Support and promotion of investments at the national and regional level, development of craftsmanship and a new idea for dual education and analysis of support for Polish companies during the pandemic - these are the main topics of the discussion between Deputy Ministers of Development Olga Semeniuk and Robert Nowicki. The third edition of the Forum in Gdańsk was held this week.

The first day

On 24 August, Minister Olga Semeniuk participated in two panels: “Assessment of Poland’s attractiveness for foreign investors” and “Benefits for entrepreneurs and the economy in the Economic Zones”.

Today, we are facing in a new economic order. In order to strengthen the investment attractiveness of Poland as well as to encourage companies to create new jobs, we are preparing an amendment to the Act on Polish Investment Zone and the Act on the status of a strategic investor - said the Deputy Head of the Ministry of Economic Development.

Minister Robert Nowicki participated in the panel “Strengths and weaknesses of the Polish economy”. Jointly with other participants, he took part in a discussion related to the current challenges we face. 

Investments are the driving force of the economy - both large (e.g. the Central Communication Port) as well as local. 40% of public procurements is generated by local governments. PLN 12 billion under the Governmental Local Investment Fund was allocated to help them carry out the activities closest to the citizens - said Minister Robert Nowicki.

In turn, during the session related to the support granted for companies during a pandemic, he stated that the rapid solutions included in the subsequent versions of the anti-crisis shield, as well as the financial shield, were necessary and brought the expected results. 

We are committed to sustainable development and maintaining the prosperity of the Polish economy. Assistance from the anti-crisis and financial shield was essential. Now, the time has arrived for investment-oriented tools and long-term assistance. These include, for instance, the new opportunity policy, the Governmental Local Investment Fund, projects in the National Reconstruction Plan, or the Housing Development Fund - he stated.

The second day

During the second day, Minister Robert Nowicki emphasised the importance and spectrum of actions for the development of housing. He stated, that a flat must not be perceived merely as a commodity. A flat provides people with a sense of security and an impulse to develop.

The role of the government is to provide the legal framework and to stimulate the market. In the so-called housing package, i.e. statutory solutions, we provide local governments with the tools to implement a housing policy adapted to local needs. These include, for instance. higher grants for social and municipal construction and support from the National Property Stock - indicated Minister Robert Nowicki.

He stressed:

The housing package constitutes a part of the housing development ecosystem which we have been creating. We are also introducing easier regulations to the Building Law and work on digitising the investment and construction process.

In her speech, Minister Olga Semeniuk focused on the analysis of the current condition and prospects for the development of the Polish crafts industry.

One of the fundamental objectives of the new law on crafts and dual education, which is currently developed by the Ministry, is to expand the catalogue of professions and create new professions of the future - she explained.

The Deputy Head of the Ministry of Economic Development also participated in a panel titled “The economic importance of promoting and selling Polish products”.

Today, our products are particularly popular not only on our domestic market, but also on a variety of numerous foreign markets. This is a good testimony both to the Polish economy and to the professionalism of our entrepreneurs - stressed Minister Olga Semeniuk.