Mark Hofman

• Overthrew communist rule in 1989

• Joined the European Union in 2004

• Population of 40 million

• 6th largest economy in the European Union

• Ranked of “Very High Human Development” 1

• Polish gross national income (GNI) per capita €13,276 1

Hungary (2005 - 2011) €12,613 1

Slovakia (2005 - 2011) €15,214 1

Czech Republic (2005 – 2011) €16,285 1

United Nations: Human Development Index 20111 http://hdr.undp.org/en/media/HDR_2011_EN_Table1.pdf

• GDP: (purchasing power parity) €580.9 billion (21st) 2

• Exports have grown from €40.19 billon - €112.7 billon (2001 – 2011)

• Imports have grown from €56.03 billion – €124.3 billion (2001 – 2011) 3

• Agricultural products: potatoes, fruits, vegetables, wheat, poultry, eggs, pork, dairy

• Core Industries: machine building, iron and steel, coal mining, chemicals, shipbuilding, food processing, glass, beverages, textiles, rubber, electronic, plastics

CIA World Factbook2 https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/pl.html Invest in Poland 3 http://www.paiz.gov.pl/poland_in_figures

• In 2010 total bilateral Polish - British trade was worth €11.4 billion

• Polish imports from Britain totalled €4.29 billion

• Polish exports to Britain reached €7.11 billion

• The UK exports as many goods to Poland as to India

• More goods are exported from Britain to Poland than to Australia, Russia or Turkey

• Britain is Poland's 3rd largest export market (after Germany & France)

• 300 flights per week between the Britain – Poland & 2 direct freight trains between Wroclaw and London

4. UK Trade & Investment http://www.ukti.gov.uk/de_de/uktihome/search.html?search=poland&sort=ByScore

• Poland is ranked the worlds 6th most attractive investment location 5

• The Polish economy grew 4.3% in 2011 and has so far stayed out recession 6

• In recent years the Polish economy has been developing at twice the rate of Western Europe

• Young well educated workforce, many of whom speak English

• A strong strategic location at the heart of Europe and mid-way point for the historic Berlin – Moscow trade route

• Competitive labour costs and a large internal market

• Poland has a stable market orientated multi – party democracy5 United Nations Conference on Trade & Development: World Investment Report

2011http://www.unctad.org/Templates/Page.asp?intItemID=1465&lang=1 6 Invest in Polandhttp://www.paiz.gov.pl/invest_in_poland

• Corporate income tax is 19%

• Personal income tax is in two bands – 18% and 32%

• Basic rate of VAT is 23%, which applies to majority of goods and services

• 5% - 8% VAT rate for many everyday items

• 0% VAT for export goods, international transport services and intra – community supply of goods

• Total of 9 direct and 3 indirect taxes

7 Krakow Infohttp://www.krakow-info.com/taxes.htm

• Local authorities can provide grants and tax incentives for investors

• Subsidies co – financed with the EU’s structural funds, worth €67 billion – 2013

• 14 Special Economic Zones offering exemption from income tax, real estate tax, subsidies for hiring the unemployed and employee training

• Polish government is offering generous incentives for investors in the following sectors:

8 Invest in Poland http://www.paiz.gov.pl/publications/about_poland

• Automotive• Aviation• Machinery & steel industry• Service centres• R&D• I T• Telecommunications

• Energy• Biotechnology• Electronics• Domestic appliance market• Boat building• Industrial design

• British Polish Chamber of Commerce

• Invest in Poland Agency (Palilz)

• Polish Agency for Enterprise Development (PARP) (SME’s)

• UK Trade & Investment Poland

• Enterprise Europe Network

• Warsaw Chamber of Commerce

• Warsaw Business Journal (Market trends and economic forecasts)

• Point to Point Export Services (Private sector)

Mark HofmanMark Hofman