entrepreneurs and Employers. PKN ORLEN was the Main Partner of the event, EDF was a Partner, and Honorary Patrons included three ministries – the Ministry of Climate and Environment, the Ministry of Development and Technology and the Ministry of State Assets, as well as the National Atomic Energy Agency, the National Center for Nuclear Research and the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management.

    The event brought together both nuclear lawmakers, the regulator, several US and European SMR manufacturers, recipients declaring interest in small reactors of various capacities and nuclear experts, who sought to take prepare an inventory of the state of the art of modular nuclear reactors to date and outline the outlook for the development of such investments in our country and region.

    In the opinion of Adam Guibourgé-Czetwertyński, Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Climate and Environment, the Polish nuclear special-purpose act and nuclear law are sufficient for SMR investments to be developed on their basis, with technology neutrality and a desire to streamline the processes involved in obtaining the necessary permits at the core of the national legislation. Nonetheless, seeing the growing interest in small nuclear reactors, work is currently underway at the ministry to detail regulations for smaller modular nuclear reactors. The minister also encouraged a concerted international effort to bring nuclear technologies from a background player to the front lines of energy transition efforts – as complementary solutions to RES and hydrogen investments.

    According to Kamila Król, Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Development and Technology, small nuclear reactors have the potential to become a lever of the Polish economy in the coming decades. SMRs can be a remedy for the rising cost of CO2 allowances and ensure Poland has the right composition of the low-carbon energy mix on the one hand, and guarantee a stable and secure energy supply on the other.

    As noted by Jarosław Dybowski, Executive Director of Energy PKN ORLEN and Vice Chairman of the Board of ORLEN Synthos Green Energy: “We cannot think of nuclear reactors today as classically understood power plants, which in the past were only meant to provide electricity. The use of SMRs in domestic conditions is naturally the replacement of depleted coal-fired units, but the modular reactors will also work in the combined heat and power economy and find application in numerous industrial processes.” District heating and energy-intensive industries are identified as the main beneficiaries of SMR technologies, and the number of entities declaring interest in these solutions is growing.

    The main challenge appears to be not so much the technology of light-water nuclear reactors themselves, of which there are about 150 in operation worldwide and only their power and size need to be scaled up; it is the cost that may be a barrier. Experts agree that two aspects can help investors in this regard. On the one hand, suitable government guarantees and a refined financial model, so that involvement in SMRs for banks entails acceptable risks. On the other, the economies of scale brought about by a fleet-oriented investment campaign of regional range, which will reduce unit costs and build locally the competence, service facilities and structures necessary for the new sector.

    “After listening to the participants of the discussion, several recommendations come to mind, such as the involvement of Polish regulators in work on harmonizing nuclear regulations and standardizing certification of SMRs in Europe, the need to consider establishing a TSO (Technical Support Organization) within the structures of the National Center for Nuclear Research and, finally, opening a debate on the future of the nuclear energy in the EU taxonomy, which assumes support for nuclear investments only until 2045, at the European forum.” – concluded Jakub Bińkowski, Board Member of the Union of Entrepreneurs and Employers.

    The conference also touched upon many other aspects of SMR projects, such as safety considerations and the important role of the PPA, which will evaluate small nuclear on the same basis as full-scale nuclear investments. According to experts – despite the already clear support for nuclear in Poland – an extremely important aspect determining the success of SMR investments will be properly conducted communication due to the particular public perception of risk from nuclear facilities. As experts point out, there is no shortage of ideas for small nuclear reactors in the world today, as there are already about 80 projects at the “early design” stage, including also high-temperature reactors using other types of fuel and cooled by gas, HTRs (including a Polish one!) or nuclear batteries that can operate for 20 years without human intervention and the need for fuel supply. Another thread raised by the participants in the discussion was the possibility of involving Polish companies in the development of the European SMR sector, in which experts see significant potential given the pace of development of SMR projects in our country.

    The event was attended by over 150 participants. The Union of Entrepreneurs and Employers will soon make a full recording of the conference available on its YouTube channel.

    Link to the event page: https://zpp.net.pl/en/events/event/conference-smr-small-reactors-for-business-is-poland-the-smr-technology-incubator-in-europe/

     

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