The 30th OSCE Economic and Environmental Forum

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe held a forum which focused this year on "Promoting security and stability in the OSCE area through the sustainable economic recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic". Among the speakers, apart from a Member of PAIH’s Management Board, Grzegorz Słomkowski, there was also Deputy Minister of Development and Technology Mariusz Jerzy Golecki and the Director of the Polish Economic Institute, Piotr Arak.

The talks during the two-day meeting focused mainly on the possibilities of supporting the economy by promoting transport, trade facilitation, investment, entrepreneurship and business development. The topic of counteracting corruption and the importance of the development of human capital for economic security in the post-pandemic era were also discussed.

Grzegorz Słomkowski, member of PAIH’s Management Board made the concluding speech. In which he drew attention to various types of changes resulting from the emergence of COVID-19, such as the acceleration of the process of digitization. He also highlighted how the pandemic has changed the way people travel and work. Business activity becomes digital and digital communication tools and channels have become a standard part of business.

The impact of the pandemic was quick and severe, but it seems there will be a similarly rapid rebound. Unfortunately, Covid-19 isn't our only problem, other problems don't just go away because of the pandemic. On the contrary, problems often worsen. That is why it is so important that public agencies and institutions cooperate with the private sector to create a fair ecosystem that will facilitate the development of enterprises and will support entrepreneurship. - said Grzegorz Słomkowski, Member of PAIH’s Management Board.

The Vienna conference was also an opportunity for the Polish representatives to meet with representatives of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce which like PAIH, represent the interests of enterprises in regard to the state and supporting Austrian exporters. Deputy Minister Mariusz Golecki together with PAIH’s Board member, Grzegorz Słomkowski, had the opportunity to talk to the Secretary General of the Austrian Chamber, Karlheinz Kopf, and members involved in cooperation with foreign countries.

Austrian Chamber of Commerce - Wirtschaftskammer Österreich

The chambers of commerce in Austria have a long tradition dating back to the 19th century. In 1849, it became compulsory for all entrepreneurs to belong to a chamber, and the chambers were empowered, to among other things, to give their opinions on legal Acts. The interests of Austrian entrepreneurs are represented by Chambers of Commerce in nine federal states and the Austrian Chamber of Commerce with its seat in Vienna.

The main tasks of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce are:

• representation of the interests of enterprises in regard to the State and other social and professional groups, e.g. in the field of tax reliefs, the reduction of bureaucracy, subsidies;
• providing advisory services - from labour law to information on custom duties;
• support in education, research and implementation of innovations in enterprises;
• support for Austrian entrepreneurs in export.

In addition, the Austrian Chamber of Commerce:

• has over 100 foreign representative offices around the world - including one in Warsaw and Krakow;
• it associates approx. 540,000 member companies (from one-man companies to large power plants), as well as approx. 1,000 public legal entities - associations, industry groups;
• has the statutory right to issue opinions on laws and regulations and to delegate their representatives to numerous committees, supervisory boards and other advisory bodies (a representative of the Chamber is a member of the General Council of the Austrian National Bank, for example);
• is subject to legal supervision by the Federal Ministry of Economy;
• is financed by membership fees, entry fees and other fees for additional services provided (e.g. market and industry analyses);
• membership in the Chamber is obligatory.