Key Sectors 

The Polish Investment and Trade Agency (PAIH) recognizes that each sector has its own specific nature and that investors operating in it have specific needs. This is why we prepare our offers, based on the needs of our clients and partners.  We concentrate on sectors in which investors are most interested. Our employees offer professional help and are in a position to assist in finding the best locations taking into consideration the needs and plans of a company’s development. 

Aerospace sector – The dominant role in the Polish aviation sector is played by the world’s largest companies from the industry. In the last dozen or so years, the five largest manufacturers of aircraft engines have located their production plants in Poland producing engines or their components. Most of them are located in southeastern Poland and belong to the so-called “Aviation Valley”. In Świdnik and Mielec, in the privatized and modernized plants with a long tradition, helicopters are produced by international powerhouses like Sikorsky and Augusta Westland. The plant in Mielec is at the same time the largest production plant of the Lockheed Martin group outside the USA. Poland is also the third largest production centre of UTC Aerospace Systems in the world.  However, the aviation industry in Poland is not focused solely on production. Many companies have also located their research and development centers here. One example is the Engineering Design Center of GE Aircraft Engines, which employs over 1,800 highly qualified engineers.  The latest two major investments of the aviation sector are the MROs of Lufthansa Technik consortia with MTU Aeroengines (EME Aero) and GE Aviation (Xeos). 

White Goods Sector – The production of household goods (AGD) in Poland has many years of tradition. Known created after World War II include Zaklady Filty Pieknego Wromet in Wronki (today’s Amica Wronki S.A.) and Wrocławskie Zakłady Metallurgiczne. Wrozamet (now BSH), Zaklady Metalowe Zakrzów (later Polar, today Whirlpool Polska S.A.) and Zelmer (currently in the BSH group), and have been thriving since the 1960s. Since the beginning of the systemic transformation period, the sector has attracted numerous industry investors who, based on the existing infrastructure, knowledge and qualifications of employees, have built an extremely modern and internationally competitive industry sector.

Electronics sector – The development of the electronics sector in Poland dates back to the 1930s. During this period, among others, lighting equipment was manufactured by Polskie Zakłady Philips in Warsaw and electronic transmitting and microwave lamps by Zakłady Elektronowe Lamina in Piaseczno. The post-war years proved that electronics had become one of the fastest growing areas of the economy worldwide, being a carrier of technical and civil progress. With the fall of communism and the beginning of the 1990s, the electronics industry was in the sphere of interest of many foreign concerns that permanently marked their presence on the Polish market. These include Schneider Electric, Alcatel-Lucent or the already mentioned Philips. Today, the electronics industry is one of the fastest-growing segments of the economy in Poland. Most important investors in the Polish electronics sector include:

• Dell (Łódź, woj. łódzkie) production of desktops and servers
• Flex (Łódź, woj. łódzkie, Tczew, woj. pomorskie) production of components and telecomminucations products
• Humax Poland, (Bełchatów, województwo łódzkie) production of personal video recorders and TV sets
• Jabil (Kwidzyń, woj. pomorskie) production of electronic components
• Kimball Electronics (Tarnowo Podgórne, woj. wielkopolskie) production of electronic components for telecommunications and the automotive industry
• LG Display Poland (Biskupice Podgórne, woj. dolnośląskie) production of liquid crytal displays
• LG Electronics (Mława, woj. mazowieckie) production of televisions and other devices for consumers
• Nokia (formerly Alcatel-Lucent, Bydgoszcz, kujawsko-pomorskie) productions of telecommunications equipment and other devices for consumers
• Sharp (previously UMC, Łysomice, woj. kujawsko-pomorskie) production of televisions
• TCL Operations Polska, (Żyrardów, woj. mazowieckie) production of electronics
• TPV Technology (Gorzów Wielkopolski, woj. lubuskie) production of computer monitors
• Vestel (formerly Compal, Biskupice Podgórne, woj. dolnośląskie) production of televisions

Automotive sector – In the last decade, the Polish automotive industry recorded a 100% increase in sold production. This huge success, making the automotive industry the second largest industrial sector in Poland (10.1% share), is not a coincidence, but a result of the consistent work of entrepreneurs and the investment attractiveness of the country. Both in terms of absolute numbers and in terms of quality, Poland has the largest number of working-age people with a solid technical education in this part of Europe, both at the secondary and tertiary level. 1.4 million students, of whom over 300,000 are involved in engineering faculties, are a potential that translates directly into the excellent financial and quality results of companies investing in Poland. 

What – apart from the high qualifications and availability of employees – makes Poland unique to the automotive industry?

Transport Availability – The completed (3,249 km) and planned (4,400 km) investments in the development of motorways and expressways in the coming years will soon translate into Poland’s position as 5th in Europe in terms of the length of the highest category road network (ahead of Great Britain). Significant investments in the development of port terminals, especially container terminals, also allow Polish ports to obtain regular connections served by the largest vessels from Asia and the rest of Europe. In fact, Polish ports are becoming the gateway of maritime transport for all countries of the region.

Cooperative Opportunities – The presence of over 660 subcontracted companies with the IATF 16949/2016 certificate, as well as four vehicle manufacturing plants (2 x VW, FCA and PSA Group with the Opel plant), 6 bus factories (Solaris, MAN, Scania, Volvo, Autosan, URSUS/AMZ) and one MAN truck factory increases the chance of participating in the creation of added value in the sector. Poland specialises in the production of car engines, e.g. Volkswagen, Toyota (two plants), FCA engine plants are already in operation, Opel and the Daimler plant are awaiting production start. The geographic proximity of other Central European countries with developed automotive sectors is also highly significant from a cooperation opportunities.

E-mobility – The development of electromobility is an official priority for the country. Special rebate programs and co-financing for producers (e.g. related to the E-bus program) as well as for supporting the development of infrastructure for e-mobility will create additional business opportunities. The estimated total value of programs related to this field may amount to 19.4 billion PLN over the next ten years.

Financial Efficiency – An attractive system of investment incentives, including direct cash support and tax exemptions, is one of the elements positively affecting financial results. Nevertheless, the organization of work and other operating costs, which in Poland remain at a competitive level, are also important. For example, in the area of social security charges, the burden imposed on the employer in Poland is at the second lowest level among the countries of the region.

R&D Activity – A mature ecosystem of cooperation with universities and the high quality of education create a solid foundation for the development of R&D facilities, the R&D centres of companies such as ZF TRW, Delphi, Wabco, Faurecia, Nexteer, Tenneco, Eaton, Valeo, Mahle, GKN Driveline being perfect examples.

Business service sector – Well-educated, highly qualified people with great command of a large variety of foreign languages – these certainly are Poland’s main assets when it comes to attracting projects like this. Its strategic location in Europe, favourable investment climate, economic stability, development of modern business-related infrastructure, improving quality of life in Polish cities, as well as an investors-friendly ecosystem supporting businesses, are all of great importance as well.

Food Processing Sector – 

The food sector is one of the most important and fastest growing branches of the Polish economy. 10.5% (1.7 million) of all employees employed in industry are involved in it. Poland is the 6th largest market in Europe, with a capacity of 38.5 million inhabitants. Polish producers are characterized by high competitiveness both in the EU and in the world. 80% of all exports, in 2017, went to the EU’s internal market, which after accession became one of the main driving forces for the sector with a potential of over 508 million consumers. In the first seven months of 2017, the value of agri-food exports to European Union countries amounted to EUR 12 billion and was 8.1% higher than in January-July 2016. Poland’s chief trade partner remains Germany with a share of 22% in exports agri-food products.

Since the early 1990s, many international interests such as Danone, Heinz, Unilever, Mondelez and Nestle have been expanding their operations into the Polish market. What’s more, the continuous inflow of greenfield investments confirms that the business environment in the country is growing and more and more international consortia are interested. It is worth adding that Poland has the fourth largest area of land prepared for investments in the EU and a long history in food processing. Many years of experience have allowed Poland to create a professional education system cooperating with the food industry.

Poland Investment and Trade Agency

PAIH helpline: +48 22 334 99 99 

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