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The Polish Investment and Trade Agency (PAIH) and the Association of Business Service Leaders (ABSL) will jointly attract foreign investors

The Polish Investment and Trade Agency (PAIH) and the Association of Business Service Leaders (ABSL) have signed an agreement on strategic cooperation. Both entities will cooperate in order to obtain further foreign investments in the area of modern business services which will allow to create new jobs, and support the development of exports of companies from the modern business services sector. The patronage over these activities has been taken by the Ministry of Development, Labour and Technology.

PAIH and ABSL


Under the strategic cooperation, the Polish Investment and Trade Agency and the Association of Business Service Leaders will place particular emphasis on promoting Poland as an attractive location among potential foreign investors and companies that are already present in the Polish economy. Significant areas of cooperation will also be the promotion of the Polish sector of modern business services and activities aimed at acquiring foreign investments in Poland supporting the development of innovation.

Business services is the largest sector in the portfolio of projects implemented by the Polish Investment and Trade Agency. For years, we have been supporting foreign investors who want to open new or expand existing service centers. We are working on new projects and I am convinced that close cooperation with ABSL will allow us to support the export of services and acquire new investments even more effectively - says Krzysztof Drynda, Chairman of the Management Board of the Polish Investment and Trade Agency.

The ABSL report "Sector of Modern Business Services in Poland 2021" shows that in 2020 and in the first quarter of 2021, 74 new service centers were created in Poland. American investors (32.4%) had the largest share in the creation of new centers, followed by Polish companies (17.6%) in terms of the number of new investments. The next places were taken by investors from Germany, Great Britain, Denmark, the Netherlands, Sweden, France and Spain, who opened more than one center. Investors from eight more countries opened one center each. In total, investors came from 17 different countries. Out of 1,602 business service centers that currently operate in Poland, 1,078 are centers for foreign companies. Over 355,000 people are employed in the sector. Employment increased by 3.9% year on year, while employment in the entire enterprise sector decreased by 2%. The sector is currently responsible for over 3.5% of Poland's GDP, and the value of exports of services is at the level of USD 22.9 billion (an increase of over 10% year on year).

The sector of modern business services is one of those which - despite the global pandemic and the uncertain macroeconomic situation in the world - is still developing intensively. This is also visible in Poland, which is one of the most attractive places to locate investments and provide business services. This is confirmed by the latest data from the report prepared by ABSL. Any activities increasing Poland's competitiveness in the international arena is an excellent investment in the future of the Polish economy. That is why I am all the more pleased that ABSL has just signed a strategic partnership agreement with PAIH, and the Ministry under my management patronizes and supports this initiative - emphasizes Jarosław Gowin, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Development, Labour and Technology.

The agreement concluded with the Polish Trade and Investment Agency will allow ABSL to support the export of business services and acquire new projects even more effectively. The employers in the sector already create over 355,000 jobs in Poland and this number may double in the next decade. Global roles supporting decision-making processes in the world's largest companies are also increasingly being transferred to Poland. We must demonstrate all our strengths on the international arena as efficiently as possible, and this is what our partnership is to serve. It is also worth emphasizing that representatives of the sector play a large role in acquiring or expanding investments. They are Poland’s ambassadors in their companies, striving to locate investments in our country. It is extremely valuable support in relation to the activities carried out by the government - emphasizes Jacek Levernes, Honorary President of ABSL.

The ABSL analysis "Strategic Foresight in the Business Services Sector 2021" shows that employment in the modern business services sector may almost double within a decade and reach a level of 650,000 people working in the sector in 2031. The analysis also clearly shows that in order to create growth-oriented and well-paid jobs thanks to investments, in the long term the availability of employees with appropriate competences needs to be ensured. Adapting education at its various levels and systemic solutions extending employees' competences to the needs of innovative business is necessary to strengthen Poland's competitiveness on the international arena.

About PAIH

The Polish Investment and Trade Agency (PAIH) is an advisory institution supervised by the Ministry of Labour and Technology Development. The agency is also one of the entities belonging to the Polish Development Fund Group (PFR) and the first point of contact for exporters and investors. It operates both in Poland and through its offices around the world. PAIH cooperates with the public sector and regional partners, offering, among other thing: training, audit and promotion of investment properties, cooperation in the organization of business missions and communication support in the implementation of joint projects.

About ABSL

The Association of Business Service Leaders - brings together over 220 of the world's largest companies, representing a sector in which over 355,000 people are currently employed in Poland. Our goal is to build a competitive economy which will create new, valuable jobs and will responsibly develop investments and business.