PAIH closer to entrepreneurs around the country. The first of PAIH's Regional Trade Offices opened in Katowice

PAIH Regional Trade Offices are a response to the needs of Polish companies interested in international expansion. The points are being created in cooperation with the Special Economic Zones and entities from the PFR Group. The first of these offices was opened in Katowice, as part of PAIH’s cooperation with the Katowice Special Economic Zone. The office opening conference was attended by representatives of local government, entities from the PFR Group and 100 representatives of Silesian business.

Entrepreneurs have many responsibilities and value their time. To meet their needs, we bring our office closer to them. I believe that the opening of the Regional Trade Office in Katowice will facilitate contact with PAIH for companies that are interested in foreign expansion - said Piotr Dytko, PAIH’s Board Member - Polish entrepreneurs have open minds and an innovative offer with which they would like to reach the markets of other countries. Our task is to provide them with appropriate support instruments for this and the office opened today is another of these - he added.

The President of the Katowice Special Economic Zone, Janusz Michałek PhD, emphasized in his speech the importance of the Agency's cooperation with the KSEZ in creating the Katowice office. At the same time, he pointed out the good relations between organizations and the resulting synergy of activities in supporting companies in their development.

After 30 years of transformation, Polish entrepreneurs are beginning to conquer European and global markets. It is in Katowice, at the headquarters of the Katowice Special Economic Zone, that a new initiative is being created - the first PAIH regional trade office to support local export development. This is a great opportunity for entrepreneurs, primarily from the SME sector, who will be able to take advantage of consulting, use already established contacts, get to know what PAIH's international offices can offer and set new export directions. Together with our partners, we want to reach every Polish entrepreneur and show them tools of complementary support to the Polish Investment Zone, created by, among others, PAIH - said Janusz Michałek PhD.

Tadeusz Kopeć, a Senator representing the Cieszyn and Żywiec regions, who took part in the opening, emphasized the symbolic importance of opening the first office in a location constituting one of the most industrialized areas of Polish.

Silesia is an industrial area whose potential has still not been fully exploited. Thanks to the opening of PAIH’s office in Katowice, Silesian companies will now have even better access to the path of foreign development. A quick opening to other markets means greater exports, which will translate into an acceleration in the development of local companies and make the Silesian economy flourish - said the Senator.

The initiative to establish PAIH’s Regional office was also supported by the First Vice President of the City of Katowice, Bogumił Sobula. He expressed the hope that the Agency’s closer presence in Upper Silesia will translate into even more effective assistance by PAIH in the processes of support of expansion and export consulting for companies.

I am extremely pleased with the activity of the Polish Investment and Trade Agency in Upper Silesia and the choice of Katowice as the seat of the first of PAIH's Regional Trade Offices. Thanks to this, our entrepreneurs will receive invaluable support of PAIH’s experts, and enriched with their knowledge and experience, they will be able to plan the next stages of conquering foreign markets and build and strengthen the Katowice brand. PAIH is our partner with whom we promote a modern and green image of Katowice in Europe and in the world; a city attracting companies with a global reach and enterprises from the SME sector - said the Vice-President of Katowice.

Through its presence at the regional level, PAIH plans to more effectively determine the needs of exporters and be able to identify entities with foreign development potential faster. One of the priorities of the Agency's regional offices is also to strengthen cooperation with local economic and industry organizations, educate SMEs in the field of export and provide companies with information about foreign markets.

Ultimately, it is planned to open twelve offices, of which another eight are to be opened this year. Regional Trade Offices are a new element and complement to PAIH’s existing activities. They are to strengthen the network of Foreign Trade Offices operating around the world.

Participants of the Conference on the occasion of the opening of the first regional office had the opportunity to listen to a presentation on the Agency's activities and the support offered to exporters and investors. During the event there was also a debate with the participation of local entrepreneurs.

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About the Polish Investment and Trade Agency

The Polish Investment and Trade Agency (PAIH) is an advisory institution belonging to the Polish Development Fund (PFR) Group. This is the first point of contact for exporters and investors. It operates both in Poland and through its network of offices around the world. It strengthens the recognition of Polish brands on international markets, promotes domestic products and services as well as technological solutions made in Poland. The agency helps entrepreneurs to choose their optimal path of expansion abroad. It also supports the inflow of foreign direct investments to Polish and the implementation of Polish investments in the country. PAIH cooperates with the public sector and regional partners, offering, among other things, training, audit and promotion of investment properties, cooperation in the organization of business missions and communication support in the implementation of joint projects.