Conference entitled „From idea to a successful international cooperation – Pomerania meets Scandinavia & Germany", which took place on 10 June 2015 in Słupsk Technology Incubator served as a platform for discussion, networking, and exchange of best business practices useful in contact with foreign business partners. The conference was attended by over 170 participants. Apart from local and regional companies, and business support institutions we had a numerous group of visiting foreign partners.

The conference was inaugurated by Mirosław Kamiński, the PRDA President of the Board, Ryszard Świlski, the Vice-Marshal of Pomorskie region, and Robert Biedroń, the Mayor of Słupsk.

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[Mirosław Kamiński CEO of PARR S.A.; Ryszard Świlski Marshal of Pomorskie Region; Robert Biedroń Mayor of City Słupsk]

The aim of the event was to recap the entirety of activities connected with trade missions to Denmark,Finland, Norway, Sweden, and Germany organised by PRDA between 2013 and 2015 within „Invest in Pomerania 2 – Promotion of Investment Attractiveness of Pomerania in Scandinavia and Germany". Bartosz Świtała, the Head of the Project at PRDA gave an account of the experiences.

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[Bartosz Świtała Project Manager - Invest in Pomerania II]

The main aim was to present practical guidelines for entreprenuers concerning cooperation with Scandinavia and Germany as well as to show the cultural differences and the effect they have on business relations. Another subject matter discussed during the conference was the economic potential of our region and why is it worth investing and developing business activities here.

Introduction into characteristics of target country markets.

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[Anna Chojnacka Director AHK - presentation of German market, Leif Christianesen Member of the Board SPCC - presentation of Scandinavian market]

Apart from presentations of general information concerning Scandinavian and German markets there were two discussion panels included in the programme of the conference.

Discussion panels:

The panel discussing economic potential of Pomerania was attended by:

entrepreneurs operating in Pomorskie region:

Christian Bavnbek – Dyrektor Zarządzający, Sondex Sp. Z o.o. (firma duńska)

  1. Christian Bavnbek – Managing Director, Sondex Sp. z o.o. (Denmark)
  2. Bjorn Kverneland - President, TRITEC Polska Sp. z o.o. (Norway)
  3. Martin Thompson - President, Panlink (Sweden)
  4. Marek Łangowski - President, TMA Labs (Poland)
  5. Maciej Wasielewski – Project Manager, CRIST S.A (Poland)

national and regional representatives of business support institutions:

  1. Anna Polak-Kocińska – Board Member, Polish Information and Foreign Investment Agency
  2. Marcin Piątkowski – Director, Invest in Pomerania – Pomerania Development Agency
  3. Kiejstut Żagun – Director, KPMG Poland
  4. Mirosław Kamiński – President of the Board, Pomeranian Regional Development Agency

 

Among the discussed items was the perception of Pomorskie province and the Słupsk region by entrepreneurs, analysing their assets and weak points as well as substantiating why it is worth investing and developing business activities here. The final conclusions showed that Pomorskie is one of the areas best linked with Scandinavia and Germany. Furthermore, investment incentives the region offers ie. Słupsk Special Economic Zone as well as support from Invest In Pomerania intitiative strengthen its appeal. The speakers emphasised that it is important to improve the condition of infrastructure – particularly road links (modernisation of national road no 6 connecting Szczecin and Gdańsk) and railway (a second railway between Słupsk and Gdynia); preparation of personnel through special training courses, and touching upon everyday life aspects – a lack of disco in Słupsk.

The moderator of the panel was Dariusz Bazeli, Managing Director of Geoban Polska belonging to Santander Group as well as the Leader of the Tricity ABSL.

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In the second discussion panel the floor was given to our foreign guests, who shared their best international cooperation practices. Mr Leif Christiansen, Board Member of Scandinavian-Polish Chamber of Commerce presented characteristics of the Danish market. Polish-Finnish trade cooperation was laid out by Mr Mika Pirtivvara of Rapid Action Group. The German market was given a description by Ms Anna Chojnacka from the Polish-German Chamber of Commerce. Ms Magdalena Polakowska and Ms Barbara Cecylia Liwo of Omega Accounting AS Group gave accounts of their Norwegian experience. Jakub Gebhardt from Baltix, Sweden shared his experiences on the Swedish market. One of the main pieces of advice for Polish entrepreneurs offered during this forum was to switch to attitude towards mutual cooperation with foreign partners - „what can our Polish input offer You, how can we help You?" rather than „our offer is the best in the world, you must choose it". Not always is formal attire of greater importance. Competence and qualifications are regarded as more significant here. It is also crucial that business relations should be built and maintained over a long term.

The panel was chaired by Anita Frankowiak, PhD of the Institute of Diplomacy, General and Managing Director for Scandinavia and Baltic States, who shared valuable tips on business etiquette and savoir-vivre.

"The city of Słupsk – PAIiIZ (Polish Information and Foreign Investment Agency) – cooperation for economic promotion of the Słupsk region".

During the conference we witnessed a signing ceremony of an agreement between the city of Słupsk and PAIiIZ. The aim of this agreement is economic promotion of the Słupsk region and increasing its competitiveness. Cooperation with PAIiIZ will not only enable the city to obtain better quality in recruitment and service of investors but will also facilitate creation of a friendly investment climate in the city. Economic development of Słupsk and the entire region is a priority for the current city authorities. Establishing cooperation with PAIiIZ will make it significantly easier to organise activities leading to an increase in competitiveness and innovation of Słupsk against the economic map of Poland.

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[Robert Bierdoń i Anna Polak-Kocińska signing agreament]

By the end of the conference all the guests had an opportunity to engage in networking activities during lunchtime.

Study visits for foreign guests.

All the foreign participants who came to the Słupsk conference were invited to take part in study visits in Scandinavian companies operating in Słupsk Special Economic Zone in Redzikowo and in Słupsk (Tritec Polska Sp. zo .o. and Scania Production Słupsk S.A.). In addition the guests were shown around the Słupsk Technology Incubator and one of its resident companies Apator Telemetria as well the Laboratory of Automatics, Robotics and Visual Systems Laboratory.

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[Visit at Tritec]

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[Visit at Scania & Słupsk Technology Incubator]

The conference was organised within the framework of the „Invest in Pomerania 2 – Promotion of Investment Attractiveness of Pomerania in Scandinavia and Germany" cofinanced under the Pomorskie Regional Operational Programme for the years 2007-2013.

The honorary patrons of the event were: the Ministry of Economy, the Marshall of Pomorskie Region, the Polish Information and Foreign Investment Agency. The project also receives support of the Scandinavian Polish Chamber of Commerce and Polish-German Chamber of Industry and Commerce.

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"Scandinavian companies within the Polish landscape – 10th anniversary of Scandinavian-Polish Chamber of Commerce"

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