"Export starts here", these words opened this year's PAIH Business Forum, for which over six thousand people registered. The first day of the event gathered the leaders of Polish business and science, hundreds of representatives of the SME sector and its partners. Among those present were also PAIH’s experts and numerous representatives of Regions, Chambers of Commerce and business environment Institutions. By gathering so many diverse participants, PGE Narodowy became the centre of Polish entrepreneurship.
The aim of the Forum is to support Polish entrepreneurs in their foreign expansion. It is no coincidence that the motto of this year's edition is "Export starts here". The event at PGE Narodowy is for entrepreneurs who are planning or have already started expanding into foreign markets, a place for development and gaining knowledge.
"This is the second time, after the break caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, that we can meet in such large numbers live at PGE Narodowy. Last year's edition turned out to be an incredible success. Your presence in such large numbers a year ago and in even greater numbers today shows that Poles want to export. And more and more every year. I strongly believe that these two days will be an opportunity to gain practical knowledge, substantive meetings and establishing numerous business contacts ," said Paweł Kurtasz, Chairman of the Management Board of the Polish Investment and Trade Agency, during the official opening of the PAIH Business Forum 2023.
Last year's PAIH Business Forum exceeded all expectations and, as a one-day event, turned out to be too short. That is why the 2023 edition is two days full of discussions and meetings. This year, more than 70 workshops and panels will be held at PGE Narodowy. The first of the activities, which have already ended, gathered hundreds of entrepreneurs.
So far, the panel devoted to the support program for entrepreneurs planning to internationalize their activities, ABC Eksport has attracted the greatest interest. Equally popular were discussions about Poland’s presence at the upcoming Expo 2025, Osaka Kansai and the state of the Polish economy. Over a thousand people registered for of these panels.
Throughout the event, entrepreneurs also have the opportunity to talk to over 100 PAIH experts from their Foreign Trade Offices. This is the only such occasion in the year when you can meet the Agency’s representatives in Poland who represent over 70 markets abroad. The first day of the event is not over yet, and we can already talk about a record. Experts from our foreign offices have already held hundreds of meetings. Five markets attracted the greatest interest: Germany and Switzerland, Great Britain and Ireland, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and France.
A novelty compared to previous editions of the Forum is the zone for meetings and talks with speakers. This is where participants will be able to have mentoring talks on topics of interest to them during the two sessions of the event. Almost 300 speakers will share their knowledge and answer questions.
As part of this year's PAIH Business Forum, we organized even more activities than last year - 11 conference rooms, numerous panels, workshops and as many as 56 stands of our Foreign Trade Offices. We believe that this will allow you to get to know what PAIH and its partners can offer partners, learn more about many markets and establish new business contacts. After all, the PAIH Business Forum is a celebration of Polish entrepreneurs - exporters, both current and future, as well as all those who want to develop, or looking for new solutions and ideas - added Paweł Kurtasz.
PAIH Business Forum 2023 is held under the Honorary Patronage of the President of the Republic of Poland, Andrzej Duda. The strategic partner is the Polish Development Fund, and the main partners are: Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego, the Polish Investment Zone, Kamienna Góra Small Enterprise SEZ, Invest Park Wałbrzych SEZ, Krakow Technology Park, Legnica SEZ, Pomeranian SEZ, Warmia and Mazury SEZ, Łódź SEZ, Euro-Park Mielec SEZ Industrial Development Agency S.A., Słupsk SEZ, Ewo-Park Wisłosan Tarnobrzeg SEZ Industrial Development Agency S.A., Kostrzyn-Słubice SEZ, Suwałki SSE S.A. and Katowice SEZ. The substantive partner is the Warsaw School of Economics and the media patrons are Dziennik Gazeta Prawna, i.PL, Business Zone, Business Insider, TVP Info and TVP 3 Warszawa.
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About the Polish Investment and Trade Agency
The Polish Investment and Trade Agency (PAIH) is an advisory institution that is part of the Polish Development Fund (PFR) Group. It is the first point of contact for exporters and investors. It operates both in Poland and through a network of its 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 choose their optimal path of expansion abroad. It also supports the inflow of foreign direct investments to Poland 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.
