Scandinavian investments in Poland
Posted: 2014-12-10
Scandinavian firms and business people have invested approximately 11 billion euros in Poland during the last ten years. The service sector was the most popular business choice for Scandinavian entrepreneurs in Poland who wanted to open a company, followed by the commerce and production sectors. According to the Scandinavian-Polish Chamber of Commerce, Mazowieckie was the most popular investment region, followed by two other regions: Pomorskie and Zachodniopomorskie. More than 2,000 Scandinavian companies are currently operating in Poland.
Business sectors chosen by Scandinavian investors in Poland
Most Scandinavian companies in the Poland are either established as Polish legal entities and have Nordic capital or are opened as a branch or a subsidiary in Poland, having their parent company in one of the Scandinavian countries. Most of these companies operate on the service sector, approximately 57%, followed by other sectors like commerce and production. Most Swedish companies operate in the service sector as do the Norwegian companies in Poland. Finnish companies tend to operate mostly in the production sector.
When referring to specific industries where Nordic capital is present in Poland, we can refer to consulting and services like law, accountancy, book-keeping and tax advisory services, construction, infrastructure and engineering services transport and logistics, the tourism sector, the energy production sector or the IT and telecommunications sector.
Other details about Nordic investment in Poland
Small and medium sized companies seem to be the preferred business choice for foreign investors in Poland. Swedish investors mostly incorporate small companies while the Finnish open small and medium sized firms. Norwegian investors in Poland also tend to open small companies but have recently opened more large companies.
Most of the foreign companies are located in Warsaw but other cities like Szczecin and Tricity are also attractive for foreign investors who can benefit from special investment incentives according to the area where they base their business.
Scandinavian business owners in Poland should know that the Scandinavian-Polish Chamber of Commerce is an association working as a platform for cooperation between the two nations that promotes business contacts and creates new development opportunities. The Chamber’s main office is located in Warsaw but the organization is active throughout the country. Regional representative offices can be found in Cracow, Poznan, Wroclaw, Szczecin and Tricity.