National exhibition "Business Poland 2002" in Prague

17.09.2002

On September 10-13 this year a consecutive edition of the Polish commerce exhibition "BUSINESS POLAND 2002" was held - this time - in Prague. The event attracted about 100 Polish companies representing a wide range of businesses, whose offer included: transportation and forwarding, construction and repairs, cosmetics, amber jewellery, medical equipment, glassware, leather accessories and so forth.

The exhibition of the Polish commerce would have been incomplete without the participation of Polish ports that were represented by Authority of Szczecin and Swinoujscie Seaports, Port of Gdynia Authority SA and Port of Gdansk Authority SA.

The fair was organized under the auspices of the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Prague and launched with cutting a ribbon of Poland's national colours. The opening ceremony was attended by Andrzej Krawczyk - Ambassador of the Republic of Poland in Prague, Iwona Legierska - Vice-Minister of Finance of the Czech Republic, Bernard Blaszczyk - Commercial Adviser, Minister Plenipotentiary at the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Prague, Jerzy Uzieblo - Commercial Adviser for Transportation at the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Prague, Igor Mitroczuk - Head of the Commercial Promotion Department at the Ministry of Economy and the President of Polexpo Exhibitions - Jerzy Karaim.

Port's participation in the fair provided suitable grounds for talks on the co-operation with Czech markets held with officials representing the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Prague: Bernard Blaszczyk - Minister Plenipotentiary and Jerzy Uzieblo - Commercial Adviser for Transportation, who visited the exhibition stand of the Port of Gdansk. During their talks with the port's potential business partners the representatives of the Port of Gdansk Authority SA, in the first place, promoted a comprehensive business offer introduced by the Port of Gdansk, a launch of Gdansk-Trelleborg-Copenhagen ferry services that will be operated by a newly developed Westerplatte Ferry Terminal and the extension of the Port Free Zone.

The Czech Republic is regarded as an exceptionally attractive and, at the same time, financially capable market. Extended capacity of the Czech market had raised an increasing interests among Polish entrepreneurs. This was also confirmed by the data reported on bilateral commercial relations. In the year 2000 the turnover volumes between Poland and the Czech Republic had grown by 10% as compared with the previous year's results and amounted to USD 2,720 million. Data from 2001 appear to be even more optimistic, as over the first five months an increase of 20% was reported in the turnover volumes as compared with the relative period of the previous year. Prevailing there are market industrial products, machines and transportation vehicles, chemicals, as well as building materials and technologies.

For many years now the Port of Gdansk Authority SA has been striving for an increased transit cargo volumes from the Czech Republic trying to take advantage of its favourable situation and, in particular, its role in the Trans-European Corridor VI.