Polish Market No. 8-9 (246) /2016

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No. 8-9 (246) /2016 :: www.polishmarket.com.pl

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Medicine SportS Marketing ......................

anna

rulkiewicz CEO Of LUX MED GrOUp


Infrastructure

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ONTENT

6. From The President’s Press Office 7. From The Government Information Centre OUR GUEST

8. DAWID JACKIEWICZ, Minister of the Treasury: WE WANT TO BE TREATED AS EQUALLY AS THE OTHER EUROPEAN COUNTRIES

10.

WITOLD BAŃKA, Minister of Sport and Tourism: THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A “NICHE SPORT”

12.

KONSTANTY RADZIWIŁŁ, Minister of Health: PRIORITY IS TO ELIMINATE BARRIERS IN ACCESSING PRIMARY HEALTH CARE

14.

NATO SUMMIT

MARCIN HABER: NATO SUMMIT IN WARSAW REINFORCEMENT OF THE EASTERN FLANK

18.

MEDICINE

34.

ANDRZEJ MĄDRALA, Vice-President of the National Association of Private Hospitals: REFORMING THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM IN POLAND

36.

BOGDAN SADECKI: YOU CAN LIVE HEALTHY IN POLAND. TELEMEDICINE SOON TO REVOLUTIONISE HEALTH CARE

38. ANNA RULKIEWICZ, CEO at LUX MED Group: THERE IS HOPE 40. PIOTR SOSZYŃSKI, MD, Ph.D., Medical Director, Member of the Board of Medicover: APPROACH TO HEALTH CARE MUST BE REDEFINED

42. ELŻBIETA RADZIKOWSKA, Ph.D., Head of the Plastic Surgery Department, Central Clinical Hospital of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Administration in Warsaw: HELPING PEOPLE TO RETURN TO SOCIETY

44. KATARZYNA NIEDUŻAK, Member of the Management

Board, AA Stomatologia: INTEREST IN DENTAL MARKET IS NOT ONLY NOT DECREASING, BUT KEEPS GROWING STEADILY

ARKADIUSZ SIWKO, President of Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa (PGZ SA, Polish Armaments Group): PGZ’S STRATEGY CONTRIBUTES TO NATIONAL SECURITY

46. BEATA DRZAZGA, President of the Board of BetaMed S.A.:

20.

48. 15 YEARS WITH THE POLPHARMA SCIENTIFIC

JERZY KOŹMIŃSKI, A PARTICIPANT IN THE NEGOTIATIONS LEADING TO POLAND’S ENTRY TO NATO

ECONOMY

THE ELDERLY SHOULD NOT BE ALONE

FOUNDATION!

49. PROFESSOR’S EAR

22. PRESIDENT ANDRZEJ DUDA ABOUT THE DEFENCE EXPO IN

KIELCE

24. 20 YEARS POLAND’S ANNIVERSARY IN THE OECD 26.

ZYGMUNT BERDYCHOWSKI, Chairman of the Economic Forum Programme Council: SOLIDARITY PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SUCCEED

28. BARTŁOMIEJ PAWLAK, Acting President of the Board of the

Polish Information and Foreign Investment Agency: POLAND GOOD INVESTMENT CLIMATE ON SOLID FOUNDATIONS

30.

INFRASTRUCTURE

50. MIROSŁAW JĘDRZEJCZYK, President of the Board

of the Tubądzin Group: TUBĄDZIN GROUP INNOVATION LEADER

52. PATENT CO-OPERATION TREATY 53. WORLD SOLUTIONS. MADE IN POLAND 54. MODERNITY ENTERS THE POLISH REAL ESTATE MARKET, OR DESIGN&BUILD IN PRACTICE

KRZYSZTOF PIETRASZKIEWICZ, President of ZBP: POLISH BANKING SECTOR STABILITY, INNOVATION, EFFECTIVENESS

56.

32. AZOTY GROUP CLEAR VISION OF DEVELOPMENT

MAŁGORZATA MAŃKA-SZULIK, Mayor of Zabrze: MINING PEARLS ONLY IN ZABRZE!

PARTNERSHIP A GOOD INVESTMENT

58. 60.

GRZEGORZ SKARŻYŃSKI, Member of the Board of the Polish Wind Energy Association (PSEW): INVESTMENT IN RENEWABLES UNDER THREAT



SPORTS

62. SPONSORS POLISH SPORTS DIAMONDS

80. MACIEJ PROLIŃSKI:“ON BOTH SIDES OF THE MOUNTAINS”

63. MARCIN HABER: EKSTRAKLASA POLISH FOOTBALL BUSINESS RECORDS AND

81. MACIEJ PROLIŃSKI: THE OPERA GALLERY

HISTORICAL RESULTS

66. POLAND 3.0

82.MACIEJ PROLIŃSKI: PIOTR SALABER’S OWN NOTE... POLAND 3.0

76.Cultural Monitor

FOOD INDUSTRY

84. POLAGRA FOOD REVEALS THE POTENTIAL OF THE FOOD INDUSTRY

CULTURE

85. ECONOMIC MONITOR

78."I FOUND GOODNESS IN POLES”

Cover: ANNA RULKIEWICZ, CEO OF LUX MED GROUP Photos on issue: www.shutterstock.com

8-9/2016 DTP: Godai Studio www.godai.pl

President: Krystyna Woźniak-Trzosek

Writers/Editors: Maciej Proliński, Jan Sosna, Janusz Korzeń, Jerzy Bojanowicz, Janusz Turakiewicz

Vice - Presidents: Błażej Grabowski, Grażyna Jaskuła

Translation: Sylwia Wesołowska-Betkier, BusinessClass

Circulation: 8,000

Address: ul. Elektoralna 13, 00-137 Warszawa, Poland Phone (+48 22) 620 31 42, 652 95 77 Fax (+48 22) 620 31 37 E-mail: info@polishmarket.com.pl

Contributors: Agnieszka Turakiewicz

Publisher: Oficyna Wydawnicza RYNEK POLSKI Sp. z o.o. (RYNEK POLSKI Publishers Co. Ltd.)

Editor-in-Chief: Krystyna Woźniak-Trzosek Deputy Editor-in-Chief: Ewelina Janczylik-Foryś redakcja@polishmarket.com.pl Marcin Haber m.haber@polishmarket.com.pl

Graphic design: Godai Studio Agnieszka Charuba, Joanna Wiktoria Grabowska Sales: Phone (+48 22) 620 38 34, 654 95 77 Marketing Manager: Magdalena Koprowicz m.koprowicz@polishmarket.com.pl

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Oficyna Wydawnicza RYNEK POLSKI Sp. z o.o. Nr KRS 0000080385, Sąd Rejonowy dla m.st. Warszawy XII Wydział Gospodarczy Kapitał zakładowy 80.000,- zł. REGON 011915685, NIP 526-11-62-572 Published articles represent the authors’ personal views only. The Editor and Publisher disclaim any responsibility or liability for their contents. Unso-licited material will not be returned. The editors reserve the right to edit the material for length and content. The editors accept no responsibility what-soever for the content of advertising material. Reproduction of any material from this magazine requires prior written permission from the Publisher.


Editorial

Krystyna Woźniak-Trzosek Editor-in-Chief President of Rynek Polski Publishers Co. Ltd.

FACED WITH CHALLENGES GLOBALISATION AND DIGITISATION ARE RADICALLY TRANSFORMING "ETERNAL" CUSTOMS AND LIFESTYLE. LAPTOPS, TABLETS AND SMARTPHONES HAVE JOINED THE MUST-HAVE ACCESSORIES NEEDED DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON. ON THE BEACHES OF THE MEDITERRANEAN, BALTIC AND IN EXOTIC LOCATIONS THEIR SIGHT HAS BECOME AS COMMON AS THE MOST FASHIONABLE SUNGLASSES AND BATHING SUITS. IT IS INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO GET AWAY FROM POLITICS AND BUSINESS. Even the European Parliament, which is usually eager to start its summer holidays, gifted itself a rather discouraging package right at the end. I mean here the approval of the report drawn up by a sub-committee chaired by Jan Olbrycht (MEP, Poland) which concludes that an urgent review of the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) of the European Union until the year 2020 was needed. Why? The report mentions the appearance of a number of serious crises and new political necessities (together with their consequences for the EU budget) which were not predicted at the time of adoption of the MFF. They include the migration and refugee crisis, combating terrorism, internal security within the EU, the crisis in agriculture, financing the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI), continued high rate of unemployment (especially among the young, as well as poverty and social exclusion); recent international climate change agreement and the growing pressure on the development policy. Certainly, one can analyse this in many ways and put forward various solution proposals, but in the end their proponents must all meet at the cash desk. The report points out that over the last two years the capabilities of the MFF in certain areas have been essentially depleted. These areas include the migration policy and reducing unemployment among the young. It does not mention problems and solutions concerning Brexit, but it is clear that in the autumn we can expect the start of a very intense round of negotiations regarding the EU funds. Countries being “net recipients” of these funds, such as Poland, will be in a relatively comfortable situation because the European Parliament’s MFF Regulation guarantees maintaining the amounts of national envelopes which have already been allocated. Thus, we will remain the biggest MFF beneficiary. However, if the European Commission does not indicate new sources of budget revenues, we can expect more restrictive settlement of our Cohesion or Common Agricultural Policy programmes. And we must reckon with limited access to additional funds from the EFSI (Juncker’s Plan) or “Connecting Europe.” However, even this cloud has a silver lining. The review of the European finances converges in time with the finalising of Poland’s development strategy known as the “Morawiecki Plan.” We cannot deny the fact that, although its fundamental element is a programme of investments in the real economy, the feasibility of this plan hinges largely on the financing level and mechanisms. In this regard, since the beginning of our EU membership the funds provided by the Community have been of strategic importance in terms of the level of investments in the Polish economy. Consequently, the version of the “Strategy for Responsible Development” recently referred to social consultation will be able to take into account the availability of the EU funds in a more realistic way. Putting in practice the results of serious public debates offers an additional chance for working out the finer details of the Polish development plan. In May, the European Economic Congress held over three days in Katowice, attracted 8,000 guests from Europe, Asia and Africa who took part in a number of debates on the new directions of thinking about the economic future of our continent. Over 120 debates with 700 speakers were held. 2,000 people participated in the European Start-up Days. Soon, on September 6-8, the 26th Krynica Economic Forum will meet under the slogan “United or Divided? Europe in the Face of Challenges of Tomorrow.” For the last 20 years the Forum has provided a venue for meetings of prime ministers, European government officials, EU decisionmakers, presidents of European companies, experts and economists. Undoubtedly, one of the most closely followed debates will be “Stable Economy in Unstable Times” with the participation of Deputy Prime Minister Morawiecki. To give a complete picture of this Polish brainstorm we should mention the 6th European Forum for New Ideas to be held in Sopot in late September. It will attempt to predict whether we are facing an increase in inequality, polarisation and fragmentation of labour, the end to unemployment but also to permanent employment, and progressing commercialisation of life. It is clear that faced with challenges we are able to mobilise a huge intellectual potential. Let’s hope that this mobilisation brings the desired effects.

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President

POLISH AND US PRESIDENTS MEET IN WARSAW

"

missiles from countries like Iran, and offered thanks for Poland's participation in military missions, especially "for its new contributions to the campaign against the Islamic State." The U.S. president thanked Poland for its continued strong support for Ukraine's efforts to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity in the face of Russian aggression. He stressed it was very important to provide Ukraine with the assistance it needs to strengthen its military and to pursue political and economic reforms.

MEETING OF POLISH AND ROMANIAN PRESIDENTS

POLISH PRESIDENT ABOUT THE SUMMIT: NATO AND POLAND HAVE SCORED A SUCCESS

T

he results of the NATO Summit in Warsaw were the main topic of a working meeting between Polish and Romanian Presidents held at the Belweder Palace on July 10. President Duda stressed that the “meeting is a symbolic closing of the road that led us to the alliance's summit in Warsaw." During a joint press conference Presidents Andrzej Duda and Klaus Iohannis said that a meeting of the foreign ministers of nine States making up the Eastern flank would be held in Bucharest in the autumn of 2016, followed in 2017 by a meeting of the heads of State of the same nine countries in Warsaw organised in the “Bucharest format.” The Polish President added that meetings of the heads of State and foreign affairs ministers would be held in this format every two years. The Presidents discussed Polish-Romanian military co-operation, Brexit, the situation of Poles and Romanians in Great Britain and reinforcing democratic processes in Moldova. "Extending the security area east of our borders is one of the tasks facing us," said Andrzej Duda.

Photo: KPRP

The NATO summit in Warsaw will show unity and will strengthen Polish-U.S. partnership," Polish President Andrzej Duda said after a meeting on July 8 with U.S. President Barack Obama who stressed that Poland was one of the most committed and important allies. The meeting of the Polish and U.S. presidents focused on strengthening the military presence on NATO's eastern flank and Brexit. President Obama voiced concern regarding the Constitutional Court in Poland. The Polish president expressed his hope that "the Warsaw summit will have a historic character and historic dimension." President Obama stressed that Poland would surely notice NATO's increased presence. "As treaty allies, we have a solemn, binding Article 5 duty to defend each other. And in this obligation, we will never waver. These are not just words – they are backed up by deeds," the U.S. president declared. "In the United States, we consider Poland one of our most committed and important allies. Poland is a leader in NATO as one of the nations that pays its full share - 2% of GDP - for our collective security," President Obama stressed. The U.S. president said that Poland was one of the pillars of the alliance's eastern flank participating in the defence system against ballistic

PRESIDENTS OF POLAND AND PANAMA DISCUSS ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION

E

conomic co-operation and the political situation in Central America were the topics discussed on July 29 by Panama’s President Juan Carlos Varela Rodriguez and Polish President Andrzej Duda who confirmed the decision to re-open Poland’s embassy in Panama. The President of Panama came to Poland in connection with the World Youth Day. Towards the end of May, the Italian press agency Ansa had quoted unofficial information

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that the next World Youth Day would be held in Panama in 2019. The formal announcement of the location of the next event was made by Pope Francis at the end of the World Youth Day in Poland. After the official welcome ceremony in the courtyard of the Belweder Palace President Duda held talks with President Rodriguez followed by a plenary meeting of both delegations attended by the presidents.

"

The NATO Summit in Warsaw has clearly demonstrated the unity, cohesion and solidarity of the Alliance; NATO and Poland have succeeded," President Andrzej Duda said on July 9 after the end of the NATO Summit. He added that very important decisions had been taken at the Summit. "The Summit ended with the adoption of very important decisions. Some say that these are historical decisions," the President said at a press conference at the National Stadium. "It is a fact that, as planned from the beginning, the Summit had a versatile character; we discussed all matters pertaining to the North Atlantic Alliance and connected with guaranteeing our security," he said. Andrzej Duda added that the Summit had shown the unity, cohesion and solidarity of NATO and mutual understanding.


Prime Minister

PREMIER BEATA SZYDŁO AT THE ASIA-EUROPE MEETING IN MONGOLIA

P

rime Minister Beata Szydło took part in the 11th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) in the Mongolian capital of Ulaanbaatar. The topic of this year’s meeting was the development of economic co-operation between Asia and Europe, as well as an assessment of the last 20 years of ASEM’s activity. The meeting provided an opportunity for presenting the economic success of Poland, the unique position of our country between Asia and Europe and the role of Poland in the European Union and NATO, particularly in the context of the successful NATO summit, which ended recently. Participation in ASEM also provides an opportunity to hold bilateral meetings with European and Asian partners. ASEM meetings were inaugurated in March 1996 in Bangkok. Currently, 53 entities, including 51 states and 2 international organisations including the European Union belong to ASEM. Poland has been a member of ASEM since 2004. During the meeting held on the fringe of the 11th ASEM in Mongolia Prime Minister Beata Szydło talked with Algirdas Butkevičius, the head of Lithuanian Government. Beata Szydło raised the topic of the Polish citizens living in Lithuania and told Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevičius that regulating this issue would significantly improve the relations between both countries.

Photo: KPRM

PREMIER BEATA SZYDŁO COMMEMORATE THE 72ND ANNIVERSARY OF THE WARSAW UPRISING

P

remier Beata Szydło took part on August 1 in commemoration of the 72nd anniversary of the beginning of the Warsaw Uprising at the Warsaw Rising Museum and in front of the Gloria Victis monument at Warsaw’s Military Cemetery. Premier Beata Szydło placed flowers under the bell of “Monter” General Antoni Chruściel, Commander of the Warsaw Uprising, and under a plaque commemorating the late President Lech Kaczyński, who was the initiator and founder of the Warsaw Rising Museum. The head of the government took part in a commemoration ceremony at the Military

Cemetery in Powązki where she laid a wreath on the grave of General Antoni Chruściel “Monter.” She also paid homage to the fighters at the Gloria Victis Monument at the “W” hour. The "W" hour is the culmination of the anniversary commemoration. Every year, at 5.00 p.m. sharp sirens sound all over Warsaw joined by church bells. Traffic and pedestrians come to a standstill in a homage to the fighters who took part in the Uprising. The "W" hour was the beginning of the rising, the biggest bid for freedom carried out by the Home Army and the largest military action of a resistance movement in Europe under Nazi occupation. The Uprising began on August 1, 1944 and lasted 63 days. After initial successes the fighters had to surrender to the German forces occupying the capital. Combat lasted until the night on October 2/3 1944 when the instrument of surrender was signed at the SS Headquarters in Ożarów Mazowiecki. Nearly 200,000 people were killed during the fighting in the capital, including soldiers and civilians.

PREMIER BEATA SZYDŁO: GREAT BRITAIN IS OUR STRATEGIC PARTNER

O

n July 28 Premier Beata Szydło met with British Prime Minister Theresa May. Poland is one of the first countries to be visited by the British Premier following her appointment as head of government. The topics discussed by the premiers included: strategic partnership, situation of Poles in the United Kingdom and the British – EU relations after Brexit. Premiers Szydło and May discussed the shape of bilateral relations between Poland and the United Kingdom and the future of multilateral relations with the British following Brexit. Premier Szydło stressed the role of Great Britain as a strategic partner of Poland. The countries share a similar point of view regarding many issues. The topics broached during the meeting also included security. The Polish Prime Minister reiterated the decisions taken by the NATO Summit in Warsaw to reinforce the eastern flank of the Alliance. Great Britain will play an important role in this process. During the visit of Prime Minister May the current and future situation of Polish nationals in the United Kingdom was also discussed. The British Premier declared that the situation of Polish citizens would not change for as long as Great Britain remains in the European Union, Premier Szydło said.

PRIME MINISTER BEATA SZYDŁO AFTER THE VISEGRÁD GROUP SUMMIT: THE EU HAS TO RETURN TO ITS ROOTS

"

The Visegrád Group (V4) will be very active in the process of changes which the European Union (EU) currently faces and will be proposing solutions leading to an enhanced strength of the EU,” said Prime Minister Beata Szydło after the meeting of the prime ministers of V4 countries in Warsaw. It was the first V4 meeting after Poland assumed the presidency in the Group. Premier Beata Szydło said that the Visegrad Group States concur with regard to their active role in the process of changes in the EU which should “focus on guaranteeing security to the Europeans." She also drew attention to an informal EU summit to be held

in Bratislava in September where the situation in the EU following Brexit will be discussed. "We, as the Visegrad Group, want to be well prepared for it. We want to have joint proposals regarding the future of the European Union. This is very important. Today’s discussion was dedicated to the preparation of a joint position," the head of the Polish Government stressed. Polish Premier Beata Szydło, Hungarian Premier Viktor Orban, Czech Premier Bohuslav Sobotka and Slovakian Premier Robert Fico issued a joint statement in which the V4 countries suggested development directions and a reform plan for the EU.

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Our Guest

WE WANT TO BE TREATED AS EQUALLY AS THE OTHER EUROPEAN COUNTRIES DAWID JACKIEWICZ, Minister of the Treasury

At the July meeting of the Government we heard that the Government had adopted a resolution to dissolve the Ministry of the Treasury. A new schedule for the dissolution of the Ministry by the end of 2016 has been proposed. Then, a new entity will be established. Could you share more details about it? The dissolution of the Ministry is entering the final stage. The necessity for dissolving the Ministry was diagnosed over two years ago. It was then that we realised that the State Treasury in the then shape should have been dissolved. It is to be replaced by an entity which will effectively supervise the state assets, which has not been the case up to now. The concept of the organisational form of the new entity is going to be announced publicly most likely in September. PM

Talking to entrepreneurs we have been hearing that Poland is not sufficiently promoted in the world. I understand that the response to the growing expectations of entrepreneurs is the establishment of the Polish National Foundation. The initiative behind the establishment of the Polish National Foundation arises from a strong and still unfulfilled necessity to exchange knowledge and experience as well as a broadly understood co-operation of the biggest state-owned companies in order to improve the image of the Polish economy. The goal of the Foundation is to promote the Polish economy as well as shape a positive image PM

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Our Guest of the companies that the State Treasury has shares in and the investment of the companies in Poland and abroad. The idea to establish the Polish National Foundation is not a consequence of feeling a sense of hopelessness or anxiety in relation to many various harmful and unfair judgments of Poles and Poland. Having listened to biased statements or read untrue publications we have concluded that there is a lack of a firm and assertive response to such actions. Everybody who is interested in public matters and international politics can see that Poland is often harmed in such cases. We have a deficit of information about how our Country develops, what opportunities for entrepreneurs and investors are created. A dynamic development of the Polish economy may only be possible if we are treated with fairness and honesty. We must care about the situations where others say things about us that are not true. We want to be treated as equally as the other European countries are treated.

A DYNAMIC DEVELOPMENT OF THE POLISH ECONOMY MAY ONLY BE POSSIBLE IF WE ARE TREATED WITH FAIRNESS AND HONESTY.

PM

necessary, for instance, when spreading unfair information about Poland occurs. In such cases we want to reach the representatives of international press or public opinion leaders abroad and show the truth about our Country. We also want to be active with our message at renowned universities, which is where the attitudes of next generations are formed of those, who are going to have actual influence on social, economic and political reality. The Foundation will here reinforce and complement activities of various government institutions or diplomatic services of Poland. We are seeking co-operation in this area with for instance the Ministry of Foreign Affairs because we are sure that it will facilitate effective promotion of the largest Polish companies in the world.

What specific actions will be taken to promote Poland? Will they be meeting with other entrepreneurs? Or advertisements in the foreign media? Or maybe organising Poland days where our culture will be pitches? We plan that the Foundation will act both actively and reactively. In the former case, for instance, in terms of organising conferences that show the potential of Poland and how large and valuable human capital and investment potential it possesses. The reactive actions will be

The managers of state-owned companies signed a letter of intent to establish the Polish National Foundation. Does it mean that only the state-owned companies will be enabled to support the Foundation? Can private companies also join this initiative? There are currently 17 state-owned companies that are taking part in the project. The list of the companies that founded the Foundation comprises four energy groups: PGE, Enea, Energa, Tauron; producers and distributors of natural gas and petroleum: PGNiG, PKN Orlen, Grupa Lotos; insurance and finance companies: PZU, PKO BP, Warsaw Stock Exchange; and also: Totalizator Sportowy (a lottery company), KGHM, Grupa Azoty, Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa (Polish Armaments Group), Polska Wytwórnia Papierów Wartościowych (Polish Security Printing Works), Polski Holding Nieruchomości (Polish Property Holdings) and Polskie Koleje Państwowe (Polish State Railways). These are the entities that established the Foudation. However, other companies, not only the remaining state-owned companies, but also private entities or foreign ones acting in Poland will be able to co-operate with the Foundation. Therefore, all entities, including the private ones, are welcome to cooperate with us. The most important indicator for co-operation is willingness to fulfil the goals of the Polish National Foundation and understanding that the image of Poland and Poles is one of the elements that contribute to the development potential and investment capabilities of our Country. I am convinced that all Polish people share the ideas that lay at the basis of the Polish National Foundation and feel in their hearts the necessity to care about how the rest of the world sees us. We must care about the image of our Country and our society because no one else • is going to do that for us.

Who is going to supervise the Polish National Foundation? The Board of the Foundation is to be the Supervisory Body of it, it is to be elected and appointed by its Council. The Council is to be comprised of representatives indicated by the companies that are its founders. PM

The Polish National Foundation is to combine effectiveness, strength to promote Poland and corporate social responsibility. During her press conference, Prime Minister Beata Szydło said: “We are a country that has great ambitions, we want to conquer the world and markets.” What particular issues could the Foundation help promote so that the world can hear our voice? The combined potential of Polish businesses creates a huge opportunity for an ambitious plan to remove a lot of untrue an unfair myths about Poland and its economy from the international public sphere. For instance a nonecological “poisoner” of Europe, whereas there are other countries which release more harmful substances to the atmosphere. Or a country that is grudging the renewable energy sources, albeit it is Poland which has more wind farms than a country which is deemed the “green point” of Europe, Denmark. Or a country that does not fulfil the EU’s energy policy objectives that means becoming independent from the resources imports. Meanwhile, the truth is that in terms of energy security we are one of the leaders in the European Union. All these functioning myths and stereotypes impede business activities of our companies. Only by representing the reality the image of our country will enhance the possibility to obtain money for further investments driving the Polish economy. PM

PM

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Our Guest

THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A “NICHE SPORT” WITOLD BAŃKA, Minister of Sport and Tourism, talks to Marcin Haber about the code of good sponsoring practice, co-operation between sport and business and the odds for medals at the Olympic Games in Rio.

Let us begin with a very interesting project that has recently been created with the help from the Ministry of Sport and Tourism: a code of good sponsoring practice. What is the code and what is its main purpose? The main idea standing behind it was to standardise sponsoring policy in the scope of the state-owned enterprises for particular sports disciplines. There are a lot of disciplines that we deem as the ones that have a high potential as far as their development is concerned. They are the disciplines that I describe as “medal-producing” but they lack support from the state-owned companies or other sponsors. Hence the need for a code of good practice was borne, which was created and implemented by the Ministry of State Treasury headed by Minister Dawid Jackiewicz in cooperation with our ministry. As the Ministry of Sport and Tourism, we are to be a kind of a sports think tank which is going to give opinion on the offers sent by the sports associations. Today we are at the stage of assessing and recommending particular applications. We are going to encourage state-owned companies to support projects that in our opinion are going to be worthwhile. Some projects have already started to operate. Some good examples are: support for Ekstraklasa football league by Totalizator Sportowy, Paralympic athletes sponsorship by Orlen, or handball super league sponsorship by PGNiG. The code is a very interesting project and a big change because it is the first such case that the presidents of the state-owned companies consult their key sponsoring projects. However, it should be remembered that our role is only to provide opinions to the PM

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Our Guest

applications of the sports associations. In no case are we going to infringe upon the companies’ strategies, for example in the context of club sponsorship or local sports initiatives. PM

opened up to the consulting process. Up to now, it was often the case that a lot of sponsoring agreements were concluded by those who would harness the power of critical mass. Currently there is complete openness to suggestions from us.

You mentioned ”medal-producing” sports disciplines. Which one did you have in mind? I am thinking about disciplines such as for example rowing, canoeing, swimming or cycling. It is enough to analyse the medal table during the recent years to see which sports disciplines have had sponsors and which have not. That is why we have created this project in order to help sports with some potential develop.

We have already mentioned Totalizator Sportowy, which through the sponsorship of the Ekstraklasa football league promotes its Lotto brand. But is not that a peculiar example? This is a company that actually wants to get to the people with their product… There are other examples of such companies, for instance PGNiG, which is a perfect sponsor of the Handball Association in Poland. Probably in September, the first, professional handball league will be set up, and it is because of the joint co-ordination between the Ministry of Sport and Tourism, the Polish Handball Association and PGNiG. Totalizator Sportowy is in general a very interesting case because it is a company that finances Polish sport to a large degree. In practice, 75% of the Ministry of Sport and Tourism’s budget are revenues from the Physical Culture Development Fund, which comes from the Lotto’s coupons. From every Polish zloty spent on a coupon, Totalizator Sportowy transfers PLN 0.19 to the Fund. Hence, paradoxically, the more people play Lotto, the more money are spent on development of sport among children and teenagers, disabled people and on sports investment projects, which means all those facilities that we, as the Ministry, subsidise.

But there are also some sports that had produced medals for Poland, and they were later forgotten. One such example could be speed skating. A lot was said about the problems this sports discipline had with training facilities. Has anything changed in this area? Yes, it is a good example. As far as training facilities are concerned, a lot has changed. Construction works have been initiated in Tomaszów Mazowiecki where next year a training track is to be built and the skaters are going to have very comfortable conditions for training. As the ministry, we are co-financing this investment. However, as you noticed, the issue of a strategic sponsor lags behind. The project of the code of good sponsoring practice should be viewed here as an opportunity also for this sports discipline. For the first time in history, state-owned companies have

We are talking about the marketing opportunities of Polish sport, but what are the pure sporting opportunities? Recently Polish athletes claimed the top place in the medal ranks at the European Athletics Championships and it happened just before the Olympic Games. Is this the reason to be proud of or just a prelude to the good results in Rio? We should always be happy with the success of Polish athletes. Every victory is a reason for joy, there is no reason to downplay the importance of this success. It is the first time in history that we have won the medal ranks of the European Championships, it is a fantastic result. It is the reason for pride and optimism. Now we are awaiting the Olympic Games in Rio. The signals from particular sports disciplines are optimistic. We are receiving regular reports from sports associations on what

From what you are saying, we can observe that sports associations have to change their model of operation. They have to see the necessity to be able to present their cause well and prepare a concrete offer for a potential sponsor… Indeed, we can see that the associations have started to work hard. For the first time in many years, we have obtained a coherent strategy in certain sports disciplines. It is already great progress. Some associations have prepared, after many years, for example training programmes. It is a positive symptom because, in a way, we forced them to do so. We are trying to change the way of thinking in the associations. We would like them to understand that each sports discipline has to be packed marketing-wise to encourage a sponsor to invest in it. PM

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the final training stages of the preparations before the Olympic Games look like. Now everything is in the heads, arms and legs of our representatives. We as the Ministry have done all that we could. For the first time in many years we have helped the association by transferring financial means at the beginning of the year. Thanks to that we have avoided any financial turmoil, delays in scholarship payouts for the contestants or payments for training camps. We have not received any signals from the contestants that they lacked anything. The preparations have been very good then, now we have to wait for the result. Our role as the Ministry ends here. Now, everything depends on the athletes. Regarding the European Athletics Championships and marketing at sport, I have to admit that to me, as a sports fan, a lot of names of our medallists were completely anonymous. Is it not worrying that even sports fans do not recognise such talented athletes? It sure is. We should consider promoting particular sports disciplines, especially in the media. Yet, here we return to the subject of sports associations’ marketing and communication. It is very important to build the whole history around people who achieve success. A very good example here is the Orlen Group which sponsors top Polish athletes: Piotr Małachowski, Paweł Fajdek, Anita Włodarczyk, Tomasz Majewski, Marcin Lewandowski and Adam Kszczot, are currently big brands on their own. These athletes are characterised by proper marketing management. Some of the new contestants who won their medals globally have relatively little recognition in our country, which is a shame. Therefore, we should work on building their brands. There is a great potential there. There is no such thing as a niche sport, there is only one that is badly packed marketing-wise. Years ago a lot of people did not know what ski jumping was, but then Adam Małysz appeared and a boom in ski jumping started. In 1996 at the Olympic Games in Atlanta, Polish wrestling athletes proved highly successful: Wolny, Tracz, Zawadzki, Wroński. These are the names that I remember to this day, although I were not interested in wrestling. We should remember that success breeds success. I hope that after the Olympic Games in Rio also the marketing packaging of some sports disciplines will change for the better. • PM

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Infrastructure

PRIORITY IS TO ELIMINATE BARRIERS IN ACCESSING PRIMARY HEALTH CARE KONSTANTY RADZIWIŁŁ, Minister of Health

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mong the greatest challenges with regards to the improvement of the situation in health care that I stood against when I was appointed minister were above all the disorder of the health care system, its underfunding and the problems that patients struggle with: long waiting time for treatment or difficulties with accessing a primary care physician. Therefore, my primal goal is to improve health care. This objective must be reached in a prudent and reasonable way, without raising anyone’s fear or doubts towards the necessary changes and reforms. The initial months of the ministry’s operation under my management have been very intensive and we have managed to do a lot. Not only have we started working on the deep reform of the system, but also adopted the proposed draft legislation. The result of our determination in pursing our goals is, for example, the adoption of the 75+ draft to ensure free medicine for senior citizens who have reached the age of 75; implementation of the directive regarding blood donation and the so called tobacco directive; preparation of the health requirement maps and the Instrument for the Assessment of the Investment Application in Health Care (IOWISZ); increasing the number of places at medical schools and reintroducing internship after graduation from a medical university. We have overcome the deadlock that was characteristic of our predecessors. The fact that we have achieved so much in such a short time certainly does not mean that we can now rest on our laurels. Every step towards the improvement of the situation is additional motivation for us to keep on working hard so the health care system in

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Poland can really start functioning well. The main direction of the health care system reform must be to reinstall the State’s responsibility for guaranteeing proper health care and related funding of health care for Polish people from the national budget. First of all, we should introduce changes in 5 major areas which are: health care management and funding system, hospital treatment; increasing health care funding, primary health care and public health. Our priority is to eliminate barriers in accessing primary health care and make it possible to use it for those patients who are marked in red in the e-WUŚ system, which means they are not covered by insurance. We are lifting the access barrier to the family doctor. Everyone should have the possibility to use his help. Currently prosecuting those who have illegally visited a doctor is more expensive than allowing it to happen. We are not going to entitle people to free of charge access to health care, but we are going to cease recovery for illegal use of it. The insurance entitlement causes a lot of people, particularly those working on specific task contracts, not to have the right to free care. The constitution guarantees everyone the right to health care financed by public funds on the basis of equality. Therefore, we are going to move to a residential system, which means that everyone who needs health care will be able to receive it. Among the most important long-term activities that are to ensure a positive evolution in the health service our assumptions are based, above all, on budget funding and abolishing the National Health Fund. We would like to relieve health care institutions of: reporting, necessity to adjust to the settlement system and code all their activities, and so on. It is also important to us to guarantee financial

security to hospitals, which play a significant role in the system. We would like to introduce these changes while maintaining security and quality of the planned actions so that the patients do not feel a revolution, but a positive evolution. We would also like to ensure a year by year increase in remuneration to those medical employees of the health service whose salaries have been too low for many years. We have set forth proposals for systemic solutions that guarantee them a minimum basic salary. They have been based upon analyses of salary data collected by the ministry from over 2.5 thousand health care institutions. And, as I promised earlier, we are implementing the agreement on a salary increase for nurses and midwifes, the so called 4x400. We are also planning innovative changes in the scope of digital and IT development. Our plans are based on the assumptions that a computerised health service should provide patients and employees of health institutions with a whole range of electronic services, improve the patient’s security and increase health care quality as well as guarantee information protection. The objectives of the planned computerisation process are: electronic registration, prescription, referrals, orders and access to electronic medical records and the patient’s internet account. We will start using the e-services within a few years. Simultaneously, we are working on numerous other projects, including: strengthening the role of a family doctor, creating an integrated public system for emergency notification and introducing changes in the area of clinical research. We are going to consistently execute all the tasks that we set forth in order to restore the health care system at its best in Poland. •



NATO SUMMIT IN WARSAW

REINFORCEMENT OF THE EASTERN FLANK The reinforcement of the eastern flank, the fight against ISIS, the Middle East and the situation in North Africa were the main topics of the NATO Summit in Warsaw in July. However, despite the reassurance made by officials, it would be hard to call the Summit a breakthrough. Marcin Haber

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n July 8-9, the National Stadium (PGE Narodowy) in Warsaw was the focus of attention not only of those who live in the capital city, but also of all NATO member states. There, behind closed doors, decisions were made determining the direction of NATO’s activities in the coming years. The issues debated by the heads of state included reinforcing the Alliance’s eastern flank by deploying four battalions in the Baltic States and Poland, the threat posed by the so-called Islamic State (ISIS, ISIL), the situation in the Middle East and North Africa and the conflict in Ukraine. Certainly, the talks also broached the aggressive conduct of the Russian Federation as well as Brexit and its potential consequences for stability in Europe. Jens Stoltenberg, Secretary General of NATO, met with journalists before the official opening of the Summit to present its basic assumptions. He began by saying that it would be a breakthrough summit: "The Warsaw Summit will be a landmark summit. We meet at a time which is decisive for our shared security. And NATO will once again send a very clear message that we are here to protect and defend all

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IN GOOD TIMES AND IN BAD, EUROPE CAN COUNT ON THE UNITED STATES, ALWAYS. Barack Obama

From left: Jens Stoltenberg, Barack Obama, Andrzej Duda

Allies in a new and more challenging security environment. The two main themes of the Summit are deterrence, defence and projecting stability to our neighbourhood. Strong defence and strong deterrence is the core task of NATO. And we are adapting the Alliance to new threats and new challenges. We will make important decisions at the Summit on how to strengthen our defence and deterrence. We will decide to increase our forward presence in the eastern part of the Alliance with four new battalions, multinational robust battalions and they will send a clear message that an attack on one Ally will be an attack on the whole Alliance. And we will also increase our presence in the south-eastern part of the Alliance, with tailored multinational presence. NATO doesn’t seek confrontation, we don’t want a new Cold War. The Cold War is history, and it should remain history. But we have to be able also in a more challenging security environment to defend and protect all our Allies. We will continue to strive for a meaningful and constructive dialogue with Russia. That is important to reduce risks, to increase predictability and to enhance transparency and that is particularly important in times like these.

We will also address how we can project stability to our neighbourhood. Because if our neighbours are stable we are secure. We will step up our support for the international coalition fighting ISIL. I expect the Heads of State and Government to make decisions on support of NATO AWACS surveillance planes, make decisions on training of Iraqi officers, and also to expand our presence in the Mediterranean, building on our success we have in the Aegean Sea working with the EU, Turkey and Greece. We will also address many other issues like Afghanistan, Ukraine but I will also mention that here in Warsaw I will sign later on today a declaration with the two Presidents of the European Union. President Tusk and President Juncker and that is an important political platform for further strengthening the cooperation between NATO and the EU. That has been important for a long time, but it is increasingly important when we see the challenges evolving around us so we are looking into how we can step up the cooperation with the EU in areas like answers to hybrid threats, cyber threats and also maritime cooperation and building capacity. So this will be a landmark summit and the decisions we are going to take together will

once again confirm that Europe and NorthAmerica stand together, act together, to protect all Allies against any threats. The Warsaw Summit will be a land mark summit. We meet at a time which is decisive for our shared security." Secretary Stoltenberg also provided more details regarding the deployment of additional units to the eastern flank of the Alliance: "The 4 battalions will be multinational battalions, meaning that they will send a very clear message – that an attack on one Ally will trigger the response from the whole Alliance. They will be in Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia as well as in Poland. And I think it is important to understand that the battalions are only one element in a broader response from NATO. We have tripled the size of the NATO Response Force to 40,000 troops with a Spearhead Force at its core able to move within a matter of days. We have set up small new headquarters in Poland and other countries in the eastern part of the Alliance which are important for planning, for exercises, but also to facilitate reinforcements if needed. And we have also decided to have more pre-positioned equipment and supplies, and also to have more exercises, sped up our decision-making. So we have done a lot of different things. 8-9/2016  polish market

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Asked by a journalist representing Russian television whether NATO was the aggressive side, he replied: "Poland, the Baltic countries, they are sovereign, independent nations and they have decided by democratic decisions to join NATO. Those decisions are decisions which, of course, NATO respects, that’s the reason why they are members. And we have welcomed them as members of the Alliance. And they are contributing a lot to our Alliance. It’s their sovereign right to decide their own path, including what kind of security arrangements they want to be part of. We are increasing our military presence in the Baltic countries and Poland, but there is no doubt that is something we do as a response to what Russia did in Ukraine. No-one talked about any military presence of the kind we now see in Poland and the Baltic countries before Ukraine, before the illegal annexation of Crimea. What we do is defensive, it is proportionate, and it’s fully in line with our international commitments. And it is no way something that justifies any reactions from Russia. Because it is in all ways defensive measures from the NATO side. We have seen a more assertive Russia. We have seen a Russia which has been willing to use military force against sovereign nations in Europe. With aggressive actions against Ukraine, the illegal annexation of Crimea. And that’s the reason, the main reason, why we are now increasing our military presence in the eastern part of the Alliance." Prior to the beginning of the Summit, Andrzej Duda, President of Poland, said: "Here in Warsaw NATO must demonstrate that it is and will be a living, strong and trustworthy alliance for peace, freedom and democracy. To make it so it needs to considerably strengthen its deterrence and defence potential. Together we must show that we do not accept a policy of intimidation and aggression. We must all make sure that anyone who is tempted, even for a moment, to use force in pursuit of their goals will immediately understand that this simply does not pay. Only then will we understand what the power of the law means." He added that in practice this meant the need to reinforce the presence of the Alliance in Central and Eastern Europe and to provide an adequate response to the complex challenges posed by conflicts in North Africa and the Middle East. "This is a historic moment because in 1955 the Warsaw Pact was formed in Warsaw, and today, also in Warsaw, we are holding a meeting of the North Atlantic Alliance of which Poland is an important member," Andrzej Duda said. "The NATO Summit, awaited by us so eagerly, is beginning today

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Barack Obama and Andrzej Duda in Warsaw. This is a moving moment. I will soon host the leaders of dozens of states at the National Stadium and the Presidential Palace. This is a historic moment because in 1955 the Warsaw Pact was formed in Warsaw, and today, also in Warsaw, we are holding a meeting of the North Atlantic Alliance of which Poland is an important member. This moment shows how the fate can change and how far we have managed to progress in reclaiming our freedom. I believe that over the next two days the Summit will take important decisions reinforcing NATO’s eastern flank, thus reinforcing the security of Poland, as well as in North Africa and the Middle East. The decisions that are going to build security and peace, not just among the member states of the Alliance, but also world-wide." During a press conference summarising the Warsaw Summit, Barack Obama, the US President, said that the meeting was held under exceptional circumstances for NATO: "In good times and in bad, Europe can count on the United States, always. In the nearly 70 years of NATO, perhaps never have we faced such a range of challenges all at once – security, humanitarian, political. NATO nations – the United States, Canada, France, Belgium, and Turkey – have endured heinous terrorist attacks directed or inspired by ISIL. Russia has violated the sovereignty and territorial integrity of an independent European nation – Ukraine – and engaged in provocative behaviour toward NATO allies. European borders and economies have been tested by millions of migrants fleeing conflicts and depravation. And the vote in the United Kingdom to leave the EU has raised questions about the future of European integration. Here in Warsaw, we haven’t simply reaffirmed our enduring Article 5 obligations to our common security; we’re moving forward with the most significant reinforcement of our collective defense any time since the Cold War. First, we’re strengthening NATO’s defense

and deterrence posture. Building on our European Reassurance Initiative – which has already increased readiness, from the Baltics to the Black Sea – our Alliance will enhance our forward presence on our eastern flank. As I announced yesterday, the United States will be the lead nation here in Poland, deploying a battalion of American soldiers. The United Kingdom will take the lead in Estonia, Germany in Lithuania, and Canada in Latvia. This will mean some 4,000 additional NATO troops, on a rotational basis, in this region. Moreover, the additional U.S. Armored Brigade will rotate through Europe, including an additional 4,000 U.S. troops. Meanwhile, to the south, we agreed on new deterrence measures in Romania and Bulgaria. So NATO is sending a clear message that we will defend every ally. We’re also strengthening the readiness of our forces against a range of threats. So NATO’s joint task force is now operational and can deploy anywhere in Europe on short notice. With recent progress here in Poland, Romania and Spain, NATO's ballistic missile defense is coming online. And we're launching a new effort to boost the resilience of allies to better defend against new types of threats, including cyberattacks." It would be difficult to call the Warsaw Summit a breakthrough, mainly because most of the decisions announced in its course were not unexpected. However, this was also characteristic of previous NATO summits. Nonetheless, they were more symptomatic. Thanks to the presence in Warsaw of all major heads of state and the decisions to strengthen the eastern flank of the Alliance, NATO has sent a clear signal to Russia which has recently been pursuing an aggressive policy. Expected decisions were also taken regarding the fight against the ISIS and stabilisation in North Africa. We could say that the summit has brought us important, but predictable decisions. •


Economy

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PGZ’S STRATEGY CONTRIBUTES TO NATIONAL SECURITY ARKADIUSZ SIWKO, President of Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa (PGZ SA, Polish Armaments Group), talks to “Polish Market”.

You manage a Polish national group of arms companies. Isn’t the strategic position of the holding company, PGZ SA, too much of a challenge, given that it was set up only two years ago? The government’s Plan for Responsible Development defines precisely our activities in the area of national security. PGZ is an element of this plan. The decision of the present government to put PGZ under the supervision of the Minister of Defence means entrusting the company with a task important with regard to the country’s defences. Today, following a two-year process of consolidation of Polish arms companies and after the present Management Board has adopted a new strategy for coming years, PGZ is ready to carry out the Plan for the Technical Modernization of the Polish Armed Forces. Putting the company under the supervision of the Minister of Defence is an ideal change. Our key role in consolidating the Polish defence industry has been strengthened. Indeed, there is a wide range of tasks ahead of us that we are going to carry out. PM

So the establishment and expansion of a company ready to provide defence products and services creates room for activity. For whom? For the Polish defence sector. PGZ is the largest company in Central and Eastern Europe aspiring to meet any kind of needs which have to be met to enhance the defence potential of our country. The Management Board of the company I have the honour to head has adopted PM

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a new strategy and new strategic goals. We pursue a new vision of the government and PGZ’s mission. At the same time, looking at the current economic and geopolitical challenges, we try to build new competencies and increase our abilities. PGZ’s strategy, adopted in spring, sets the basic goals for the company. The fundamental thing is for PGZ to become a strategic element of Poland’s security system. This approach results from Article 3 of the North Atlantic Treaty, which stipulates that the member states are required to maintain and develop their individual and collective capacity to resist armed attack. This is why, pursuing this goal, PGZ is going to increase the output of the defence industry in Poland. PGZ will be developing the production of many elements of military equipment and weapons as well as spare parts. PGZ will also increase its equipment servicing potential. PM

As part of the country’s Responsible Development Plan? Our ambition is for the company to win in due time the leading position in our defence system and among the firms which occupy top places in business league tables. What we aspire to is a sort of reindustrialization of the Polish defence sector so that the knowledge we are now trying to inject into the sector can result in the future in modern products and new management methods. It is a huge challenge. The biggest one, I think, is to make our employees and individual companies making up the PGZ group always eager to quickly acquire new PM


... OUR BIGGEST AND MOST IMPORTANT TASK IS TO DELIVER TOPQUALITY PRODUCTS UNDER THE PROGRAMME TO MODERNIZE THE POLISH ARMED FORCES. competencies. PGZ has assets in the form of stakes in more than 100 Polish firms. But for me, PGZ will attain its biggest asset once the knowledge and competencies of our employees equal those of the world’s largest defence companies. So knowledge is the reason why you have recently signed many letters of intent with global defence companies? One of the reasons. But our biggest and most important task is to deliver top-quality products under the programme to modernize the Polish armed forces. The challenge for the PGZ group is to make a technology transfer in such a way that Polish defence companies can gather appropriate staff around the technology and develop new production capacities. When adopting this priority, we have a full understanding from the Polish state that basing the defence system on the production capabilities of our own domestic industry is the only guarantee of real strength. PM

So? PGZ is orienting itself to building long-lasting partnerships in the area of production and research and development. We are going to integrate R&D activity within the corporate group. The Management Board attaches great importance to technology transfer and the modernization of our manufacturing sites. Relying on innovative technologies and top-quality products, PGZ wants to become a permanent part of the international delivery chain for the defence industry. PGZ also works to reorganize specialities at the level of individual plants and the group as a whole. It will be coordinating technology transfer processes and the modernization of individual companies. It will also provide analytical support in negotiations associated with the implementation of programmes under the technical modernization plan. PM

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Which means there is a serious plan for reaching the strategic goal, which is to strengthen the position of PGZ on the global arms market and define a competitive range of exports.

For PGZ, Poland’s security means first of all supplying the armed forces with top-quality weapons and equipment. In coming years, the PGZ group will be focused on winning and carrying out contracts for deliveries for the armed forces under the technical modernization plan. At the same time, when planning our activity for coming years, we are guided by business requirements. This is why we are launching processes which will contribute to the development of products intended for the civilian market. The arms industry is a sector where constant technological progress and constant work on a modern business model are required. Our objective is to enhance PGZ’s competencies through the transfer of technologies from our partners and the acquisition of successive businesses. By integrating them into the group we will be building our competitive advantages. Efforts to increase exports and expand onto foreign markets with competitive products are an equally important aspect of PGZ’s activity. PGZ has been chosen by the Ministry of Defence to carry out the updated plan for the modernization of the armed forces. We already know that in coming years air defence, the modernization of the Navy, cybersecurity, the modernization of the armoured and mechanized units, and the military reserve force will be the priority areas of the strategy prepared by the Ministry of Defence. PM

So PGZ will be the main party to be invited to tender for contracts for the modernization of the Polish armed forces? The Polish defence industry is state-owned and rightly so. PGZ is 100% state-owned so we will be taking part in the tenders where we are convinced that we have the required competencies. Anywhere in the world, there are close ties with the state in strategic industries. Thanks to cooperation with global companies, it will be possible to transfer modern technologies to PGZ. This way the international cooperation we are building will significantly enhance the competence of the Polish defence industry. • PM

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JERZY KOŹMIŃSKI, A PARTICIPANT IN THE NEGOTIATIONS LEADING TO POLAND’S ENTRY TO NATO

From left: Katarzyna Kacperczyk, Undersecretary of State, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Krystyna Woźniak-Trzosek, Jerzy Koźmiński and Stephen Mull, former US Ambassador in Poland

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he year 2014 marked the 15th anniversary of Poland's accession to NATO. It is worth noting that in 2014 we celebrated a double anniversary: the 15th anniversary of Poland's accession to NATO and the 65th anniversary of NATO itself. Today, after years of joint foreign missions, military exercises and cooperation in different committees, we can confidently say that Poland constitutes one of NATO's building blocks. One of the architects of the success of joining NATO was Jerzy Koźmiński, who is former Polish Ambassador to the United States, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Polish-American Freedom Foundation. It was one of the reason that during the Great Gala of the Pearls of the Polish Economy in 2014 the Award Committee decided to granted the Honarary Pearls award for promoting patriotic values to Jerzy Koźmiński. The statuette was presented to Jerzy Koźmiński by Krystyna Woźniak-Trzosek in the company of Katarzyna Kacperczyk, deputy minister of foreign affairs, and Stephen Mull, US ambassador to Poland. Katarzyna Kacperczyk pointed to the great diplomatic experience of the laureate and to him as an example of work for others. “As a deputy minister in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and a career diplomat, I feel very attached to Mr Ambassador Koźmiński personally. As a member of the younger generation in the Ministry, I can say that you have always been and will always be an example for us.” US Ambassador Stephen Mull said: “It is a great honour for me to have an opportunity to present the Honorary Pearl award, granted by the ‘Polish Market’ magazine, to Jerzy Koźmiński for promoting patriotic values. Ambassador Koźmiński is one of the greatest statesmen in today’s Poland and a real friend of the United States.”

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Jerzy Koźmiński, a former ambassador, former deputy minister of foreign affairs and active participant in the negotiations leading to Poland’s entry to NATO, said: “It is a great honour for me and a source of great emotion that I have an opportunity to stand here today in front of you by a decision of the Honorary Pearls Award Committee. I am doing this with a sense of humbleness in the face of such eminent personalities making up the committee and those who have been honoured with the awards today and in the past. If those who have taken the decision wanted to associate my person with the effort towards Poland’s NATO membership I would like to speak about the circumstances thanks to which I could become a noticeable part of that process. Firstly, being aware of a great goal, a great challenge, released additional reserves of energy in everyone who took part in building a secure place for Poland in the new international order which was taking shape then. Secondly, despite frequent changes in the nation’s leadership at that time, Poland’s foreign policy was pursued in a sure, stable and matter-of-fact manner. As the changes were really frequent, during my six-year stay in Washington I had four foreign ministers, five defence ministers, four prime ministers and two presidents. Thirdly, and finally, an enormously important role in the efforts to anchor Poland within the North Atlantic Alliance was played by the Polish-American community, including such eminent figures as Prof. Brzeziński and Jan Nowak-Jeziorański, but also our American friends, including Ambassador Stephen Mull, a guest of this evening and a person very friendly to Poland. (…) I would like to thank you once again for the honour I have been granted today and for your kind attention.” •


MESKO Spó³ka Akcyjna MESKO Spó³ka Akcyjna Legionów 122, 26-111 Skar¿ysko-Kamienna

122 Legionów St, PL 26-111 Skar¿ysko-Kamienna tel:+48 41 253 30 00 fax: +48 41 252 02 80

www.mesko.com.pl


Events

PRESIDENT ANDRZEJ DUDA ABOUT THE

DEFENCE EXPO IN KIELCE

INTERNATIONAL DEFENCE INDUSTRY EXHIBITION MSPO - THIS SEPTEMBER IN KIELCE Paris' Eurosatory, London's DSEI and Kielce's MSPO. These are Europe's most important defence industry trade shows. And although the defence industry has seen new expos, President Andrzej Duda, the commander-in-chief of the Polish armed forces, believes that the Kielce event enjoys strong reputation. The upcoming MSPO will again be held under the auspices of President, Andrzej Duda. 2016's MSPO welcomes it guests from 6 to 9 September.

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The International Defence Industry Exhibition is Europe's most important exhibition of the defence industry. Targi Kielce, the organizer is well prepared to organise and host the event. MSPO delivers tangible results," said President Andrzej Duda in an interview with Radio Kielce. The MSPO's supreme position has been demonstrated by its exhibitors - the world's leading defence industry companies. The importance of the expo is also attributed to strategic contracts signed during the Kielce event. Every year MSPO is the showcase for, the companies of the Polish armaments group (PGZ SA) and multinationals such as Boeing, Lockheed Martin, BAE Systems, Raytheon, General Dynamics, Finmeccanica, Thales, MBDA Saab, and other comapnies. "No one needs to be persuaded that Kielce's defence expo is an important meetings place as well as Poland's defence industry's global getaway. Kielce's expo is the only exhibition that exhaustively showcases what Poland's industry offers; therefore MSPO is a chance for multinationals to obtain a comprehensive picture of Poland's defence industry. Polish companies can at the same time benefit from innovations and important technological developments offered by global concerns," says Andrzej Mochoń, PhD, President of the Targi Kielce company. The event has enjoyed an always-increasing number of exhibitors; they fully recognise MSPO's significance for the defence business.

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"We have participated in MSPO for many years and therefore observed its growth and advancement. The interest our products generate results in trade cooperation. What is particularly important for us is the fact that MSPO provides us an opportunity to meet Polish partners and the cooperating companies. This may give rise to joint projects, these in the future may translate into new job openings and further development of technologies and technology transfer to Poland," says John Neilson, Director of Communications at Lockheed Martin Corporation.

A LONG-STANDING TRADITION MSPO will be held in Kielce already for the 24th time. When asked by foreign visitors why Kielce is the stage for the defence industry exhibition, Targi Kielce President talks about the rich traditions of the Central Industrial District, the ideas promoted by Stanisław Staszic in the 19th century. This historical aspect was also pointed out by President Andrzej Duda. President emphasized that the Kielce and Radom region is the heartland of the defence industry​​. "I feel that both the International Defence Industry Exhibition and Targi Kielce are worthy heirs of the tradition. The Kielce exhibition and congress centre is a good place to host the army, military services as well as the police, customs officers and border guards, paramedics and fire-fighters. MSPO is held simultaneously with the Logistics expo; every other year in June the Kielce exhibition

centre is the stage for the "fire-protection" expo - EDURA. Kielce is therefore the showcase for the latest specialist equipment and solutions for the uniformed services. "This year's MSPO is expected to focus more on territorial defence units," says President Andrzej Mochoń.

ALL CORNERS OF THE WORLD EXPO For 24 years Targi Kielce has developed the exhibition which has become one of Europe's leaders. The expo enjoys global recognition, therefore every year it hosts almost 20,000 business insiders. The guests list includes ministers of defence, official parliamentary and government delegations, representatives of embassies and senior military staff members from home and abroad. The expo has gained extra splendour owing to the visits of Polish Presidents - Andrzej Duda and Bronisław Komorowski. Last year the exhibition hosted the official delegations from 58 countries, including representatives of the United States, Russia, China, Britain, Germany and France. Kielce saw representatives of distant countries - Brazil, Bangladesh, Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia, Korea, Oman and the United Arab Emirates. National exhibitions have become a tradition during MSPO. Turkey, Norway, Italy, France, Germany, Israel, USA, Sweden, the V4 Members and the United Kingdom have boasted their military potentials. This year's leadexhibition is the Armed Forces Exhibition - it is held under the banner of "Objective - Innovation". •


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Economy

20 YEARS

POLAND’S

ANNIVERSARY IN THE OECD

P

oland joined the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) exactly 20 years ago. Currently, Poland is one of the 35 OECD Member States, with the European Union given a special “non-membership” status in this Organisation. The Organisation itself was established on the basis of the Paris Convention signed on December 14, 1960, and commenced its activity on September 30, 1961. The founding States of the OECD were the twenty most developed countries in the world: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Greece, Spain, Holland, Ireland, Iceland, Canada, Luxembourg, Norway, Portugal, Federal Republic of Germany, the United States, Switzerland, Sweden, Turkey, Great Britain and Italy. Poland, as a member of the OECD since November 22, 1996, has been actively participating in the work of the Organisation and has been involved in the implementation of its projects in areas of priority importance to us. All Member States are bound by their acceptance of a number of attributes of the economic and social policy, including: democracy or political pluralism, respect for human rights and freedoms and stable growth based on an open market economy. The latest Economic Survey of Poland drawn up by the OECD states that “growth has been robust in Poland, but reforms are needed to sustain improvements in living standards. Developing skills and infrastructure, strengthening the labour market, public finance and green taxes, would raise growth and well-being.” This survey was presented in Warsaw in March by Catherine L. Mann, OECD’s Chief Economist, and Polish Deputy Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki. During the presentation of the report Deputy Prime Minister Morawiecki stressed that he highly valued the materials prepared by the OECD as they constitute valuable knowledge for the authorities and a road sign in the process of shaping the economy and civic attitudes.

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"The Economic Survey of Poland is a valuable source of expert knowledge about the Polish economy which will undoubtedly be an inspiration for the actions taken by the Government in its economic and social policy. I am glad that the OECD identifies challenges similar to those mentioned in the recently adopted Plan for Responsible Development. This makes us listen to the opinions of this reputable organisation even more carefully," said Deputy Premier Morawiecki. Catherine Mann stressed that Poland had made remarkable progress over the 20 years. It should be appreciated even more considering that in that time the Polish economy had to define anew and develop free market mechanisms. “During the time when most countries have been struggling to bounce back from the global economic crisis, the Polish economy has reported strong growth, driving down unemployment. The challenge going forward is to find the policy mix to promote the transition to an economy based on higher technologies and skills, making growth stronger, greener and more inclusive,” she added. However, the OECD economist drew attention to the challenges facing Poland in the area of demographic, social and economic policy. She said: "We notice the determination of the government in the steps taken to strengthen the tax administration and improve tax collection. This is certain to systematically increase budget revenues." According to the survey, Poland still needs to invest in the infrastructure, education (both pre-school and vocational), bring more women into the workforce and create better opportunities to combine professional and family lives. This is the 14th OECD survey of the Polish economy. The current report was draw up on the basis of the results of a survey conducted on February 8, 2016. Poland, just like the remaining countries belonging to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, is subject to an economic survey once every two years. Find out more about the Economic Survey of Poland at www.oecd.org/poland/economic-survey-poland.html. •


WSK

Economy

"PZL- KALISZ" WSK "PZL- KALISZ" S.A. has been a plant of the Polish Aviation Industry since 1952 and has been producing radial piston engines ASz-62IR of 1000 HP for aircrafts AN-2, M-18 “Dromader”, Y5B and “Otter”.

The ASz-62IR piston engine holds a number of international certificates (including certificates issued by aviation authorities of USA, Canada, Brazil, Russia and PRC). The company also performs overhauls and repair services on these engines. At this time WSK-Kalisz has completed an upgrading process of ASz-62IR engine by the implementation of electronically controlled fuel injection system and by enabling car fuel E95 application. Simultaneously we are conducting development works on a new type piston engine PZL-200 of 280 HP. As a result of our company’s restructuring process we have expanded our commercial offer with gears and gear transmissions that we now manufacture for world aviation industry leaders. Within our production scope of interest are also parts for high pressure engines, oil pumps and crankcases. These components require top precision machining accuracy classes, which we accomplish when meeting the requirements of our Customers’ special orders. Our continuous goal and ambition is to meet our Customer’s engineering challenges and expectations as part of our technical qualifications and production capacities. We can offer a world class sophisticated machining capabilities, highly skilled, qualified and experienced engineering personnel and operators. We keep on looking for new markets and business partners, especially in manufacturing of high precision and processing complexity aviation parts. We are prepared to initiate a business relationship with any partner representing a similar production portfolio.

WSK "PZL- KALISZ" S.A.

holds the following certificates: AS 9100, AQAP-2110, PART 21G-M and PART 145.

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25


Economy

SOLIDARITY PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY TO SUCCEED ZYGMUNT BERDYCHOWSKI, Chairman of the Economic Forum Programme Council, talks to "Polish Market". United or Divided? Europe in the Face of the Challenges of Tomorrow. This is the title of the 26th Economic Forum In Krynica. Taking into account the recent events, will Europe stand up? Unite? I am asking because the division is more and more apparent. The European policy has been shaped in recent years by a threat of the financial crisis and the debt crisis. Nevertheless, we succeeded in keeping Europe united and open. We should hope that in the face of the new challenges Europe will also remain united, especially that Europeans are aware that consensual co-operation and solidarity provides an opportunity to succeed. This stands in contrast to attempts at individual actions and individual answers to what happens around the world. PM

Last year, President Andrzej Duda, who participated in a plenary session of the Forum, said that the biggest problems of Europe were its demographic situation, weak euro zone, the immigration wave from Africa and the Middle East and the war in Ukraine. A year has passed and I have the impression that they are still current issues. Last year’s problems have not been solved definitively. The past 12 months have been the most difficult period in the history of the European Union. The power of Europe should be defined by its economic growth and security. The economic policy of the Old Continent should focus on enhancing competitiveness and supporting innovation. Without these elements, the status of Europe will diverge from our plans and expectations. PM

What is the greatest challenge for Europe? Is it common energy policy, migration or fight against terrorism? Undoubtedly, there are hard times ahead of the European Union. Each of these challenges is somehow the greatest. Today, mainly due to the inflow of migrants, European society has split. Some are advocates for pan-European values, some opt for national values. Even before the flow of refugees, Europe was in a state of tension because of the situation in Ukraine and the PM

26  polish market

policy of Russia. We cannot forget about Brexit which, because of the result of the referendum, may become a fact. Certainly, there will never be a situation where the community faces zero problems. The problems that have been solved are replaced by new ones. We should remember about that. Is there any discussion on the recent events in Turkey planned at the Forum in Krynica? We are doing our best so that the debates and panel discussions at the Forum focus on the current issues corresponding to the most important political, economic and social problems of Europe. The tense situation in Turkey is definitely going to be a subject of more than one talk. Although in Krynica there are business people who dominate, the political aspect is equally important. We would like to share our Polish experience show the countries from outside of the European Union how to introduce reforms and develop faster. PM

PM

Scandinavian countries have been maintaining their stable rank among the most

innovative members of the EU and in the world for years. They are inspiring for other countries. What is your opinion about the establishment of the Innovation Council? Is it going to cause that we will stop talking about innovation in Poland? Innovation, together with competitiveness and the development of the small and medium enterprise sector, an economic engine of growth. Central and Eastern Europe is keeping pace with the other European Union countries in terms of innovation. This is the reason why innovation has been present at the Forum for many years. One of the programme paths is devoted entirely to this topic. This year during the Innovation Forum, we are going to talk about how new technology is changing the business world, how we should adjust regulations to support innovation development and and about the success stories of companies that are leaders in this field. We are also going to look for ways to encourage start-ups from the East and the Polish community outside Poland to start a business in • Poland.



Economy

POLAND

GOOD INVESTMENT CLIMATE ON SOLID FOUNDATIONS BARTŁOMIEJ PAWLAK, Acting President of the Board of the Polish Information and Foreign Investment Agency, talks to "Polish Market".

The Polish Information and Foreign Investment Agency (PAIiIZ) is working on 187 projects worth EUR 3.8 billion in total which may create as many as 43,317 new jobs. Who is the largest investor? For quite some time investors from the United States have been leaders in the portfolio of investment projects supported by PM

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the Polish Information and Foreign Investment Agency (PAIiIZ). Presently, American companies are working on the implementation of as many as 50 investment projects in Poland which may provide jobs for more than 10,000 people. Their total value is EUR 610,000. Germany is second on the list with 24 projects. However, in capital terms, German

companies are prepared to invest in Poland more money than others. The scale of their potential exposure may exceed EUR1 billion. We encourage other countries to take up the challenge, but we do not expect to see changes in the top two in the near future. However, there are movements among those occupying places close to the podium. This


Economy

tells us more about the trends in our portfolio. We see a clear upsurge of interest among the Swiss who currently occupy spot number three in terms of the number of projects. They have 12 on-going investment projects worth nearly EUR 95 million. By comparison, last year the Swiss were in the thirteenth place with just 3 projects. Until recently, tax breaks used to be an incentive for investors. What is the current situation? What is our advantage over other countries? Why investors decide to choose Poland? Poland continues to offer a wide range of investment incentives. Tax breaks are just one of them. We should add that in the case of access to incentives the nationality of capital is irrelevant. They are available on equal terms to foreign and Polish investors. However, using “hard” instruments is not all. The example of Switzerland clearly shows that the opinion about the country and its investment climate is an important factor attracting investors to Poland. It also demonstrates how this assessment translates into investment activity. In a survey entitled Investment Climate carried out by us last year in co-operation with Grant Thornton and HSBC, the Swiss gave us the highest scores among all the surveyed businesses investing in Poland. In this particular case, it turned into actual projects very quickly. Poland also scored high among investors from other countries and for this reason it maintains its leading position in Central and Eastern Europe and a high position in Europe. Recently the German AHK chamber asked investors whether they would invest in Poland again. As many as 95% said “yes.” No other country in the region has been given such positive reviews. This is a high quality certificate given to Poland by foreign partners. We have been working for this result for many years. Today, Poland is a reliable and economically stable business partner guaranteeing safe investing. After all, “calm waters” is what investors like best. We built our good investment climate on solid foundations in the form of a unique combination of factors, which sets Poland apart from its neighbours. Our country occupies the best location in the entire region – in the very centre of the continent, between the European Union to the west and the Commonwealth of Independent States to the east. Poland is also situated on the European North-South route. This “being in between” is particularly important to investors from outside Europe. This advantage has been growing in PM

importance in view of the improvement of the road infrastructure noted by investors. Companies surveyed by the PAIiIZ concluded that transport conditions were the factor showing the biggest improvement in Poland in recent years. Apart from location, we also have a large internal market, which not only manufactures goods and generates services but offers a huge customer base of Polish citizens. However, people and their qualifications and a specific approach to work highly valued by foreign companies are our ace in the hole. We are laborious and loyal, but above all have excellent technicians, IT specialists, engineers, financiers or physicians. They determine the nature of the investments coming to Poland which are increasingly ambitious. Simple processes are no longer Polish speciality. Our neighbours do not offer such a combination of traits and this makes us unique. While talking to entrepreneurs we often hear that brand Poland does not exist in the world. What are the Agency’s plans regarding the promotion of Poland, its economy and entrepreneurs? Brand Poland does exist in the world. Polish brands are doing increasingly well, especially in Europe, but also further from home, in Asia or Africa. It is enough to mention such cosmetics brands as Dr Irena Eris and Inglot. The entire Europe travels in Solaris buses, Ursus is modernising African agriculture and Wiedźmin, known outside of Poland as The Witcher, is played all over the world. There are also categories of products strongly associated with Poland. First of all, this is food of excellent quality. For instance, in China we are working hard to create the following association: organic food = Poland. However, we would like Polish products to become even better recognisable and identified with our country, and Poland to develop strong national brands such as Ikea in Sweden or Volkswagen and BMW in Germany. Our response is the government’s Plan for Responsible Development, which we are beginning to implement. We are working on a comprehensive programme of selection, development and support of businesses so that a group of national champions – recognisable, strong “made in Polska” brands can be built. We promote not only brands that already exist, but also start-ups. Why not make Zortrax 3D printer or another innovative device designed by a young Polish company a national champions? For this purpose the National Development Fund has been set up. It is tasked with co-ordinating the work of many PM

public institutions co-operating and complementing each other. It should be stressed that the model which we are going to present soon is to take the Polish economy to the next level of development, creating a strong export stimulus, but also attracting the inflow of increasingly technologically advanced foreign investments. Is the “Go Export” programme the result of the establishment of the Export Support Agency announced by the Ministry of Economic Development? The government is developing a range of support programmes for Polish exporters. It is already extensive and it grows systematically. Many of the government’s support programmes are carried out by the Polish Information and Foreign Investment Agency. The Agency offers schemes dedicated to entering specific, usually distant, markets considered difficult and culturally different, where making the first step without “the government’s umbrella” is a challenge. Currently we are running such programmes like Go China or Go Africa. They enjoy considerable popularity among exporters. In addition, in 2015 we launched the Go Arctic pilot programme addressed to countries of the Arctic Council. Businesses responded to this idea very actively indeed. The African project is a good example of the evolution of the programmes. Go Africa began three years ago offering support for exporters to several selected markets in that continent. Today, the scheme extends to the entire Africa. What is more, seeing the growing interest in this direction of expansion, we would like to set up a permanent office of the Agency in Africa. Our immediate plans also include the launch of several “Gotype” programmes, like Go Iran, where after many years of isolation the country of opening to the world, or Go ASEAN and Go India. We are also going to extend the range of pro-export instruments available to Polish companies all over the world. The Agency has and constantly expands programmes especially dedicated to Polish investors interested in developing their activity abroad. We offer them participation in study visits, location consultancy, consult support programmes. We have created for them our own “Investing Abroad” school. PAIiIZ is faced with many challenges, but, above all, by many doors which we would like to open to Polish businesses. The Agency will not be short of work and commitment because we realise that what we do is • useful. PM

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Economy

POLISH

BANKING

SECTOR STABILITY, INNOVATION, EFFECTIVENESS KRZYSZTOF PIETRASZKIEWICZ, President of ZBP

I

t has been nearly 30 years since the banking sector in Poland started to carry out its mission to serve Poles and the Polish economy. It is one of the architects of the Polish economic order supporting the most important reforms and economic projects beginning from the transformation period of the 1980s and 1990s, to the process of European integration and acting to increase innovation. As time passed and new stages were accomplished, the priorities of the sector were gradually changing, with the strategic goal of the sector to develop banking operations and finance the economy remaining unchanged at the same time. Throughout the years, the sector had to face numerous challenges of organisational, legislative, educational and technological nature. Today, banks with their trade association-the Polish Bank Association (ZBP)- continue the work on financing development, providing stability and security to the funds of the Polish citizens and companies, supporting public administration in the process of state digitisation and providing educational services to increase knowledge on economy among the public. According to President of ZBP, Krzysztof Pietraszkiewicz: "Courage, imagination, responsibility, all these respectively caused that today we are as a sector a source of pride not only for a large group of bankers who for 25

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years have laboriously erected the edifice of the new Polish banking system, but also for millions of fellow citizens who have entrusted us with their valuables that often are the assets of many generations. Modest capital means of tax payers and small savings were the foundation of the resurgent Polish banking sector. In the face of the turmoil on the European and world financial markets, we have not only been able to maintain stability of the banks, but also produce satisfying fruits to investors who, besides the necessary capital potential, introduced banking know-how, organisational culture and standards proper for advanced instruments of modern financial engineering to the Polish banking sector. However, it is Polish bankers, and managers in particular, who decide about the results that we observe in the quality of the credit portfolio, secure deposits and transparent settlements offered by the Polish banks. Currently the Polish banking sector is one of the most modern and safest in the world. We have secured the autonomy of the central bank, built a stable banking supervisory office, we have also consistently built own funds. Moreover, we have implemented an efficient system of interbank settlement and economic information system about clients. Throughout years we have managed to diversify the Polish banking sector. We do not have a sector that would have one owner, whether state or private or the one that represents one country only. The size of particular banks is optimal and even potential troubles of one of them cannot possibly destabilise the Polish economy nor budget. On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the banking trade association we would like to wish all the banking community in Poland further successes in their activities to support development of the economy, Polish companies, financial institutions and households. We would also like to thank all the clients of the Polish banks for bestowing trust in us. We hope that the forthcoming years are going to be equally fortunate for the Polish economy and the national banking sector. •


Tourism

Spotkanie SpotkanieLiderów Liderów XII EDYCJA

VIII EDYCJA

5-6 października 2016 r., Hotel Sheraton, Warszawa PARTNERZY STRATEGICZNI SPOTKANIA LIDERÓW

PARTNERZY STRATEGICZNI BANKING FORUM

PARTNERZY STRATEGICZNI INSURANCE FORUM

Untitled-4 1

2015-11-09 16:43:41

PARTNERZY SPOTKANIA LIDERÓW

PARTNERZY BANKING FORUM

PARTNER INSURANCE FORUM

8/2016  polish market

kontakt@mmcpolska.pl | tel: + 48 22 379 29 74 | www.bankowosciubezpieczenia.pl

31


Economy

AZOTY GROUP CLEAR VISION OF DEVELOPMENT

Competitiveness, modernity and focus on pioneering solutions that respond to the needs of Polish and foreign customers – this is how the Azoty Group responds to the demand of the market. The company is the second-largest EU producer of mineral fertilizers and the third-largest maker of melamine used in the furniture industry. It is also a national leader in the production of polyamides, oxo alcohols, plasticizers and pigments used in many industries. As part of the adopted strategy, the Company intends to strengthen its strong market position, among others through the implementation of an ambitious investment program worth PLN 7 billion.

T

he Azoty Group was formed as a result of the consolidation of Polish chemical companies, a process which started in 2012. Its history goes back to the beginnings of the Polish chemical industry in the 1920s. With its main production facilities located in Tarnów, Kędzierzyn-Koźle, Police and Puławy, the Azoty Group currently brings together more than 50 entities (including companies in Germany and Senegal). The members of the Group operate "as one company," complementing each other in the areas of production, trade, design and repair,

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logistics and mining activities. In total, the Group people more than 14 thousand people. Consolidation of the industry has meant that the fertilizer-chemical industry has become a strategic sector for the Polish economy with the prospect of further development and expansion into foreign markets. INNOVATIVE CHEMICAL SECTOR Nowadays, it is impossible to think about the development of any business venture, much less any company operating in the chemical sector, without taking into account the factor that is innovation. Extending the chain of

production, commercialization of scientific research and pro-efficiency measures are a sine qua non precondition in such a competitive market. The Azoty Group carries out projects in all these areas; introduces new fertiliser formulas based on years of experimental cultivation, it produces plasticizers with innovative new applications, implements cost optimisation programmes. What distinguishes the Azoty Group in terms of approach to innovation is the understanding of its various aspects. Innovation in the Group is pursued not only in the area of the products offered, but also new forms of co-operation with customers.


Economy Every company’s innovation performance is measured by the degree to which it can adapt to the customers and their needs. FOOD SECURITY The Azoty Group is a strategic entity, not only because of consuming 2 billion cubic metres of natural gas, equivalent to 15% of the annual demand of our country for natural gas, but mainly because it produces nitrogen fertilizers, which are a key link in the whole food production chain. Currently, more than half the population of the planet is able to feed themselves only thanks to nitrogen fertilizers, which are an essential condition of high yields. For several years, representatives of the Group have been speaking out in the international arena on food security, in order to wisely influence EU legislation in this area. Domestically, the Azoty Group conducts an active dialogue with agricultural entrepreneurs in adapting a range of products for specific crops. It also shares its knowledge of effective fertilization, so as to minimize the impact on our environment. KNOW-HOW TRANSFER A series of initiatives based on knowledge has been launched for this purpose. A good example is the co-operation between the Group and PKO BP during the second edition of the "Land is knowledge!" programme, which resulted in tens of thousands of soil samples having been subjected to a thorough analysis in order to better match specific fertilizers to agricultural crops at thousands of Polish farms. Farmers and the environment benefit not from the most extensive but from the optimised use of modern chemical products. Another initiative in this area is a think-tank called the Competence Centre, which brings together three different points of view: the sensitivity and experience of agricultural entrepreneurs, the know-how of the producers of production means, and the knowledge and vision of the most important Polish scientific institutions dealing with agrarian issues. The aim is to deliver tangible benefits to all participants in the agricultural market. This is a modern centre of co-operation, and above all, exchange of information and experience which implements joint projects on this basis. As part of its activities, together with a consortium member – the Warsaw University of Life Sciences, a specialized postgraduate course of study for agricultural advisors has been launched. The Competence Centre has also produced two expert reports on the most current issues in the agricultural sector; the first report, entitled "25 Years of Polish Agriculture. Food Security in Europe" is a summary of the last 25 breakthrough years

for the national economy, with the second report “Poland: An Attractive Manufacturer and Supplier of Food" produced under the patronage of the Chairman of the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development of the European Parliament. The plans include further publications on the impact of climate change on agriculture and on ways of dealing with them and preventing them. Global organizations dealing with food, such as the FAO, but also organisations of farmers and fertiliser producers, go exactly in the same direction to ensure that fertilisation in Africa and Asia is done in a balanced and wise way. Azoty Group's ambition is to make Polish good agricultural practices a model for other countries. TASKS FOR THE FUTURE Competitiveness, modern, sustainable and conscious production and focus on pioneering techniques in fertilization – this is contemporary Polish agriculture, and in this form it can be used as a model for other countries. The progress made in this sector of the economy over the last several years is really impressive. It is time, therefore, to overcome stereotypes and begin presenting Polish agriculture objectively, as a sector that ensures food security not only domestically but also in Europe. It is impossible not to notice how Polish agriculture is undergoing a transition towards precision farming. The same path is followed by producers of mineral fertilisers constantly working on upgrading their products, the use of which has to be optimal and as efficient as possible. This is achieved thanks to special micro-compounds giving plants adequate

nutrients during the right growth stages. It is a much more efficient and organic approach to fertilisation, and Polish farmers support such practices. The Azoty Group recognizes that it is necessary to further develop agrarian techniques and culture, including through the preparation of special educational programmes that complement the deficiencies left by traditional courses and studies. Eliminating these shortcomings in the knowledge would enable further, sustainable development of the agri-food sector, in effect ensuring greater food security. The co-operation in this area is carried out with several dozen institutional partners, universities and individual farmers. Representatives of the Azoty Group come together at one table and discuss the future of Polish agriculture. The model developed during such meetings can be presented with pride at major discussion forums around the • world.

The Azoty Group ended the year 2015 with revenues from sales of PLN 10 billion (PLN 9.9 billion in 2014) with the consolidated net profit of PLN 692 million (PLN 265 million in 2014) and operating profit (EBIT) of PLN 830 million (PLN 302 million in 2014). The Company has been listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange since 2008. In 2013, it was included in the newly created WIG30 index. Since 2009, the Company has been part of the RESPECT Index, the first index of companies adhering to the rules of responsible business in Central and Eastern Europe, and since 2013 – of the MSCI Emerging Markets index, and since 2015 of the FTSE Emerging Markets index. 8-9/2016  polish market

33


Medicine

REFORMING THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM IN POLAND ANDRZEJ MĄDRALA, Vice-President of the National Association of Private Hospitals Ahead of us is the 1st Health Congress of Employers of Poland. What can we expect? The 1st Health Congress of Employers of Poland is a new discussion forum for experts about what the health care system in Poland should be like. It is more than 12 parallel workshop sessions where the participants will prepare the theses for the White Book. On the second day of the event, the theses will be presented to the decision-makers and form the basis for a discussion on the directions and necessities for changes. Our Congress is, first of all, an innovative formula that aims at gathering the largest group of experts and encouraging them to share their knowledge and experience. It is a Congress focused on activity and participation of the attendants instead of passive listening to panellists and a moderator. We are convinced that the White Book is going to contain a lot of highly interesting solutions. I can also add that, in a way, the Congress has already been going on for the last two months as the moderators of particular workshops have been meeting with experts and gathering their initial opinions, theses and fresh comments. It is one element of preparing the publication of the White Book. Since "Polish Market" provides media sponsorship for the 1st Health Congress, I would like to take this opportunity and invite to the Congress everybody who is interested in the reform of the health care system in our country. PM

PM

The Ministry of Health in the ”From Paper to Digital Poland” programme has pledged to introduce electronic services

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in health care such as electronic registration or access to electronic medical records. Are these solutions aiming at the right direction? There is nothing new about it! After all, we have known for over 5 years that the system is going to be based on IT systems. I regret that we were not able to introduce IT solutions within the initial deadline because we would have been in a completely new reality today. The IT system would have facilitated not only patching holes in the existing system, but most of all by gathering a lot of data, it would have been a fantastic source of information on which element of the system malfunctions. Today we are suffering from the lack of good quality personal data in health care and this triggers many irrational decisions. On the other hand, if each doctor was able to access full medical records, it would allow for more efficient treatment of patients. Then it would be unnecessary to repeat some tests, a doctor should know if a patient buys medicine and many other significant issues would have been clarified earlier. We would be able to talk about developing further treatment instead of beginning it anew each time basing on flawed knowledge of a patient about their health! MPs have voted for the amendment to the Act on Medical Activity which prevents any further commercialisation of hospitals, that is turning them into companies. Do you think such provisions are rightful? The Act has already been published in the Journal of Laws, so there is no coming back! PM

In my opinion, this decision has no rational justification. Even the report on commercialisation prepared by the Ministry of Health indicates a relatively large neutrality of this instrument on hospitals’ activity, which means that the hospitals that had been transformed into commercial companies fared a little bit better than the hospitals that continued to operate as public health care establishments (SPZOZ). However, we should stress that the percentage of hospitals that were sold to private investors was also relatively low. Therefore, there was no threat to the security of health and life of Polish people as the Minister of Health claims. Another element is also worth noticing, the possibility of selling encouraged investors to enter the Polish health care market, despite its low returns. Now, local governments are left to themselves. After all, full responsibility for debts, which the local governments have limited influence on, lies on their shoulders! It is difficult not to notice that the Health Ministry is introducing new requirements that require investment and that the Health Ministry is planning to introduce minimum wage for the professional groups working for health care entities. All this is going to increase costs for the hospitals. However, without additional funding from the state budget, even with keeping the current value of the contracts with the National Health Fund, it is difficult to count on the significant changes. I think that the decision on closing the market for investors is going to have a negative effect on patients and finally the consequences are going to be borne very quickly by the Ministry of Health. •

L


Medicine

ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES IN POLAND

LEKAM L

EKAM Pharmaceutical Company Ltd. is expanding both on the Polish pharmaceutical market and on international markets. LEKAM combines a homogeneous product portfolio, efficient leadership and highly skilled employees, that has allowed the company to quickly gain recognition in the pharmaceutical industry. Presently LEKAM is one of the fastest growing pharmaceutical companies in Poland. A rapid rate of growth in terms of sales and revenues, combined with the top quality of products offered, has turned LEKAM into a phenomenon on the market. After 13 years of existence we became one of the top 10 companies on the Polish pharmaceutical market (based on IMS Data). LEKAM’s products have been honored with prestigious awards granted by both consumers and the medical community. Our product portfolio is made up of a carefully selected Over The Counter (OTC) and Prescription Medicines (Rx) as well as Food Supplements (FS), Medical Devices (MD) and Cosmetics (COS). Our products have been on the Polish market from 2000 and have been exported since 2007. LEKAM has currently a very strong position in many therapeutic fields and sees a rapid growth of production and sales. We have introduced onto the market and have been developing further the following therapeutic areas: • Psychiatry • Cardiology • Pulmonology and Respiratory Medicine • Urology • Gastroenterology • Allergology • Surgery

• Vascular Surgery • Oncology/Hematology • CNS / Neurology • Endocrinology/Metabolism

The essential feature of LEKAM’s products is their high world-class quality. All of the products meet strict quality requirements set by the European Union. Our production methods hold a GMP certificate (Good Manufacturing Practice), whereas the ingredients for our clinical trials all abide by GLP (Good Laboratory Practice) guidelines and Quality Management Systems ISO 9001:2008 and some products meet all the legal requirements for the CE marking. What is more, the dossier of our all medicinal products has been prepared in CTD format (Common Technical Documentation). All of the above has only one goal – to meet the constantly rising demand for LEKAM products. What is more important, each increase in our production capacity goes hand in hand with the introduction of the most upto-date technologies. LEKAM’s production facilities are located in Zakroczym, near Warsaw, the capital of Poland. The production plant together with the commercial office located in Warsaw make up LEKAM. The plant contains the production lines and laboratories to which the company owes its world-class generic medication. All our medicinal products have been developed by our in-house R&D department. Our success is people – their knowledge, experience, talent, creativity and commitment to the company. All of our promotional and informational activities are conducted by a team highly qualified specialists. Presently, LEK-AM employs around 500 people. The company’s employees have always abided by a number of values among which honesty,

credibility, trust, quality and ethical behavior are at the forefront. In the near future we are planning to combine our R&D activities with in-licensing opportunities. This will allow us to deliver many world-class medicines in a short period of time. In-licensing opportunities will enable us to present patients and the medical community, with a wide selection of new products while still developing them in our own dossier. All of LEKAM’s efforts have only one aim – to supply our clients with the best possible products. We are aware that LEKAM would not have been one of the leaders of the Polish pharmaceutical market if it had not been for the top quality medicines offered at very affordable prices. Dynamic development on the Polish pharmaceutical market and a significant increase in the range of products offered, sparked our interest in foreign markets. LEKAM is actively developing the markets in the Middle East, Europe, Asia, Africa, the Americas and Australia. We have Representative Offices and cooperate with many business partners around the world. The Department of International Markets would like to double our turnover • in next years.

For more information please contact: Leszek Rymsza Director of International Markets email: leszekrymsza@lekam.pl tel. +48 22 635 80 41 ext. 506 mobile: +48 503 059 414 www.lekam.pl

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Medicine

YOU CAN LIVE HEALTHY IN POLAND.

TELEMEDICINE SOON TO REVOLUTIONISE HEALTH CARE

Aging society requires fast changes towards modern, computerised medicine: telemedicine. Everybody has equal access to the same health care service, but most patients in Poland do not want preference for the public health care system. Bogdan Sadecki

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he health care system in Poland is an organisation of people and institutions that is responsible for providing health care to people. It is based on the insurance model and the rule of social solidarity, which means that the risk factors are spread among all the insured people and services for the people in bad financial conditions are financed by the state budget. Each person has the right to health care according to Art. 68 of the Constitution of the Republic of Poland. The citizens, regardless of their financial status, are provided, by the government, with equal access to health care services financed from the public funds.

HISTORY OF HEALTH CARE IN POLAND In 1919 the obligation to provide health care to the citizens was introduced in Poland for the first time by a decree on compulsory insurance

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in case of illness. In 1920 the first Polish insurance act was implemented and it covered hired workers only. The system was based on a German model of Health Care Funds, the so called Bismarck’s model. The Health Care Funds were state institutions with legal entity. They provided their members free health care and money benefits during sickness and childbirth. In 1933, the Health Funds were abolished and social insurers and social insurance companies were introduced [source: Ministry of Health]. Public health care after World War Two operated within the framework of central planning. Public funds used to fulfil the state’s obligations in the area of health care came from the State Treasury. The money funds from taxes were divided into health, education, police, the armed forces and other areas. The process of moving from the central planning economy towards a market economy started in Poland after 1989, and so did the

process of transforming the health care system. The “budget” system was replaced with a new “insurance-budget” financial model and the health care system was modelled on the social solidarity rule, common health insurance and equal access to health care services financed by the public funds. The state was not completely released from the obligation to support the health care system. The state budget continued to finance for example health policy programmes, medical personnel education, scientific research and national investment, preventive programmes (including immunisation), highly specialised medical procedures (e.g. transplantations), blood donation centres and sanitary epidemiological stations. While the changes were taking place, it became very important for local government at all levels to take over the role of a founding body for health care centres and compulsorily transform them from budgetary units into


Medicine

independent entities. It resulted in health care centres become independent public health care institutions (SPZOZ); other units of local and non-public nature were also created. Local governments also have a great role in shaping the system. As the founding body of the SPZOZ, a local government: • creates, transforms and terminates the SPZOZ, • approves the statutes of the SPZOZ, • enters into an employment agreement with the general manager of the SPZOZ, • appoints a representative in the social council of the SPZOZ, • provides subsidies to the SPZOZ, • supervises the SPZOZs under its management. After many years of changes, a new rule came into effect which separated the function of a payer for the health service from the function of its organiser and provider. Health Care Funds, took over the financing of a specific package of health care services. A very important step is the fact that an internal service market was created where organisations of different legal status (public, private, co-operatives, etc.) competed for a contract. 16 Regional Health Care Funds acting within their provinces and a Sickness Fund for Military Services were created within the framework of the common health insurance. They were independent and locally governed institutions that gathered money funds from the payers assigned to a particular Fund. They managed the funds and signed contracts with health care institutions for providing health service in the areas of prevention and treatment. The ultimate goal was that the “money would follow the patient.” Since that time patients could choose their doctor, medical centre and hospital where they wanted to be treated. After the changes, a new institution was created: the Health Insurance Supervisory Office, its goal was to protect the interest of the insured people and that would be executed through supervising the operation of the Health Care Funds. In 2003 after four years of operation, the Health Care Funds were transformed into the National Health Fund (NFZ). The Health Care Funds were local government institutions while the new Fund a state governed institution with a legal entity.

As a result of the subsequent remedial action, a new act on providing health care financed by public funds was adopted by the Polish Parliament, the Sejm, on August 27, 2004. It defined, among others, the so called negative basket of services: it indicated services not financed by the public funds.

HEALTH INSURANCE FINANCING Ministers responsible for health issues or the National Health Fund are obliged to provide health care services from public funds in accordance with the rules defined in the act on providing health care services from public funds. The services provided to insured people are financed above all from the health insurance contributions. Treatment of people other than the insured ones who have the right to receive health care services financed from public funds is financed by the state budget.

AMOUNT OF HEALTH INSURANCE CONTRIBUTION Health insurance contribution is monthly based and indivisible, it equals 9% of the earnings for national insurance purposes.

PRIVATE HEALTH CARE According to analysts working for PMR, a market research company, the private health care market in Poland has been growing steadily: in 2014 it grew by 6.8% year-to-year and reached the value of PLN 37.5 billion. In 2015 another growth of a comparable value of 6% was noted and the total value of the market was PLN 39.5 billion. Between 2016 and 2020 we are expecting a continuous growth in this area estimated at 7% annually. Those who are familiar with the Polish health care reality approach the above data with proper understanding, namely associate treatment under the NFZ with long queues to specialist and long waiting time for treatment that is sometimes a dozen years. For example, according to the National Polish Information Guide on Waiting Time for Medical Services, the first appointment available for hip replacement at some centres in Małopolskie Province are only in 2024, and even, which is shocking for the contribution payers, in 2030! The facts are here, therefore more and more people are interested in private health care and the total value of it has been steadily and continuously growing. According to the recent

report by PwC, the private sector of providing health services has gained new grounds and already dominates in the areas of basic health care, rehabilitation, outpatient specialist service or long term specialist service, yielding to public health care providers only in the area of hospital treatment. Additional health insurance are going to remain the fastest developing segment of private health care in the next 5 years. Prepaid medical care packages, which are bought by companies for their employees, are going to develop dynamically as well. There is also going to be an increase in direct visits at independent doctors.

TELEMEDICINE IS THE FUTURE: PROVIDING IT SOLUTIONS TO HEALTH SERVICE The rapid development of telemedicine in Poland and the world results from lifestyle changes. New technologies have been increasing efficiency of treatment allowing for more the efficiency in monitoring the patient’s health and at the same time lowering costs. Ever more efficient solutions are appearing, also in the Polish health care system, yet more investments and development are necessary in order to increase the scale of telemedicine. The European Union funds are more and more often used to facilitate e-health development in Poland. Solutions based on modern technology are going to be prepared where a doctor would be able to monitor the patient’s health without the necessity of direct contact. It is about tele-diagnosis, the ability to remotely provide diagnosis, transfer test results and monitor (blood sugar level, pressure, consulting). Telemedicine is going to be an alternative for traditional forms of contacts between a patient and a doctor. According to a global survey by IDC Research, by 2018 it will be possible for 65% of health service units to contact through mobile devices and more than 70% of the units will have applications for monitoring the health of their patients. We are dealing with another milestone in integrating IT solutions to health care services aiming at decreasing its financial burdens. One of the software facilitating finance control and improving hospital management is Xerox’s “Patient Readmission Forecaster”, which helps to lower costs of a patient’s treatment through analysing their health data. • 8-9/2016  polish market

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THERE IS HOPE ANNA RULKIEWICZ, CEO at LUX MED Group talks to Ewelina Janczylik-Foryś.

Is it difficult to run a business on the Polish healthcare market? It is a very difficult business, especially in Polish environment. But one should remember that above all our business consists in taking responsibility for people’s life, health and wellbeing. And that makes me determined to face all the challenges and overcome all obstacles in the best interest of our patients and to the benefit of the whole society. PM

devices, staff – all these constitute huge expenditures that a healthcare company needs to incur in order to develop a particular sector. Sometimes a company decides to invest in a particular field, but frequent changes in regulations make the efforts futile. What is really sad is the fact that this affects primarily patients by limiting the chances for improving access to health services.

What are these challenges? The lack of continuity in public policy towards healthcare. Infrastructure, medical

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You are usually present at healthcare and economic panel discussions across the country. I try to participate in all major discussions regarding the healthcare system in Poland. PM

As a result there are no new investors on the Polish healthcare market. This is true. We are lucky to be a part of Bupa, a global company which provides healthcare PM

PM

and offers healthcare insurance. Bupa has no shareholders and reinvests all the profits in healthcare. Long-term view is beneficial for patients. It is really great to be a part of this Group – both for the company and for the Polish market. I do believe that we could still do much more in cooperation with the government for the benefit of the patients in our country.


Medicine LUX MED takes care of more than 1.7 million patients across the country, so I feel responsible for the general state of health of the inhabitants of our country. Budget is of fundamental importance and it has always been an issue in Poland, but still I really believe that even small changes can improve the quality and accessibility of healthcare services in Poland. What changes are these? Just look at the panel discussions tittles at the Economic Forum in Krynica. I am taking part in two of them. The first is dedicated to the role of employers in employees’ health. The other is a widely discussed issue of coordinated healthcare. PM

Let us start with the latter. As you already said the issue is of great interest – but what is it really about? In simple words – it is about coordinating patients' journey. It is the patient that should be in the centre of the system, not the providers. The definition of coordination assumes that providers are paid for the continuity of treatment instead of single procedures. Currently, patients are frequently lost in the system while looking for help on their own. Seeking the right diagnosis and treatment, a patient is waiting for an appointment with one specialist, then another one. It costs a lot of time and… health. Simultaneously, queues are becoming longer as there are many patients who are not waiting for the right consultation. What I mean is that the system lacks the function of a coordinator, who would support the patient and supervise their pathway. We are developing this model in LUX MED and I do believe that this approach should be followed by others. However, it may be still troublesome on the public market, as it still lacks a common IT system, which is vital for further coordination. PM

Why is it so important? Electronic documentation is a must. Coordination obligates providers to streamline the flow of information. It is indispensable at all levels of prevention and treatment. All needed information should literally follow a patient during the treatment pathway. These are the basics. Ideally, telemedicine should be more available. This is a great tool, which is primarily useful for a post-treatment consultation. Very convenient and efficient. In Poland LUX MED is among the very few entities which have developed it to a proper extent. PM

Do you believe that coordination of services would change a lot for patients? I do. First of all, coordination means safety. Today, even when a patient undergoes PM

WE ARE LUCKY TO BE A PART OF BUPA, A GLOBAL COMPANY WHICH PROVIDES HEALTHCARE AND OFFERS HEALTHCARE INSURANCE. BUPA HAS NO SHAREHOLDERS AND REINVESTS ALL THE PROFITS IN HEALTHCARE.

a successful surgery, he or she lacks post-treatment continuity, like for example proper rehabilitation. And what about employees’ health? Is it about encouraging employers to cooperate with healthcare providers? Not only. At this stage Poland needs to update the present archaic model of occupational medicine. The current one does not match the needs of the 21st century. We need a modern attitude towards occupational medicine, based on advisory both to employers and employees, that would ensure real prevention. PM

Isn’t the whole idea of occupational medicine something unparalleled in Europe? This particular model functions only in Poland. Still, the concept is present elsewhere, but in other forms. For instance in Germany it is connected with safety regulations. PM

What changes do you think Poland needs? The whole model of occupational medicine needs to be reinvented. It is high time to move from certification to advisory. Today a patient visits an occupational medicine doctor and very often hides the truth. People are afraid that they will not be certified as fit to work and as a result the whole consultation process frequently becomes fiction. We should develop a model of prevention that would involve cooperation between occupational medicine doctors and employers. Employees would be given healthrelated advice in their workplace. Please note that demographic forecasts are not optimistic. Changes are necessary so that Poles would be able to work in good health until they retire. PM

It seems to be a win-win situation as the government does not have to incur significant additional costs. Exactly! Generally, improving healthcare is expensive and in many cases governments need really strong budgets in order to make healthcare more accessible. Unfortunately, many wishes are simply non-realistic. First we should focus on small changes that can make a big difference. Occupational medicine is a perfect example. Mind you, employers also have a vested interest in prevention. Early detection of serious diseases and health education shorten the period of health-related absence from work. PM

What should be the major assumptions of changes? As I have already said – moving from certification to advisory is of key importance. It should be about creating guidelines for employees rather than meeting requirements necessary to start work in a new company. It PM

would be a good idea to link occupational health with comprehensive medical care in a model similar to the so-called fast path for oncological treatment. It is also worth discussing if we should return to the concept of a company or an intercompany doctor, so that there would be a real chance for supporting employers in maintaining employees’ health. Another thing is to find a way to increase the number of occupational medicine doctors. Is it that bad? It is. There are not many occupational medicine specialists in Poland and they are usually over their 60s. Specialization in occupational medicine lasts now five years and is rarely chosen by doctors after their exams. One way to increase the number of experts in this field is by creating a model of courses and certification for holders of other specialties (e.g. GPs, internists) in order to quickly obtain the necessary competencies based on their existing medical knowledge. PM

Do you think that these changes can really improve healthcare in Poland? I do. They will not be a solution to all problems but they can make a huge difference. Both coordination and stronger prevention fill in some serious gaps in the Polish healthcare system. I participate in numerous conferences highlighting the need for changes. Only this month I will talk about this during the Economic Forum in Krynica and during the Employers’ of Poland Health Congress. I am always open for discussions and cooperation with the gov• ernment. There is hope for changes. PM

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APPROACH TO HEALTH CARE MUST BE REDEFINED PIOTR SOSZYŃSKI, MD, PhD, Medical Director, Member of the Board of Medicover, talks to Krystyna Woźniak-Trzosek. Private medical care companies, including Medicover, offer bundled services. Do you believe that such a solution, if introduced by the National Health Fund (NFZ), could make the medical services market more competitive and make health insurance contributions more transparent? Do not you believe that Polish people should be able to choose to whom they want to pay their contributions? I believe that we should distinguish my wishes from what is feasible. There is a national system and no private company aims at replacing the national health care system – I think nobody here in Europe wishes to strive to achieve the American system largely based on private insurance. It would be a good solution, however, if each of us had a possibility of choosing a certain area of care, for example general practitioner or some specialists. A lot of patients in the Polish system and systems similar to ours choose private care, although they pay the compulsory contributions to the NFZ. Currently, around 3 million Polish people have access to doctors and diagnostic tests purchased on their own or by their employers in the private sector, and I believe it is a good addition to the national health care. I think private care can never replace the public system, emergency, medical service, hospitals, or advanced medical procedures. PM

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As a supplementary, alternative system, however, private care works perfectly well. A possibility of some tax reliefs for people paying private health care contributions which lift the burden of the public system would be a tremendous help. Unfortunately, this is probably impossible, as I have mentioned before. Medicover has been on the Polish market for more than 20 years now. Your operations have rolled over onto other Eastern and Central European countries. What are the greatest challenges in managing such a complex corporation operating on many markets? Medicover has two faces. On the one hand, it is a company known for out-patient and specialised care in Poland. On the other hand, as Medicover Group, it comprises many units involved in medical services, operating in many countries. Medicover Group operates mainly in Eastern and Central Europe and is involved mainly in two fields. The first one is medical care, from diseases prevention, through occupational medicine, primary care, specialised care, to hospitals. The main markets are Poland and Romania, but there are also branches involved in infertility treatment in Ukraine and the UK. We are now commencing similar operations in India. Another field of operations is diagnostic PM


Medicine labs, under the Synevo brand. This brand is present in numerous countries: from Germany, through Poland, Romania, to Turkey. These labs perform both basic test as well as very advanced ones, such as genetic tests. Our philosophy is “Quality Comes First” – it is supported by the Triple Aim concept derived from the Institute of Healthcare Improvement, a US non-profit organisation. According to this Triple Aim concept, one cannot focus on one aspect only and disregard the others. You need to look from three perspectives. The first perspective is very close to us, medical professionals, and it is the quality of procedures and doctors’ conduct; it means assessment of health improvement, quality of treatment, length of hospital stay, improvement of medical parameters: whether we have achieved success in technical terms. Medicine has lots of indicators in this area to assess it. The second perspective is equally important, it is the patient’s perspective. Are the patients satisfied with our work, do they feel any health improvement? We were the first in Poland to start evaluating patient satisfaction. Every quarter we receive 50,000 patient feedbacks on their satisfaction with appointments and medical care. In Poland, such questionnaires are still rare, in particular in public care. The third perspective is the economic perspective. Our clients pay us a subscription fee. For this fee, we want to deliver service of top quality, however, on condition that we achieve a positive balance. Some would also add a fourth perspective, which is satisfaction of ourselves as the staff. If our staff have good tools available, feel good at work, feel satisfied – they work well. Frustrated doctors are not good doctors. This is the philosophy I would like to share with the entire medical community in Poland, including the NFZ. Why so little is spoken about it? I think it is because journalists are after sensational and catchy issues, such as new complex surgeries, while organic work is not fascinating for the media. There is also another issue: will discussion about our work and our presence in the media change anything? I keep wondering whether this approach is, again, not too modest. I would like very much to find time to share more of our experience. It is not only about building our company’s image, but also a duty of a kind. Medical professionals are obliged to share their experience and knowledge; it is one of the rules of medical ethics. It does not matter whether you work at a medical university or at a commercial facility. As I see it, what prevents it is mainly lack of time. This must be said. Few people are aware that the level of services, also in the public system, has much improved in recent years. It is great, certainly, but also makes us work harder to increase our competitiveness on the market. PM

What are your plans for future development. Do you consider increasing the number of your branches in Poland? There are two main directions worth mentioning. Health is not only about treatment of diseases. According to the WHO’s interpretation, it is also about prevention of diseases. But prevention does not only consist in having tests from time to time. Tests are very important, definitely, but it is also about conscious living. Eat well, be active – take wise care of your health. This is the direction we want to take because this area is still poorly explored. It is not PM

IF OUR STAFF HAVE GOOD TOOLS AVAILABLE, FEEL GOOD AT WORK, FEEL SATISFIED – THEY WORK WELL. FRUSTRATED DOCTORS ARE NOT GOOD DOCTORS. THIS IS THE PHILOSOPHY I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH THE ENTIRE MEDICAL COMMUNITY IN POLAND, INCLUDING THE NFZ.

strictly medical, but very important for people’s health. We need to take a more holistic approach, take responsibility for our health, and know more about it. Another direction is expansion of our facilities and hospitals. We will follow the globally present trend: digitisation. The Internet of today has conquered areas previously unexpected: books, music, entertainment. It does not work well with healthcare, though. At the moment it is clear that access to knowledge on one’s health will be crucial, and that the possibilities of checking many aspects also apply to health. I am not referring to gadgets that help you measure your pulse, but to much more serious issues. Actually, meeting my doctor three times a year gives me knowledge far below my needs. The Internet, therefore, allows me to take constant care of my health and remote medical solutions make it possible to be in touch with the doctors more frequently and conveniently, to continuously monitor physiological parameters, such as blood pressure, sugar level, or heart rate and so on. Medicover understands well the need for digital healthcare, and continuously develops innovative solutions - already about 1/3 of all medical services or consultations for our patients are delivered via internet or phone. Another issue related to digitisation is data processing. At the moment, there is a lot of talk about the Big Data issue. It applies to medicine to a great extent. We have been collecting digital files of our patients for 10 years. These are huge amounts of data that also need to be stored and processed wisely. Therefore, on the one hand there is the broadly understood health, and I agree with the opinion of the Institute of Occupational Medicine in Łódź, who refer to the new role of occupational medicine. We no longer need the occupational medicine as it used to be, we need a more extensive prevention at the workplace. On the other hand, healthcare is being redefined from occasional appointments with a doctor to a continuous observation where people and the healthcare system will play equal roles. • 8-9/2016  polish market

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HELPING PEOPLE TO RETURN TO SOCIETY ELŻBIETA RADZIKOWSKA, Ph.D., Head of the Plastic Surgery Department, Central Clinical Hospital of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Administration in Warsaw, talks to "Polish Market".

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Medicine Plastic surgery is usually associated with the private sector while we are talking at the Plastic Surgery Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Administration Hospital. How does work in the private sector differ from your work here? First of all, we must define the term “plastic surgery.” The average Pole associates it with beautifying activity. In reality, plastic surgery is a very wide, interdisciplinary part of surgery which treats congenital and post-traumatic defects. It also includes reconstructive surgery which involves procedures aimed at removing neoplastic lesions, especially in the face and skull area. Also, the entire hand surgery belongs to plastic surgery. The scope of our activity is very wide. We also co-operate with other departments such as laryngology, neurosurgery or orthopaedics. Sometimes we must reconstruct the entire nose using various tissues, following its removal because of cancer. As regards the differences between the private and public sector, we must remember that the former is not limited to beautifying operations. The advantage of our department is that we are located in a hospital and this is always associated with greater safety. We too perform aesthetic surgery procedures. We have a separate typically commercial ward where we carry out these operations. Its patients are often persons disqualified at private facilities for health or age reasons or because of the extent of the procedure. The main advantage of our department is that after surgery such patients remain under much greater control of various specialists. PM

You mentioned a purely commercial ward. Is this the response to the current model of hospitals? Does this ward finance the rest of your activities? This ward earns enough to cover its expenditures and brings us additional funds for development. Today, hospitals must support themselves instead of generating losses. However, I must admit that we set up this ward primarily in order to provide patients with a high level of safety. I also work at private clinics and know from experience that sometimes I am unable to perform certain procedures in view of strains, age or additional illnesses. At our ward we have the comfort of knowing that in the event of complications the patient already is in hospital and can be given immediate aid. On occasions patients also require more detailed diagnostics before the surgery which is much easier at a hospital. We must remember that aesthetic surgeries are no life-saving procedures. This is why it is necessary to remember that everything must be done so that nothing wrong happens to the patient during or after the surgery. This is important because sometimes we perform really extensive procedures, especially in patients who have managed to lose a lot of weight. PM

Which are the most frequent procedures? It is hard to say because we cannot be compared with private clinics. We are oriented towards reconstructive procedures, for example, breast reconstruction. We carry out such operations several times a week. We want to establish a closer co-operation with oncologists so that patients can have the entire process from mastectomy, through treatment and including reconstruction carried out at one place. A new radiotherapy department is being created in a neighbouring building and we would like to work closely with them as well. This is very important because breast cancer is an illness affecting ever-younger women. Such patients

"IN REALITY, PLASTIC SURGERY IS A VERY WIDE, INTERDISCIPLINARY PART OF SURGERY WHICH TREATS CONGENITAL AND POSTTRAUMATIC DEFECTS."

PM

must return to society and function there without problems. Our role is to ensure that patients feel as comfortable as possible after leaving the hospital. Another very popular and frequently performed procedure is liposuction. Today, it is carried out not only for aesthetic reasons but also as a method of acquiring stem cells. They are extracted from • fatty tissue and used in orthopaedics, etc. 8-9/2016  polish market

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INTEREST IN DENTAL MARKET KEEPS GROWING STEADILY KATARZYNA NIEDUŻAK, Member of the Management Board, AA Stomatologia, talks to “Polish Market”. Aesthetic medicine is associated with stateof-the-art solutions, including technological ones. To be competitive and attractive to customers nowadays, do you need to make large investments or can you make up for it with an experienced team? Financial expenditure is crucial, obviously; without expenditure there is no possibility of using new technologies, implementing or improving anything. Money, unfortunately, is indispensable in any business, and our business is no different in this respect. I would even go as far as saying that it requires more expenditure than other sectors, as new technologies, solutions, equipment etc. are being developed and all of this is based on costly clinical trials. Undeniably, an experienced team and highly qualified staff is definitely an asset increasing competitiveness. Our company is no newcomer on the market. It dates back to 1992 when it was established as a civil partnership. It has now been transformed into a limited liability company, with Mr Andrzej Siwek acting as its CEO; he graduated from the Pedagogical University of Rzeszów, and after graduation spent many years abroad, including the U.S. and the Netherlands. He is perfectly knowledgeable about contemporary management methods, and has been very successful in implementing innovative solutions which translate into top quality of services and patient satisfaction. I am the other member of the management board. I am a lawyer, with 15 years of professional and business experience from running PM

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my own law firm providing services to businesses primarily from the medical industry, but also to real estate developers. It seems highly probable to me that the combination of our CEO’s and my skills gives us an excellent opportunity to be a splendid coaching duo, skilfully leading our team. We focus on achievement of goals, albeit it should be done with full respect for the patient’s value. Our company, however, is not the Management Board only. There would be no company without people – our staff and associate partners. The company is made up of people. We have the best of luck that our team are very special people, always friendly, smiling, well educated, and sensitive to others. Our team consists of medical assistants (dental assistants), receptionists, and, last but not least, doctors. There are 13 people in total and we sometimes joke that we are a “lucky 13.” I am a demanding person, and the team know it very well. They also know, however, they are important to us, their work is valued, and they can always count on us, not only in professional matters. We are building relations based on partnership and mutual respect. And this good atmosphere within the company definitely translates into attitude to individual patients. The patients must always feel good, feel special – and they really do. PM

What is the nature of this market, and what are the secrets of entering and staying one of the most recognisable brands on the market?

The global dental market is developing in all possible directions. Interest in services is not only not decreasing, but keeps growing steadily. Patient awareness in terms of mouth care has increased dramatically compared to 10 years back. According to estimated data, over seven million patients per year all over the world seek medical procedures at affordable prices, and half of them are dental patients. Foreign patients are attracted to Polish clinics mainly by much lower prices of services. For instance, an average price of a dental implant with a crown and connector is around EUR 2,000-3,000 in Western Europe while in Poland such a procedure costs approximately EUR 1,000, which is over two times less. The same applies to cosmetic dentistry. For fully ceramic veneers, patients in Germany pay at least EUR 800-900 while our company offers the same service for around EUR 400. Therefore, entry onto and staying on the market is not only about prices affordable to patients but primarily about high standard of equipment at our surgeries, top quality of services and materials used, staff which keeps raising their qualifications, and individual approach to each and every patient. Cosmetic dentistry and medicine seem a quite odd combination at first. How did you come up with such a narrow speciality? Are you planning to expand your line of services? AA Stomatologia, as the name suggests, provides dental services, in particular cosmetic PM


Photo: Łukasz Giersz

Medicine

Dr Agata Jasiczek

From left: Mariya Sorochuk, Katarzyna Szajda, Katarzyna Niedużak, Dr Paweł Kruk

Dr Dariusz Kardynał

Dr Katarzyna Widz-Owczarek

dental services. We offer services in conservative dentistry, endodontics, microscopic endodontics, dental surgery, prosthetics, implants. Our company is distinguished by the use of cosmetic medicine in dentistry, mainly for the correction of any teeth and face imperfections using stem cells and hyaluronic acid. Stem cells are used for instance in periodontics, in the treatment of peridontal diseases, such as periodontitis. The use of stem cells in treatment reduces pain, improves soft tissue healing, and increases density of the forming bone tissue. Hyaluronic acid, on the other hand, allows cosmetic reconstruction of soft tissue within the oral cavity. In dentistry, hyaluronic acid is used to reconstruct gingival papillae, improve gum shape and volume, remove grooves following prosthetic work. It is also used to improve face shape following prosthetic work. Cosmetic dentistry takes care of dental health and offers teeth whitening, sandblasting or remodelling, and reconstruction of teeth for cosmetic purposes. AA Stomatologia plans further expansion in the use of cosmetic medicine in dentistry. We

keep following innovations on the global market, conduct clinical research, keep educating our staff, increasing the quality of our services, as a part of our care for utmost satisfaction of our patients. We run many health promoting activities for them. You boast of a unique team of specialists. Who are they and are they the best of the best? Our staff are highly qualified specialists in endodontics, dental surgery, prosthetics, conservative dentistry, implantology, cosmetic dentistry and medicine. The team members include: DR AGATA JASICZEK – dentist specialising in prosthetics and implants. Dr Jasiczek performs cosmetic medical procedures, conducts training in needle mesotherapy and fillers. DR JANA PETROVA – winner of an international cosmetic dentistry competition at which she was representing Poland. DR KATARZYNA WIDZ-OWCZAREK – specialist in teeth colour and shape enhancement using composite, porcelain, and ceramic veneers. Dr Widz-Owczarek has attended many trainings in prosthetics, including inlay/onlay PM

Maryna Priakha and Marta Jasiczek technique, the most advanced practical course on “Porcelain veneers – step by step,” and prosthetic training on “Veneers, glass fibres.” DR PAWEŁ KRUK – Graduated from the Faculty of Dentistry at the Medical University of Lublin in 2007. At AA’s private dental clinic, he specialises in root canal therapy using microscopes, dental surgery, prosthetics and periodontics, conservative and cosmetic dentistry. He keeps learning by attending multiple courses and trainings. DR DARIUSZ KARDYNAŁ – dentist, graduated from the Medical University of Warsaw. His passion has always been surgical treatment. He went seriously into endodontics as early as during his university course. Dr Kardynał specialises in conservative dentistry, endodontics, surgery, and prosthetics. •

Learn more about us at www.aastomatologia.pl 8-9/2016  polish market

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The elderly should not be alone BEATA DRZAZGA, President of the Board of BetaMed S.A., talks to Ewelina Janczylik-Foryś. BetaMed S.A. was established 15 years ago and since then has been specialising in providing long-term care in the patient’s home. We operate through 84 branches in 11 provinces and employ approximately 3,000 people, including nurses, doctors, rehabilitation specialists and non-medical personnel. So, this is what distinguishes you from the competition. Usually, the patient must go to the medical facility in person. Our aim has never been to stand out from the competition. However, we are one of the first companies to have developed in this area. We offer care within the frame of the National Health Fund (NFZ). Over the years the number of our patients kept growing. The market reported a huge demand for such services and this is also the case today. The demand for these services continues. In my opinion, this is the optimal form of care from the patient’s point of view. This is also recognised in Europe. The advantage of this care lies in the fact that PM

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the patient remains in a familiar environment: at home. This positively affects the treatment process. It is also reflected in the budget of the NFZ. The Fund pays less for home care compared with the rates paid for hospitalisation. You pay a lot of attention to the elderly. In Poland there is no geriatric care as such. There is a dearth of geriatrics specialists and geriatric wards. Is this the source of your increased focus on old people? Yes, we could do with more geriatrics specialists. I believe that every patient aged 65+ should be diagnosed by a geriatrician to see whether they are taking too much medication PM

or whether this causes them harm, etc. After diagnosing the patient, the patient should have a choice of further treatment site. If there is no family they should be provided with social care. Easy access to geriatricians should be provided, because they should diagnose the elderly. One must remember that at this age, your body reacts differently to the same drugs compared with someone aged 30. The main problem of the elderly is that they suffer from many concurrent illnesses and visit different specialists. Each physician prescribes drugs appropriate for the treatment of a given disease. Sometimes, such patients show symptoms not associated with illnesses, but with


Medicine drugs interactions. Therefore, in such situations a geriatrician is irreplaceable. I believe that the number of health care facilities looking after the elderly should be increased. The ideal solution would be long-term home care with geriatric consultation. I am asking about the elderly not without a reason. I know that you are a strong advocate of keeping old people active. I believe that those who retire should stay active for as long as possible. Also when they begin to suffer the effects of illnesses. We should take care of such people. In the case of care provided in a nursing home, great attention should be paid to ensuring that patients remain active. They must not be confined to their bed. Hence my idea of providing such people of with places where they can engage in various activities. There should be as many clubs or rooms, where, subject to the patient’s condition, there is a lot of movement, where they can dance, sing, take manual therapy or rehabilitation classes. I care about the relationships and contacts between my patients and seniors from the outside. It shows patients that people of their age can be active, efficient and well-maintained. I see that patients approach this ambitiously and seeing these people they say that they too would like to be like them. Certainly, this group of patients includes persons with dementia and very seriously ill patients, but we also try to gently rehabilitate them. I would like to point out a paradox here. As children, we want to offer our parents the best possible conditions, help with cooking, cleaning. But in reality we are harming them. As a result of our efforts the elderly just sit in front of the television set and watch film series. I work on changing the mentality of middleaged people between 30 and 50, so that they make sure that their parents stay active. They should know that their parents may use services such as those offered by BetaMed S.A. They can choose between stays lasting just a few hours or the whole day, during which the elderly can exercise, spend their time actively with others, take part in lectures about diet, diabetes prevention or take part in performances of school children, etc. Just like the young who go to fitness clubs and meet with friends we would like to give the elderly the same opportunities. We would like them to leave the house, to avoid inadvertently becoming victims of their children’s over-protectiveness and to have places dedicated to them where they can just have a good time. Until recently the prevailing view was that retirement is to be spent sitting and relaxing. However, we must remember that this rest should be active and watching television is no activity. Inactivity has bad health consequences. Only activity keeps us alive. PM

You mentioned that home care is provided under a contract with the NFZ. How many patients are you able to help under the contract? Under its contract with the NFZ, BetaMed S.A. offers permanent care to some 4,000 patients. Of course, the demand is such greater. The number of the elderly in growing every year. The State must deal with this problem. There are some private initiatives, like mine, which can help in this regard. All this is done within the NFZ. It is often thought that home care provided by private persons is subject to some additional payments. This is not the case. Everything is financed by the NFZ. PM

Does the BetaMed Medical Active Care Clinic also operate on the basis of a contract with the NFZ? This is a clinic with a floorage space of some 8,000 square metres and with approximately 100 beds. We have a contract with the NFZ, but it only covers 25 persons. The next floor is a private ward with 26 beds. We also have a mechanical ventilation nursing home for children which operates within the NFZ. We look after children from all over Poland. They are constantly kept under respirators. This is a very good solution. When patients no longer have to remain at the intensive care unit they are moved to our facility. This vacates beds for patients who need intensive care. We also have a similar ward for adult patients under respirators which is run on the basis of a contract with the NFZ. Families of patients from these wards have a choice. They can either take patients home where we provide care, medical equipment (respirator), an anaesthesiologist, nurse and physiotherapist or, if the patient’s condition is more severe, they can stay at the clinic. BetaMed S.A. specialises in providing care to the elderly. I have a degree in Geriatric Nursing. I am fortunate in that I employ persons with excellent qualifications and approach to the elderly. We want patients to feel that we approach them individually and that they are important to us. Alas, there is still a shortage of nursing homes in Poland. This is due to the fact that the refund rate is very low, and maintaining the appropriate conditions, quality of services, rehabilitation and employment of good personnel costs a lot. Even the rate we receive for typically private care, non-refundable, is too low, but is still noticeable for a pensioner. Money is the crux of the problem – people who pay health insurance contributions all their lives would like to receive such care from the State free of charge. And the contracts offered by the State are few and far between. Not everybody can afford private nursing homes, and others wait in long queues (1-2 years). Despite financial issues, I continue to put emphasis on

quality. We have mobile furniture, equipment for utilisation of disposable products. We do everything to ensure that our patients do not feel that they are staying at a hospital but that they are at home or in a sanatorium. We have also purchased modern equipment facilitating the work of our personnel, such as lifters or bed-tubs. In the case of persons connected to a respirator moving them or bathing is difficult. Everybody who decides to open a facility of this type must have experience, a big heart, lots of empathy and realise that this is hard and often harrowing work. Often we have problems with making the ends meet financially, but the happiness in the eyes of patients is an ample reward for our labours.

PM

You mentioned BetaMed S.A. branches in 11 provinces. Are there plans to expand your operations abroad? Yes. I have already formed a company in Las Vegas – BetaMed International. For the last two years I have been meeting with Americans, also from Nevada. They visited Poland during several trade missions and also came to my clinic. They were fascinated by the idea, quality, and especially by our approach to patients. We address them by their first names and treat them like family. I was very happy when in July 2016 the government of Nevada organised a week-long trade mission especially for me. During that time I was introduced to various government institutions, entrepreneurs and hospitals. A Governor’s representative said that he would like such care, love and tenderness for patients to be offered in Las Vegas too and wished BetaMed International every success in that state. As a result on July 7 BetaMed International was opened. The State of Nevada is open to collaboration with business people from Poland. It is oriented towards development and economic growth. This is why it offers excellent conditions for new initiatives and strongly supports entrepreneurs who want to work or co-operate with Nevada. For the moment, my entire attention is focused on BetaMed S.A. in Poland and BetaMed International. PM

You are also very active outside your occupation. You love fashion and have your own salon… I wanted to also do something else, to avoid professional burnout. I encounter very unpleasant situations on a daily basis. Contact with sick patients does leave a mark. Fashion is a refuge. I also like to dance and travel, but I have very little time to spare for such activities. I learn a lot. I hope to complete my doctoral studies soon. I am very proud of my education and I feel that the world continues to develop and we have to keep up. This is why I like to expand my knowledge in various disciplines. • PM

8-9/2016  polish market

47


15 YEARS

Medicine

WITH THE POLPHARMA SCIENTIFIC FOUNDATION! The Polpharma Scientific Foundation is celebrating its 15th anniversary this year. During an official evening gala held at Teatr Stanisławowski at the Royal Łazienki Palace in Warsaw, winners of the competitions organised by the Foundation received well-deserved grants and awards.

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he Polpharma Scientific Foundation was set up in 2001 by Zakłady Farmaceutyczne Polpharma S.A. It supports the development of pharmaceutical and medical sciences by financing research in these areas. All funds for the statutory activity of the Foundation come from Polpharma’s budget. “We finance basic research projects. Each of them brings us closer to information allowing us to expand our medical knowledge. In the period immediately following the establishment of the Foundation we tried to focus the contest on specific therapeutic areas, such as cardiology or neurology, but then we decided to expand the format to include the best works in medicine and pharmacy. The number of entries has fallen somewhat but all are of high quality. Previously we all had to learn: the authors – how to draw up their applications, we – how to evaluate them. One criterion in particular has always caused a major problem for the authors – formulating the objective of the study in the form of a question which at the same time explains the aim of the research,” said Wojciech Kuźmierkiewicz, President of the Board of the Polpharma Scientific Foundation. In his letter to the President of the Board of the Polpharma Scientific Foundation, Konstanty Radziwiłł, the Minister of Health, expressed his appreciation for all those who are involved in the company’s mission. He wrote: “The Polpharma Scientific Foundation owes its successes to the work of a great number of people, above all, experts in various areas of medicine and pharmacy. Your activities aimed at initiating, organising and supporting research in the field of medical and pharmaceutical sciences, as well as your collaboration with domestic and foreign institutes, deserve particular attention and recognition.” “I am moved by the fact that from a child born in 2001 a mature partner has grown who enjoys the trust of the scientific community,” Jerzy Starak, the owner of the Polpharma Group and the founder of the Polpharma Scientific Foundation, admitted in his speech. “Everybody dreams of new patents, but this cannot be achieved without investing in science. Only on this basis we can build something really good!,” he added.

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The winners of the 14th competition of the Foundation for financing projects in medicine and pharmacy are: Dr Agnieszka Paradowska-Gorycka from the Institute of Rheumathology in Warsaw, Dr Michał Panek from the Medical University of Łódź and Dr Katarzyna Niemirowicz from the Medical University of Białystok. The grants awarded in this edition are worth PLN 1,200,000. The laureates of this competition have joined the group of finalists which currently includes 65 research teams. So far, 637 research projects have been submitted in the competition. All grants and scholarships awarded to-date amount to PLN 18,300,000! Agnieszka Paradowska-Gorycka works on a better understanding of an illness known as MCTD, or mixed connective tissue disorder. This is a rare inflammatory disease affecting the connective tissue, involving inflammatory, thrombotic and auto-immune processes. Michał Panek focuses in his research on asthma patients, mostly suffering from its severe form. Katarzyna Niemirowicz works on the development of artificial saliva which would be better than the product currently available in the market. For the 10th time the Foundation has also given out prizes to the authors of the best master's theses written at the pharmacy departments of medical schools, selected by the Polish Pharmaceutical Society. For almost 10 years, the Polpharma Scientific Foundation has been committed to actively improving patient compliance. From May to mid-June 2016, representatives of the Polpharma Scientific Foundation led a countrywide awarenessraising campaign for students of medical programmes, called “Weź się lecz” (“Go treat yourself”), to put the spotlight on patient compliance. Students could take part in a competition to test their knowledge about this relevant topic. Nearly one thousand people accepted the invitation to take part in the test. Ultimately, five contestants handed in error-free tests and were pronounced winners. On the occasion of the 15th anniversary of its establishment, the Foundation decided to award commemorative statuettes to • all members of the Foundation’s Scientific Councils.


PROFESSOR’S EAR

Medicine

The 2nd International Music Festival for Children, Youths, and Adults with Hearing Disorders “Beats of Cochlea” was held on July 13 at the concert hall of the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music in Warsaw. Its participants were people who, following a cochlear implant surgery, not only communicate with others without any problem, but also sing and play various instruments. The Festival is the brainchild of Professor Henryk Skarżyński, Director of the World Hearing Centre in Kajetany near Warsaw, who in 1992 carried out the first cochlear implant surgery in a deaf person in Poland. Maciej Proliński

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he organiser of the Festival is the World Hearing Centre with the support of the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music and the Institute of Sensory Organs. Agata Kornhauser-Duda, Poland’s First Lady, was the honorary patron of the event. “Scientists should be expected to popularise their work in an easyto-understand form. This festival is just that. It is also an opportunity to present some important Polish initiatives in the international arena. The festival participants were born without hearing or had lost their hearing and then underwent an operation. This is a real demonstration of how progress in science affects the way they function today and how their hearing and speech have developed. This also shows that thanks to a hearing therapy, it is possible to develop the artistic soul needed for professional music performance. Hearing disorders or even its total loss are no longer obstacles in" enjoying music and developing musical talents, Professor Henryk Skarżyński, world-famous otosurgeon and expert in otolaryngology, audiology and phoniatrics, founder and director of the World Hearing Centre in Kajetany, said during the press conference preceding the final musical event. Professor reminded the audience that the first cochlear implant was fitted in a deaf person in Poland 24 years ago, on July 14, 1992.

Subsequently, partially deaf patients began receiving the device. The first adult was fitted with such an implant in Poland in 2002 and the first child in 2008. “Initially, these devices had been designed to restore the ability to hear and speak, but later it turned out that they could also be used to develop musical talents”, said Professor Skarżyński. Dr Artur Lorens of the Institute of Physiology and Pathology of Hearing in Kajetany added that learning music by persons with hearing disorders became possible because the latest implants were better at processing sounds into neural impulses. The implanting methods have also been improved and progress has been made in studying the so-called brain plasticity. “Scientists had always known that the reception of music via a cochlear implant was different than via a correctly functioning ear. Instead of hearing music, a person with an implant heard various noises and squeaks. Many elements of music simply did not exist and music sounded badly and was very hard to listen to. Now everything has changed and in the new implants there is no room for incorrect perception of music. We are witnessing progress in three scientific disciplines which allow persons with implants to hear music almost like persons with unimpaired hearing”, said Artur Lorens.

When 25 years ago Professor Henryk Skarżyński was beginning his preparations for the implementation of the cochlear implants programme in Poland, he could not even dream of creating the “Polish school of otosurgery” in the treatment of partial deafness. The initial impulse which put him on track was a trip to Paris in 1988 for the 1st Congress of the European Confederation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (EUFOS). He represented Poland at the European Regional Round Table attended also by delegates from the former Czechoslovakia, East Germany and Hungary. Today, young doctors and scientists from all continents study at various courses, workshops, seminars and conferences at the World Hearing Centre managed by Professor Skarżyński. At the Centre, opened in May 2012, Professor Skarżyński and his team are conducting pioneering research in the epidemiology and prevention of hearing impairments, developing and implementing state-of-the-art screening programmes for children at various ages, epidemiology studies and programmes of modern therapy and rehabilitation of speech and hearing. Currently, the Centre in Kajetany is an unquestioned global leader in terms of the number of operations improving hearing (some 15,000 procedures per year). Nearly 5,000 hearing implant patients remain under the care of the World Hearing Centre. • 8-9/2016  polish market

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Infrastructure

MIROSŁAW JĘDRZEJCZYK, President of the Board of the Tubądzin Group

TUBĄDZIN GROUP

INNOVATION LEADER The Tubądzin Group is growing rapidly, as evidenced by the newly-built plant in Sieradz. What will be made there? The factory in Sieradz will produce approximately 3 million square metres of ceramic tiles per year. It is the most advanced plant in Poland manufacturing large format tiles with sizes of up to 120x240cm. These products are universally applicable on walls, floors and facades of buildings. The new plant will implement the production of ceramic tiles, which will be an extension of the range currently manufactured in factories operating in Tubądzin and Ozorków. In the plant being constructed on the outskirts of Sieradz, in PM

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co-operation with the world leaders in ceramic technology, we are going to implement the latest technology solutions. Tiles will be made continuously using the rolling method. Currently, at almost all factories in the world, this process is done by pressing. The rolling method will be applied for the first time in Central and Eastern Europe. It will allow the plant to achieve the highest quality parameters. The use of this cutting-edge technology will contribute to the reduction of natural gas consumption, and consequently – to the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions. The production line will be equipped with many innovative decorating devices used for making a wide variety of decorative materials.


Infrastructure

This is yet another project in the Łódź Special Economic Zone. What drove you to invest there? The Tubądzin Group has for years been associated with the region. The new factory's location in Sieradz is a very good choice from the point of view of logistics, considering its proximity to transportation hubs, including the S8 dual carriageway. We saw this already eight years ago when we opened our central warehouse and distribution centre in Cedrowice near Ozorków close to the junction of the A1 and A2 motorways. We want to generate new jobs in the region, and the factory will employ over 100 people. Moreover, the Tubądzin Group has for years been successfully working with the local authorities in Sieradz. We can say that we share a true partnership relation. With the development of our company we want to promote the economic growth of the region, from which the Tubądzin Group originates.

THE PRODUCTION LINE WILL BE EQUIPPED WITH MANY INNOVATIVE DECORATING DEVICES USED FOR MAKING A WIDE VARIETY OF DECORATIVE MATERIALS.

PM

You present yourself as an “innovation leader.” What can you tell us about these innovations in the Tubądzin Group? The new plant under construction in Sieradz is an excellent example of our innovation. Cutting-edge technology is what distinguishes us from the competition, but that is not all. As the first in Poland, we invited the fashion designer Maciej Zien, who created unique collections of ceramic tiles together with us. Continuing with our growth strategy in the previous years, we began working with Dorota Koziara, one of the most outstanding Polish designers, artists and interior designers. A new line of products called "Colours of Poland," designed by her and signed with her name will hit the market in 2017. Dorota Koziara has also been made the ambassador of the Tubądzin Design Days and Tubądzin Design Awards projects, addressed to designers and architects, both in Poland and abroad. We make our products for different customer groups, and each of them meets the most stringent European standards. We have built our position over the years through systematic organic growth. In 1994, we launched a modern production line that uses the monoporosa (single firing) technology. This allowed the company to dynamically enter the European market and join the group of the leading tile manufacturers in the country. In 1996, we opened a modern laboratory and the vitreous fibre department, which started the production of ceramic decorations and mouldings. Four years later in Ozorków we opened a factory that makes use of new technological possibilities, thanks to which apart from wall tiles and ceramic decorations, we were also able to offer flooring products. The search for new ways and our efforts to meet customer expectations resulted in the launch in 2005 of a third production line in Ozorków. As one of the first in the country we started to make there tiles in the 30x60 cm size, which were then regarded as large format. The time has now come for the next step in the development of the Tubądzin Group, resulting in our investment project in Sieradz. PM

development directions, including international expansion. However, this is still at the conceptual stage. Bearing in mind the geographic location of Poland and the geo-political environment, continued investments in our Group to make it grow locally is fully justified. This stems from the fact that at present the Eastern markets are highly unstable. On the other hand, the present level of distribution services means that Western and Southern markets are serviced very well and usually without any customs barriers. What is the interest in the market? The Polish sector of doors and windows which appears to be close to your sector, is highly appreciated in the world. How much interest is generated by your products? Our products are noted for their high quality and modern design, not only in the country but also abroad. The company works directly with more than 100 wholesalers and indirectly with more than 1,000 retail shops and stores, but apart from the domestic market, we are well known and respected in the EU markets, Eastern Europe (Ukraine, Belarus, Russia) and in countries such as New Zealand, Australia and Kazakhstan. The popularity of our products shows us that we are moving in the right direction, and the positive opinions reaching us not only from Europe but also from other continents give us the impetus for further ac• tion. PM

You are also present in many European countries. Do you have plans to invest abroad? Today, our attention is focused on the plant in Sieradz, although we do consider many new PM

8-9/2016 polish market

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Infrastructure

PATENT

CO-OPERATION TREATY The Visegrad Patent Institute encompassing the four States belonging to the Visegrad Group: the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia and Hungary, was launched on July 1, 2016. The aim of this new patent institution is to provide patents filed from these countries with easier and more friendly access to the international patent protection procedure in the PCT (Patent Co-operation Treaty) system administered by the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO).

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he Patent Co-operation Treaty (PCT) was concluded in Washington in 1970. It allows those filing patent applications access to a simplified and cheaper patenting procedure in all 148 countries belonging to the Treaty. Thanks to this procedure, by filing just one international application and paying a single fee it is possible to assess the chances of obtaining a patent in any number of PCT member states where patent protection is to be sought. Under the PCT procedure the applicant may file an international application or via their national intellectual property authority which acts as a Receiving Office, or directly at the WIPO International Office. In the former case, if the applicant is a Polish entity, the international application may be filed only in the three official languages of the European Patent Office (EPO), which at present is the only International Searching Authority for Polish applicants. In the latter case the filing may be done in the Polish language, but within one month of its date a translation into one of the official languages of the EPO (English, French or German) must be supplied. The application is then subject to a search performed by an International Searching Authority or, optionally, at the applicant’s request, by an International Preliminary Examining Authority. These bodies draw up an international search or an international preliminary examination report respectively. The reports provide the applicant with grounds for assessing the chances of obtaining a patent. As of July 1, 2016, applicants from the member states of the Visegrad Group may also use the services of the Visegrad Patent Institute (VPI), which, just like the EPO, functions as

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an International Searching Authority and an International Preliminary Examining Authority. The tasks connected with carrying out an international search and a preliminary examination are performed by the national intellectual property authorities in the VPI member countries. Each of them conducts the procedure in the national language of a given member state. Thus, by selecting the VPI Polish applicants are able to file an international application with the Polish Patent Office in the Polish language. The applicant is also obligated to provide, for publication purposes, a translation into one of the 10 languages indicated in the PCT Regulations within 14 months of the priority date. The Visegrad Patent Institute is an intergovernmental organisation tasked with handling matters relating to patent cooperation. It has legal personality and enjoys administrative and financial autonomy. It is managed by the Administration Council composed of representatives of all member states. The Institute is based in Budapest, while the patent offices of the contracting states act as the Institute. The creation of the Visegrad Patent Institute brings significant benefits to national users of the PCT system, and in particular small and medium-sized enterprises. Owing to the fact that in the Visegrad Patent Institute the Polish Patent Office acts as an International Searching Authority and an International Preliminary Examining Authority of the PCT, Polish users are now able to proceed in their own language in their country. Applicants choosing the Visegrad Patent Institute as their International Searching Authority/International Preliminary Examining Authority receive a reimbursement

of 40% of the fees charged by the Institute for drawing up the search report, if they make use of priority from a national application and present a domestic search report. The full fee currently set by the WIPO is EUR 1,875, so in practice applicants will pay only EUR 1,125. An additional advantage is also the possibility to defer the delivery to the WIPO of the application’s translations for publication purposes until 14 months of the priority date, and in the event of obtaining a negative opinion of the International Authority, the applicant may withdraw the application without having to bear the costs of its translation. Moreover, in the event of seeking an European patent under the PCT procedure, the applicant who has obtained an international search report drawn up by the VPI can take advantage of a discount on the fee for an additional European search report which applicants are obligated to pay if their search/preliminary examination report comes from International Authorities other than the European Patent Office. Instead of the full charge of EUR 1,300, applicants have to pay a reduced charge of EUR 190. The Visegrad Patent Institute is also able to carry out other patent co-operation tasks, such as conducting searches and examinations commissioned by other patent offices which do not have the necessary personnel or tools allowing them to perform these tasks on their own, or handle so many applications that they are forced to use the assistance of other institutions. Other tasks of the Institute also include carrying out additional international searches at the applicant’s request and international-type searches following the coming into force of the amended Intellectual Property Law Act. •


Infrastructure

WORLD SOLUTIONS.

MADE IN POLAND

The weakest spot of Poles is their extremely low willingness to co-operate and a very low level of mutual trust," Jan Mikołuszko, President of the Board of the Polish Cluster of Construction Exporters, began his address with this quote. He indicated the need to learn how to co-operate and help each other as the main purpose of setting up the Cluster. The Polish Cluster of Construction Exporters is an initiative of entrepreneurs who want to build and extend the co-operation of Polish construction companies in export markets and to internationalise the Polish construction sector. The Cluster has been created to present globally the capabilities of Polish companies in the area of development and modernisation of infrastructure on the basis of the latest technologies, products, systems and professional engineering staff. Tines is the company responsible for promoting the Cluster in international markets. The Cluster is promoted with the slogan “World solutions. Made in Poland.” Tomasz Szuba, president of Tines, said that Poles had to stop believing that they stood no chance in foreign markets. He cited examples of Polish businesses which had successfully entered international markets and were doing well there. However, he added that the situation in the construction sector was slightly different. The only company included in the top 50 of this sector in the world was Polimex Mostostal. However, all companies in the Cluster put together would end in the 40th place in the ranking. “Polish engineers, Polish professionalism, Polish competencies, are known the world over, if we are talking construction,”he said "We have a rich history of being present at foreign construction

sites, from the Suez Canal to railway lines in Peru and Ecuador." Members of the Cluster: • Unibep • TorPol • Polimex Mostostal • IDS Bud • EPK • F.B.I. Tasbud • Tines • Zeus • Palisander • Termika • DorBud • Seen Holding • Instal Białystok • PBG • Elektrotim • Pol-Inowex • Vistal • Jpcontracting.pl • Sn strukton The aim of the Cluster is to combine the forces of Polish construction enterprises so that, as a consortium, they are able to compete for large foreign contracts. This is possible because companies in the Polish construction sector have huge experience in housing, energy, fuel and large-scale steel structures construction. Competing for contracts as a cluster will allow applying for much larger contracts than those which every individual company would not have been able to carry out on its own. The EU funding framework was an important element prompting the formation of the Cluster. After 2020 there will be no more funds for infrastructural investment projects coming from the European Union. Unless Polish companies find a way of extending the range of their

services and markets, employment will have to be reduced by up to 30%.

19 COMPANIES 50 EXPORT DIRECTIONS 11,500 EMPLOYEES IN POLAND 1,250 EMPLOYEES ABROAD Also Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego (BGK) and Korporacja Ubezpieczeń Kredytów Eksportowych SA (Export Credit Insurance Corporation, KUKE) came up with an interesting initiative by offering assistance in educating the Cluster’s members. There was also talk of providing financing for interesting ideas connected with foreign expansion. Leszek Gołąbiecki, President of Unibep, observed that such financing would be a huge opportunity offering Polish companies competitive advantage abroad. Jerzy Jacek Szugajew, VicePresident of BGK, stressed that the Bank was open to co-operation with the construction industry. “Construction currently accounts for one of the largest parts of our credit portfolio when it comes to export support. In the last eight months alone the projects financed by BGK exceeded PLN 500 million,” he pointed out. The presidents also mentioned the important role played by the Polish Development Fund, which is to support exports and the expansion of Polish companies abroad. The Polish Cluster of Construction Exporters is an opportunity for successful international expansion. It also offers a potential solution to the problem of the end of the inflow of EU funding and a method of seeking new • markets. 8-9/2016 polish market

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MODERNITY ENTERS THE POLISH REAL ESTATE MARKET, OR DESIGN&BUILD IN PRACTICE

Infrastructure

Design&Build is a term which is all the rage in today’s commercial spaces arrangement market. It appears as part of the names of construction companies or an element of what they offer. However, a cursory analysis of examples cited as Design&Build projects shows many differences. In short, Design&Build means: saving time, saving money and responsibility. So, what is Design&Build exactly? What is its main objective? And finally, who benefits most from it?

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lthough increasingly popular, in the Polish sector offering commercial space arrangement and finishing (offices, hotels, shopping centres, medical centres) this term remains new and not completely defined. It is worth taking a look how the Design&Build idea is used by international corporations in the global markets.

A PICTURE MADE OF MANY PIECES Design&Build is a method consisting in building a common platform for all entities involved in a finishing or building project. The aim is to take a holistic approach to the project instead of separating areas of responsibility. This approach is intended to limit investment risks at every stage.

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THERE ARE SEVERAL VARIANTS OF THE DESIGN&BUILD CONCEPT First, the purest form: the project is carried out by one company which comprehensively deals with the entire process from identifying the customer’s expectations and the required (but often not realised) functionalities, through the preparation of the space and systems architectural design taking into account the needs and budget possibilities, to building contracting and fit-out. The scope of the works may be limited to creating an empty space or include full interior design with furniture, fabrics and minor finishing elements. This solution offers the largest number of advantages and is most transparent: one entity, one responsibility. It is also the easiest

for the investor in terms of handling the entire process: establishing co-operation, conducting it, commissioning the project or pursuing claims. Examples of this model include the Warsaw office of MMC (Marsh McLennan Companies), Whirlpool or currently Stanley Black&Decker. "Above all, Design & Build means a feeling of comfort and safety. When just one partner looks after the design and execution of the interiors we do not have to worry that we will run out of money when the time for settlement comes. The project is planned in minute details from the very beginning. The architect and the contractor make up one harmonious team designing in line with the budget and corporate guidelines which are not always easy to meet," says Jacek Białas,


Infrastructure Director of EMEA Business Services at Stanley Black&Decker, which is currently carrying out a large project involving its offices. Second, there are also mixed forms where one of the companies co-ordinates many contractors and can perform only some of the works by itself. For example, this entity collaborates with an external architect or other counterparties indicated by the investor. However, the co-ordinator is responsible for the entire project. This solution allows works to be prepared in a manner which meets the needs of the customer while being feasible under specific building conditions, time and budget. This significantly reduces the number of potential changes and corrections in the architectural design. "Thanks to Design&Build, the project can be consistent with the architect’s vision at all times. We work with concrete materials and technologies and know that they will not be changed. Also the investor is satisfied with the entire process because there is no risk of the final budget going up by, let’s say, 20%," say Bartosz Trzop, the owner of Trzop Architekci, partner at GT3 Architekci. This line of reasoning is supplemented from the contractor’s point of view by Tétris representative Tomasz Spalik, Business Development Director in the Design&Build model: "Good co-operation between the contractor and the architect is a necessary condition of effective project implementation. If we share the same knowledge then we can effectively manage all the details. By designing and building systems, such as air conditioning or lighting, in accordance with the architectural design and the conditions prevailing in the building we avoid many unpleasant surprises. Our role, starting from the negotiation stage, is co-ordinating all those who participate in the investment process." Each form of Design&Build affects effectiveness and makes it easier for the customer to conduct a complicated building process. The main benefits for the investor include, above all, the ease of project management (one responsible entity), predictability and certainty of the costs and implementation time.

I. RESPONSIBILITY The investor signs a contract with just one counterparty who is responsible for carrying out the entire building process. That counterparty may co-ordinate this process and perform only some of its elements or may carry out all the actions. The benefits for the customer are clear: there is just one responsible entity. This greatly improves communication between many teams working on the project and affects the execution time and costs. In addition, the investor does not have to waste

their own time on intermediating between different entities and does not have to regulate the relations between them.

II. SAVING TIME The project is completed over the shortest possible time. Thanks to co-ordinated actions, it is possible to avoid many mistakes, both during the design and building stage. All the formalities, including drawing up the schedule and budgeting, are attended to by one counterparty. "Large entities have more resources and are better at managing logistics, including human work. This helps to plan a better schedule and stick to it. The mobility of our teams stems from efficient management, but also from availability. In the event of problems we can reassign resources without affecting other work. This is how the economies of scale works," stresses Maciej Duda, Operations Director, Tétris.

III. SAVING COSTS Certainly, better planning and reduced time affect project costs. Design&Build makes it possible to plan expenditures with full transparency at every stage of the works. The coordinator is familiar with every need and is therefore able to plan the costs with precision. This formula offers the investor certainty that the budget will not be exceeded. There are also additional clauses which provide for any savings to be returned to the investor. "Polish customers are often reluctant to speak clearly about their budgets from the beginning of the tendering procedure or even co-operation. This attitude is wrong and also to their detriment. Full transparency (for example, the open book process) facilitates work and applies to all the parties. Non-disclosure agreements make sure that information is not disclosed to third parties. The global standard is such conduct of the contractor which minimises costs, comprehensively optimises solutions and technologies at the design and building plane (value management). Both the investor and the contractor profit from any savings," says Paweł Brodzik, Managing Director, Tétris. Budgets created as part of Design&Build are usually much more detailed and adjusted to the project than several different cost estimates from many contractors which often assume that some works will be performed by another entity. "At first, the budget presented by the Design&Build operator may seem to be the highest. However, the customer benefits from the ability to determine the final cost at an early stage with little risk of exceeding it, of course, provided the customer does not make

changes during execution. If we are talking about arranging offices, this type of planning and co-operation is most popular among large international companies – lessees of commercial spaces. In the case of more complex projects, such as the construction of a shopping centre, the traditional “design, tender and build” model is usually chosen," says Paweł Warda, Head of Project Management, JLL. Tomasz Spalik points out to another positive aspect of working with companies specialising in Design&Build. " Large companies, such as Tétris, which implement many projects simultaneously have a better negotiation position with suppliers. Our customers often do not realise this."

SUMMARY Design&Build in practice makes it possible to minimise the risks associated with designing and claims on account of a defective, incomplete documentation or documentation containing non-optimal solutions drawn up by the contractor. It allows offering innovative solutions benefiting both the contractor and the investor. A true advantage of this project organisation system is a reduced number of problems facing investors who, by deciding to use the Design&Build formula, exclude from their responsibility such elements as: verification and acceptance of the project works, obtaining the necessary permits, co-ordination of the work of many entities or negotiations with suppliers. Clear identification of the project needs and conditions is to the advantage of all the parties involved in the investment process. This way they can avoid costly and timeconsuming corrections, design changes, incorrectly performed works and wrongly ordered products and services. Contractors do not have to bear additional costs which often stem from errors or the lack of co-ordination and do not waste time on correcting the same elements. "In the case of offices, we increasingly carry out projects with contractors in the Design&Build system. We also arrange our offices around the world in this manner. International corporations notice the benefits offered by this solution, such as reducing the time and cost risk. Experience at the regional level is an additional argument. Representatives of corporations dealing with this matter see the advantages of this model and seek a platform capable of delivering services at the regional level, which also have local experience and knowledge," stresses Paweł Warda • from JLL.

Source: Tétris 8-9/2016 polish market

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Medicine

PARTNERSHIP

A GOOD INVESTMENT Thirty years in the construction market in Poland means decades of experience, which ensures that the company is prepared for operationally efficient and optimal activity under all conditions. Thousands of completed investment projects, hundreds of kilometres of roads, new technologies implemented in the Polish market, hundreds of high-class shopping malls, office buildings and factories – Strabag benefits from these experiences and prepares for the new challenges that the coming years will bring.

P

oland is a country with the fastestgrowing construction market and a country open to new ideas and visions of architects, proposing innovative technological solutions. If you ask most investors carrying out construction projects in Poland over the past decade what allows them to implement their projects without impediment, the answer will probably be: the certainty that you can rely on your partner unconditionally.

INNOVATION

co-operation with one of the most demanding investors in the automotive sector. It also engages in socially important projects such as the construction or expansion of sports and medical facilities. These include, among others, a modern Olympic facility in Łódź and the already commenced extension of a teaching hospital in Lublin. And in September, almost three months before deadline, the company will open a new ring-road of the town of Kartuzy in Northern Poland. Strabag is also building the Nidzica-Napierki S7 dual carriageway at a great speed. More than 70% of the project has already been completed. Here, too, in September, a drive-through over three structures located in the course of this road will be completed well before deadline.

Forces with the aim of training future F-16 pilots. Strabag has built for them a complex of automated hangars, which will protect the pilots and their new aircraft. The project was a continuation of several years of co-operation with the aviation school in Dęblin. In recent years, Strabag has specialised in the restoration and construction of airports in Poland. The company has worked with airports in Gdańsk, Warsaw and Lublin. Over a short time, it rebuilt or modernised, among others, airports in Bydgoszcz, Poznań, Łódź and Wrocław, probably the safest airport in the country, adapted for landing planes even in foggy conditions. Strabag is currently implementing numerous projects involving the construction of terminals and wharfs on the Polish coast.

Without trust, backed by solid experience, it would not be possible to implement innovative technologies in any country, and this also applies to Poland. And such technologies undoubtedly include the long-lasting surface which is tested daily by drivers travelling on one of the major dual carriageways in Poland – the S8 near Warsaw. Similarly, the so-called quiet surface mixed with rubber is already used on local roads. Both will soon cease to be a luxury, becoming part-and-parcel of Polish streets of the 21st century. Increasingly complex technology is required by smart office buildings, such as the award-winning Łódź headquarters of Ericpol or Astoria Premium Offices in Warsaw, with environment-friendly and "thinking" systems learning how to work with building users.

RELIABILITY

UNIQUENESS

This summer has brought drivers two important events: the opening of further sections of the A1 motorway near Łódź and the completion of the longest Polish motorway, the A4. Both projects carried out by Strabag require a solid contractor able to bear the burden of challenges, including a short turnaround time. As a result, Eastern Europe has never been as close to the West thanks to this project. In this contract competencies, flexibility and good co-operation between contractors was the key.

ALWAYS ON TIME

SAFETY

Strabag specialises in a contemporary approach to construction, also with a view to early completion of projects. The Company has built the new Volkswagen factory in Września in an extremely short time, consolidating its

In the autumn of this year on the military airfield in Dęblin Poland’s Air Force will accept under its roof aircraft making up an advanced aviation training system called AJT – Mastery M-346, manufactured specially for the Polish Armed

One of the most spectacular areas in construction is without doubt the erection of bridges and tunnels. Strabag can boast of having completed many complex projects, such as the logistically and technologically innovative Gen. Zawacka Bridge in Toruń, a new bridge under construction over the Vistula River in Kraków and the Świętokrzyska Route tunnel in Warsaw. The projects were carried out by a spectacular method of pushing the structure across the river and under railway tracks which are in constant use. Equally technically complex commercial buildings, such as Zielone Arkady shopping centre with its openwork “crystal” design above the entrance have become a feature of the landscape of Polish cities, being the result of the work, courage, reliability and experience of the best engineers at Strabag. •

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Our Guest

8-9/2016  polish market

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Tourism

MINING PEARLS

ONLY IN ZABRZE! ZABRZE OFFERS ITS INHABITANTS AND TOURISTS VARIOUS SPORTS AND RECREATION FACILITIES AS WELL AS TOURIST ATTRACTIONS. THE LATTER INCLUDE PARK 12C IN THE QUEEN LUIZA MINE OPENED IN JUNE AND ALREADY PROVING VERY POPULAR

BajtelGruba or a mini-pit filled with moving equipment operated by children, a gigantic camera obscura, a solar fountain and lighter or streams and waterfalls – these are some of the attractions awaiting visitors at Park 12C in the Queen Luiza Adit in Zabrze, which is located in ul. Sienkiewicza 43, around Wilhelmina shaft.

W

e find here an underground exhibition of mining machinery set up in the former excavations of “Queen Luiza” and an extensive ground level area where children and young people can learn about the elements, mining techniques and energy in nature in an interesting and entertaining way. The main idea underpinning the park’s concept is interaction, active learning and play, as well as recreation and entertainment. This part of the Adit has been created mostly with families with children and organised groups of school-goers in mind. The underground part shows mining as it was in the 1970s and is divided into four thematic areas: traditions, legends and culture, geo-area, technology area and activities area. Each of them is filled with multimedia as well as functioning mining machinery. Next to Park 12C, a Military Technology Park has been created in co-operation with the “Silesia Group” Military Technology Foundation. Interesting military hardware exhibits are on display. They include tracked vehicles, armoured transporters, army trucks, rocket launchers, or even T-34 and T-72 tanks. Opening the entire Queen Luiza Mine to the public is the result of wide-scale mining and building works which began in 2009. The adaptation of the “Carnall” pithead building and The old mine bathhouse has already been completed. The overhead gantry leading from the bathhouse directly to the ground level part of the mine is also ready. - By the end of 2016 we want to open an underground route between the “Carnall” and “Wilhelmina” pits running along the first open section of the Main Key Pit and a drift in coal

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deposit 510 – said Bartłomiej Szewczyk, Director of the Coal Mining Museum in Zabrze. Ultimately, the Queen Luiza Mine will offer tourists more than 5 km of underground tunnels, two pits, three above-ground locations, a number of revitalised buildings and two thematic parks: the Military Technology Park and Park 12C. When in Zabrze it is also worth making a trip to the Historical Guido Mine where since December of last year it has again been possible to see level 170 which after the revitalisation is called the St Barbara level. The renovated route offers visitors multimedia projections of water flowing into the drift and the sounds of explosives. There is also mapping showing the history of the patron saint of miners and a chapel with stained glass windows and a sculpture of St Barbara are impressive. The biggest attractions on level 320 include demonstrations of huge mining machines at work and rides on a suspended monorail. Exploring level 320 allows visitors to discover how mining technology has developed since the end of the 19th century. During a 2-hour long excursion tourists can see how a real mining shift looks like, the conditions in which coal is excavated and what Mother Nature can do to a drift that is not protected with timbering. Level 355 is a new part of the Historical Guido Mine only recently opened to tourists. This route offers a taste of real coalmining labour done in full kit and is intended for persons prepared for considerable physical effort and a solid portion of thrills. Before descending to the decommissioned section at level 355 every tourist collects the necessary protective clothes: pit foreman’s uniform, flannel shirt, rubber boots, hard hat and a lamp with a cover.

MAŁGORZATA MAŃKA-SZULIK, Mayor of Zabrze In Zabrze, we are showing not only coal mine galleries, but also the way in which technology developed and the legacy of our ancestors. And the visitors are delighted. Tourists from France, Germany, Ukraine, Italy, but also from more distant countries such as Japan and Canada, come to see the Historic Guido Mine. The complex of the Queen Louise Adit will certainly attract similar interest. And this shows that the decision to develop industrial heritage tourism was right. Silesia is a region associated with mining. We cannot escape that. Of course, we have to develop, but we must not forget where we come from - what was at the start. Industry provided the foundation for Silesia, but also helped Poland as a whole. We must not forget about it. This is our history. Those who forget their own history are heading nowhere. No wonder that with such treasures to offer Zabrze is becoming the strongest industrial tourism centre in Upper Silesia. For many years the city has been consistently renovating post-industrial buildings with tourists in mind. The best examples of such initiatives include the Historical Guido Mine and the Queen Luiza Mine, offering tourists a chance to visit post-mine tunnels all year round (both locations are situated along the Relics of Technology Route). •



Infrastructure

INVESTMENT IN RENEWABLES UNDER THREAT GRZEGORZ SKARŻYŃSKI, Member of the Board of the Polish Wind Energy Association (PSEW).

T

he adoption in June 2016 of the amendments to the Renewable Energy Sources (RES) Act has fundamentally changed the rules of supporting the renewable energy sector in Poland. The auction system has been maintained, but instead of a system that favoured the cheapest renewable technologies (the winners were to be projects offering the lowest price), dozens of technology baskets have been introduced, which effectively reduce that competitiveness. The new system is a great unknown, because the budget, its distribution between technological baskets or maximum prices will be determined every year. The government will have to precisely control the development of the various renewable technologies, but on the other hand, this creates a risk of unequal treatment of some renewable technologies, which could lead their development in Poland to a complete halt. When it comes to wind farms, the amendment to the RES Act must be considered jointly with the Wind Farms Investments Act, known as Distance Act. This Act has imposed restrictions on the location of wind farms that are unprecedented in Europe. The scale of these restrictions means that more than 95% of the existing wind farms do not meet the stringent conditions. The same applies to most projects still under development. Projects with a building permit which do not meet the conditions set forth in the Distance Act will be able to receive support if they win the auctions and are built by July 2019. So, a situation is possible where by the government’s decision the technology baskets for wind energy will remain empty in the coming auctions and not a single wind farm will be built by 2019, despite the fact that there are projects ready for construction. After 2019, even if these auction baskets are filled, there will be no wind farm projects meeting the requirements of the new Distance Act. The wind technology is so price-competitive and sufficiently technologically mature that building up to several

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hundred megawatts of new capacity per year is possible. No other renewable technology, including co-combustion, offers this possibility. Under the new Act, where the co-combustion threshold has been set at just 15% of biomass participation, only this technology stands a chance of meeting the target of a 19% share of renewables in the energy sector. However, we should ask whether this is really the most optimal way of achieving the 2020 targets. Alas, the amended RES Act has also failed to resolve the crash in the green certificates market largely resulting from omissions of the government in the management of this system. Production of green energy must increase by 2020 by nearly 50% compared with 2015. However, no significant capacity will be built in the renewable sector this or next year because the auctions have to be completed first. At the same time the value of green certificates, constituting the basic instrument supporting investment in renewable projects, has fallen more than four-fold over the last four years. This may lead to a series of bankruptcies of wind projects. The government has admitted that we are facing a crisis by introducing a new type of green certificates for agricultural biogas, so that they are not affected by the crashing prices. Provisions of the new Distance Act and the amended RES Act give rise to doubts regarding their compliance with the EU directives but also with national legislation. So far, over PLN 30 billion has been invested in the wind projects, and banks have granted credits in excess of PLN 12 billion. These investments and credits are currently under threat. Consequently, we can expect a black scenario of bankruptcy of many existing wind farms functioning in the green certificates system, a lack of new projects in the auction system, higher costs of support for renewables combined with a risk of failing to meet the 2020 target and another expansion of co-combustion. •


14 –15 września 2016 r. Hotel Westin Warszawa

Inteligentne rozwiązania dla Twojego miasta PARTNERZY STRATEGICZNI

PARTNERZY

kontakt@mmcpolska.pl | tel. +48 22 379 29 47 | www.smartcityforum.pl


Sports

SPONSORS POLISH SPORTS DIAMONDS A third debate in the “Direction Rio – Global Thinking about Polish Sport” series has been held at the headquarters of the Polish Olympic Committee. The main topic was sports marketing and sponsorship. The panellists sought the best solutions for Polish sport, quoted examples of good and bad relations between sport and business. The talks also included the latest idea put forward by the Ministry of Sport and Tourism – a code of good sponsorship practices. The debate was organised by the "Przegląd Sportowy" daily and Kulczyk Investments.

T

he debate, held at the Polish Olympic Committee (POC) headquarters, was attended by: Andrzej Kraśnicki, President of the POC, Witold Bańka, Minister of Sport and Tourism, Jarosław Sroka, Member of the Board of Kulczyk Investments, Łukasz Łazarewicz, President of the Board of Totalizator Sportowy and Tomasz Redwan, expert in sports marketing. Opening the discussion, Tomasz Redwan pointed to the need to utilise the potential created whenever a given discipline achieves successes. He cited speed skating as an example of bad success management: “This federation, with no preparation for doing marketing work, was all at sea. We must give a chance, educate, create opportunities for every company owned by the State Treasury being able to select a marketing diamond and polish it. Let’s turn such competitors into gemstones thanks to the co-operation with a sponsor.” Witold Bańka, Minister of Sport and Tourism, agreed, stressing that: “Today’s Olympic success and the accompanying boom is like handing such a diamond to a sponsor on a plate. All it requires is the right packaging.” Tomasz Redwan added: “Let’s get ahead. Let’s give sport a chance to exist in the world of marketing. Let’s think what sponsorship can offer sport.” Łukasz Łazarewicz, President of the Board of Totalizator Sportowy, spoke out from the position of a sponsor: “We sponsor many different

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events because we are a mass brand. We want to be everywhere where our customers go, at all the events offering thrills to them. For this reason our sponsorship decisions are relatively easy. We seek out events which guarantee us a specified rate of media return and interest. But we expect from our partners – and here I want to stress the high value of the code of good sponsorship practices – to act with increasing professionalism, so that the range of services received by us becomes more and more professional.” Jarosław Sroka, Member of the Board of Kulczyk Investments, which for years has been supporting the POC, presented a slightly different approach, mostly in view of the degree of involvement in sport: “We wanted to become a partner of the Polish Olympic Committee to guarantee it comfortable conditions and a potential to develop. We wanted to give it financial stability during a difficult period and ensure that the POC is able to develop and duly perform its statutory duties, such as preparation of Polish competitors for taking part in the Olympic Games. At the same time, leaving our mission, we tried to promote a way of thinking in the POC according to which we should try to initiate debates about sport in Poland, presenting certain global business models.” “Federations must consider who the sponsor is for them. They must remember that he is not someone who gives, but someone who

takes. He must have something to take, for example an Olympic gold medal. But this medal must be forged in hard marketing work”: added Tomasz Redwan. Sport federations in Poland must change their approach. A look at sport and marketing at the same level is needed. We must realise that today one cannot exist without the other. Witold Bańka, Minister of Sport and Tourism, said: “The term ‘niche sports’ is often used in discussions. I always try to protest in such situations. In my opinion, there are no niche sports, only sports which are badly packaged from the marketing point of view. We are able to turn every discipline into a diamond. However, this requires good marketing planning. Some years ago nobody in Poland thought that ski jumping would become so popular and give fans so much joy. The same applies to handball, which today is among our national sports. Let’s not depreciate sports, but give them a chance to succeed and find a sponsor.” The persons taking part in the debate agreed that nowadays successes in sport were impossible without sponsors’ support. However, they stressed that the nature of this support has changed in recent years. Today, sponsors demand a professional offer and want to see benefit analyses submitted by federations. Sport sponsorship is oriented towards mutual benefits and, in the opinion of the panellists, this • is the right way.


Sports

EKSTRAKLASA POLISH FOOTBALL BUSINESS

RECORDS AND HISTORICAL RESULTS

Record revenues of PLN 511 million, more asset diversification, less income from transfers and another win by Legia Warszawa. These are just a few of the results coming from another edition of the Ekstraklasa Polish Football Business Report prepared by EY consulting company and Ekstraklasa SA company.

Marcin Haber

L

egia Warszawa regained the top spot in the ranking from Lech Poznań. Legia won in two out of three categories. In sport-business effectiveness, Legia was surpassed by: Lechia Gdańsk, Wisła Kraków i KGHM Zagłębie Lubin. The sport-business effectiveness comprises the following criteria: league achievements, the number of national team players and the number of youth players who performed at Ekstraklasa. It is worth noticing that Legia did not win in this category despite having the largest number of national team players. Five national team players from Legia went to the Euro 2016 in France: 3 Poles, a Hungarian and a Slovak. The last season was record breaking in terms of revenue. Ekstraklasa clubs jointly generated over PLN 511 million in revenue, which is an increase by over PLN 60 million year on year. Legia kept a huge lead over its rivals in this category. The Warsaw club’s revenue was a little over PLN 130 million. The second place was taken by Lech Poznań which posted revenue of PLN 78 million. The revenue structure is interesting. In case of the two clubs mentioned above, the largest share is the revenue from the match day, followed by the revenue from sponsoring and advertising, television broadcasting and football transfers. The

most sponsoring agreement dependent club is KGHM Zagłębie Lubin which stands out of the all Ekstraklasa clubs. The match day revenue, which is the most desirable source of income by the clubs’ management, increased by PLN 73 million, which is 32.4% year on year. The second most important source of income for the Ekstraklasa clubs is the revenue from media and marketing rights that are at Ekstraklasa SA company’s disposal. With the publication of “The Polish Football Business Report,” the company, for the first time in history, released information about the distribution of money from the 2015/2016 season. PLN 14.6 million was awarded to Legia Warszawa, Champion of Poland, PLN 11.4 million went to Piast Gliwice, which ranked second. KGHM Zagłębie Lubin, third, received 9.2 million and the last Podbeskidzie Bielsko-Biała 5.9 million. The report also featured another record. In 2015/2016 season a record attendance was observed. 2.7 million football fans attended the stadiums of Ekstraklasa clubs, which means an increase of 226 thousand people or 9.19% against the 2014/2015 season. The most watched match last season was Lech Poznań vs. Legia Warszawa, which was viewed by almost 290 thousand people. The highest viewership on open TV was the 37th round match,

which was watched by 1.1 million viewers on TVP2 channel. This year’s edition of the ranking is the eighth in history. For three years it has been prepared basing on 11 criteria which are grouped in three categories: financial, media and marketing and sports-business effectiveness. The weight of these criteria were 40%, 40%, 20% respectively. Since Ekstraklasa comprises 16 teams, the winner of a particular category receives 16 points and the last team gets 1. Then, the results are summed up. Polish Ekstraklasa is currently at the 12 place in the European league ranking with regards to the level of the media rights sold. The goal which is rather beyond reach is the top five, which means the leagues from e.g. England, Germany, Spain. Though, the level we may achieve is the top ten. At present we are chasing the Scandinavian countries which we match also on the sports competition level. In recent years Polish Ekstraklasa has become a brand which triggers positive response from the fans, but also from the business world. The result of the Polish national team at the Euro 2016 has also had a big influence on warming the image of football. It is a very good prognostic factor for the increase of the club’s value, and the whole league in the seasons to come. •

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www.polska-3-0.pl


POLAND 3.0 POLAND 3.0 IS AN INTEGRATED PROGRAM DESIGNED TO BRING TOGETHER POLISH RIVERS, HIGHWAYS AND RAILWAYS IN ONE PLANE OF MULTIMODAL TRANSPORT. THE PROJECT INVOLVES THE CONSTRUCTION OF EUROPE’S LARGEST LOGISTIC CENTRE, A COMBINATION OF WIDE TRACK OF THE ODRA WATERWAY AND RESTORE THE NAVIGABILITY OF THE RIVER ITSELF, WHICH FOR CENTURIES WAS A HUGE TRANSPORT ROUTE FOR POLISH GOODS.

Content prepared by National Cluster of Innovative Enterprises

www.polska-3-0.pl


The main objective of the project is to restore the navigability of the Polish rivers, from the river Oder construction of the connection Danube - Oder - Elbe, forming part of the Central European Transport Corridor CETC-ROUTE 65, the construction of the Transnational Logistics Centre Gorzyczki - Věřňovice (the only one in Europe, location, where they will connect drogim.in the A1 motorway, turn wide track from the Far East, the way a river (river port) and convenient connections through the highway of the largest airport Cargo PyrzowiceKatowice with almost close to 500 ha investment area in the SEZ.), and the restructuring of mining in Silesia. Inland water transport plays a significant role in shaping a sustainable transport system by being one of the cheapest, yet most environmentally friendly types of transport. The differences in energy consumption, air pollution emission, terrain consumption, security level, or external costs between inland water transport and road transport are several times, and in some cases even a few dozen times, lower. Inland waterways play an important role in transport of goods both in the European and world markets. A logically interconnected system of waterways, integrated with a multimodal transport network serves a supplementary role to other means of transport being often the only means to ship outsize loads. Inland shipping is an important element of the transport system in Europe. According to the latest plans of the EU, by 2030 the current European mozaique of roads, railways, airports and canals will transform into a unified European transport network TENT. The European Union will subsidise the development of transport corridors with non-returnable loans of up to 85% of the construction costs. There are approx. 4000 km of waterways in Poland, which makes our country 5th in the European Union in terms of the waterways’ length. It is

worth noting that Polish rivers have a convenient location for river transport and as much as 80% of Polish industry is placed along waterways. Despite that, Poland is one of few European countries where inland shipping is fading. An infamous evidence for this is that in recent years the goods shipped by rivers corresponded to only 3% of what was shipped in 1935. In the 1930s, 11 mln tons of goods were shipped by the Oder river. Still in the 1970s there were 1800 ships with 3.5 thousand crew in the Polish section of the Oder. The sailors shipped 17 million tons of various goods to the port in Szczecin. Whereas Europe treats rivers as strategic puzzles of multimodal transport chains and essential elements of a sustainable development strategy, in Poland a myth of non-profitability of river transport was popular for many years. An analysis of the Polish goods transport structure indicates more than a tenfold difference in the size of shipping load in Poland and the Western European countries, with very similar geographic characteristics. Waterways of European importance in the Polish geographical area are necessary for further competitive development of transport, economy and trade for the whole Europe and particularly for the Visegrad Group countries. Adjusting Polish waterways to the criteria of the trans-European network, which connects or should connect the member countries of the European Union, is essential for continuous support of the economic development, equal employment opportunities, competitiveness, improvement of flood protection, more effective exploitation of the water energy potential that facilitates eco development and its stability. Economic exploitation of inland waterways requires, first of all, a change in approach to shipping in Poland to the one that is innovative, complex and enables participation and engagement of various interested parties.

Angelika Jarosławska, Vice-President of Cluster World, Member of the Board of the National Cluster of Innovative Enterprises, Project Coordinator of POLAND 3.0 jaroslawska.angelika@gmail.com, +48 698 931 000 Become a member of National Cluster of Innovative Enterprises www.klasterip.pl

"POLAND 3.0" IS TODAY THE ONLY COHERENT ECONOMIC PROJECT FOR POLISH AND CROSS-BORDER REGIONS AND ALSO THE CENTRAL INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT OF THE XXI CENTURY.

www.polska-3-0.pl


Without any doubt, the last year brought us this change in the approach. After the years when inland shipping had been marginalised, we have started to talk about it in public. This dialogue was started by the Poland 3.0 Programme. Poland 3.0, the objectives of which include, among others, systemic solutions for sustainable, Polish river transport, is an ambitious project that we can easily define as the one that creates a new logistic-industry area; a new, intermodal logistics centre for ecological river and railway transports with optional road and air transport. Entering the Oder into the European system of waterways, which is undoubtedly the Danube-Oder waterway project, and further connecting the Baltic and North Seas with the Black and Mediterranean Seas, is the largest navigational project in Central Europe. Connecting the navigational route with the broad gauge track from the Far East is a project of trans European importance due to the fact that these connections will be used by all the European and non-European countries starting with Japan, through North and South Koreas, China, Mongolia, Russia and Ukraine. The flow of goods in both ways along the railway is going to be 1/3 shorter in relation to the present sea transport (from around 30 to 10 days). According to the initial estimates, this route may be used to ship 500 thousand containers and other goods both ways annually. While pursuing the Poland 3.0 project, our country is opening to the European and Asian trade routes and thus we will take advantage of our transit, central location in Europe which is now most often highlighted not only in economic, but also historical aspect. The Programme was jointly prepared by key specialist of water economy

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in our country and representatives of the Oder ports, numerous companies that perceive a great business opportunity in making the Oder available for shipping, business entities integrated in clusters, the Oder communities, who highly praise the importance of flood protection and new work places, and the Council of Captains, which for years have been advocating for restoration of the importance of the Polish rivers as trade routes. On every stage, the Programme is being consulted with specialist and experts on European funds, and is in line with the most important strategies of European financing while the enormous potential that it embraces contributes to the process of finding the best solutions for Polish economy.


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POLAND 3.0 PROTECTS WATER ASSETS Contrary to the belief, Poland is poor in terms of water. The average outflow of surface waters, including the tributaries from abroad, was 63 km3 in 1951-2005. It amounts to annual water supply of about 1.6 dam3 (1 dam3 = 1000 m3) per one inhabitant. In European countries, the average supply of surface waters are estimated at 4.6 dam3/year per one inhabitant. It is almost 3 times more water annually per one inhabitant than in Poland. The water supply in Poland is characterised by high jumpiness and seasonal change. Unfortunately, we are not able to store water well. Only 6% of annual water outflow is kept in reservoirs. One can say that in Poland every 20th drop of water is stored while in Europe it is every third…

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This is why it is important to implement the Poland 3.0 Programme, which will create a rational water economy in Poland and allow to stimulate activities for water retention. Where there is shipping, there will be water.

AIR POLLUTION (CHART) At 72.8%, road transport is the main culprit of emission in transport. It bears also the main responsibility for other types of air pollution and noise. Poland is a European leader in air pollution. The main reasons behind the emission in transport (72.8%) is road transport. On November 30,2015, the European Environment Agency released a report on the air quality in Europe. Poland is the European leader in air pollution. Implementation of key investments of the Poland 3.0 is a prime mover for Polish economy: E-30 Waterway (Oder) E-40 Waterway (Dnieper-Vistula) PL – BY- UA Silesian Canal (Oświęcim – Kużnia Raciborska) 96km section

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Silk Road Route (Broad Gauge Railway Track Tor on the Sławków – Gorzyczki route) 63 km section Gorzyczki-Věřňovice Logistics Centre

LOGISTICS CENTRE The planned Gorzyczki-Věřňovice Logistics Centre is the only place where all the major transport routes cross in the 6th North South Multimodal Corridor. The location of the investment is at the crossing of the major trans-European transport routes: A1 Motorway, E-30 Waterway, broad gauge railway track from the Far East and the 2nd trans-European railway corridor. The airports in Katowice, Ostrava and Kraków are in the close vicinity to the location, too. Gorzyczki-Věřňovice Logistics Centre in numbers: Development of minimum 75 000 new work places

Servicing around 790 000 containers annually Impact on 12.5 million people in the region Reach – from Silesia to the whole world The intermodal transport logistics centre in Nurnberg served as a role model for the preparation of the Gorzyczki-Věřňovice Logistics Centre plan, which is part of the Poland 3.0 project. There in Germany is the area of 337 ha along the Rheine-Main-Danube Canal, A73 Motorway and railway over 260 companies run their operations. The French and Belgians also do not lag behind. Currently they are in the process of building a connection between the Seine and the Scheldt supported by a minimum of 80% in the European funding (some local governments gained additional 10%).

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CENTRAL INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT OF THE 21ST CENTURY Implementation of the main objectives of the Programme places Poland as the logistics centre. By integrating many means of

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transport, it allows to create the largest hub in Europe, located in the south of Poland. This coherent Programme is a supply chain for complex economic ecosystem where new work places, production plants and factories are created.


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Implementation of the Programme supports the small and medium sized enterprises and Polish innovation and it also allows to take advantage of the inland shipping which is of enormous benefit to the budget regarding transport and development of tourism; it will also contribute to the development of complex water economy which means security by rational exploitation of the now modest water supply as well prevention of flood and drafts. Poland 3.0 is a coherent economy plan that focuses on creating an attractive business sphere for investors, investment areas with complex financial, legal, investor, marketing and HR services offered by local companies. It also promotes Polish innovation in technology and the most competitive companies in the regions. This complex venture is also a promotion of this part of Europe as a business area that is attractive internationally.

FROM IMITATION ECONOMY TO INNOVATION ECONOMY Poland 3.0 supports start-ups in the process of their creation, preparation, combining their potential and commercialisation. We bet on local solutions and Polish innovation technology. Gorzyczki-Věřňovice Logistics Centre – the only chance to take advantage of the New Silk Road Poland, due to its size and location, is deemed by China the most important country in this part of Europe. However, in order to exploit the chance that is hiding in the Silk Road effectively, Poland must have a vision and a horizontal plan how to become a part of this historical project The proposal of cost optimisation was included in the Poland 3.0 Programme where Poland is being created to be a logistics centre of Europe and has a chance to become a hub which services trade between China and Western Europe. The notion of the New Silk Road been prepared as part of the Poland 3.0 Programme. It exploits a highly beneficial transit potential of Poland’s location by means of using the Broad Gauge Railway Track with the final destination at the Logistics Centre in the south of Poland where the most important transport routes cross. Poland 3.0 is the largest transnational project in Europe and also the national project with the goal to connect Polish rivers, motorways and railways in one network of multimodal transport, build the Transnational Logistics Centre in Gorzyczki and connect the Silk Road to the planned multimodal Logistics Centre. Poland 3.0 Programme corresponds to the national (Morawiecki Plan) as well as European economic and financial plans due to its several complementary projects, including restoring navigability of Polish rivers starting with Oder, building the DanubeOder-Elbe and Vistula-Oder connections within the Middle European Transport Corridor, and building a broad gauge railway track (1520 mm) from Sławków to Gorzyczki-Věřňovice Logistics Centre. This new Silk Road that runs through the regions of

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the Polish Silesia and Czech Moravia is going to be both a transport and trade route. It means that the Poland 3.0 corresponds extremely well with the strategic plan for co-operation of Poland and China. Important facts: Poland 3.0teams take part in working meetings on investments in infrastructure and energy with the owners of Chinese companies. Our representatives also talked to the Czechs before the conclusion of agreements with the Chinese companies. Poland 3.0 Programme is a partner to the talks with the Danube Commission in relation to building the Oder-Danube connection as well as a contents partner of the above projects for the Czech Republic. The Poland 3.0 teams also comprise of experts on the Czech part, including Jerzy Cienciała, Rector of the University of Entrepreneurship and Law in Ostrava, adviser to the President Miloť Zeman; Petr Forman, adviser to President Miloť Zeman; Josef Tobola, long-time contributor to the Czech government and non-government institutions related to transport, in particular to inland waterways.

Become a member of National Cluster of Innovative Enterprises www.klasterip.pl

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www.polska-3-0.pl


Dear Sir or Madam, Poland’s location is strategic in terms of its transit and transport connections in Europe. It is situated in an exceptionally beneficial location in terms of transit trade, which is crucial in the context of infrastructure investments. What is more, the integration of logistics systems effectively influences the development and effective use of Poland’s advantageous location as an important point on the route of the Chinese New Silk Road. We have observed Poland closely in terms of our Company’s engagement in the implementation of investments related to the regulation of Polish rivers, construction of ports and accompanying infrastructure. Transport corridors of key importance run through Poland, including the Oder Waterway one of the crucial links of the European transport. Linking the inland waterways of the Oder and the Danube with the functions of the Polish sea ports allows to create a unique, crossborder link for the north with the south (the Baltic -Adriatic) and the east with the west. Moreover, connecting them with the railway and road transport systems, thus forming one plane of multimodal transport, will let you obtain a logistics functional unity facilitating Poland’s positive development, which is a huge advantage for China and the considered route of the New Silk Road. Photo, from the left: President of China Ocean Engineering Construction – Mr. Wang Xinsheng and President of Beijing Zhongliao Jiaxin International – Mr. Zhang Dianying. Moreover, my company (Beijing Zhongliao Jiaxin International) and KingWayTone Chinese-Polish Investment Company together with Instytut Wspierania Przedsiębiorczości as well as our Polish- Beijing representative office (address in China: Seat C, Werbo AGE Central South Street 17 Zhong Guancun Haidian District, Beijing) have already started working discussions with, among others, 2 largest state-owned Chinese companies specializing in investments related to transport infrastructure (such as e.g. rivers, ports, hydroelectric power plants):

Photo: President of Instytut Wspierania Przedsiębiorczości - Ms. Izabela Łochowska

Chinese state-owned companies such as China Ocean Engineering Construction (www.coagi.com.cn) and Gezhouba Construction Group Corporation (www.cggc.com.cn) perceive Poland as a bridgehead for the development of their businesses while contributing to the construction of Poland’s industrial and economic potential, to the mutual benefit of both our nations.

Both these Companies, i.e. Gezhouba and Ocean, are entities specializing in engineering and construction associated with sea ports, docks, river regulation and improvement of rivers’ navigability, roads as well as other engineering facilities of industrial construction, both civil and military construction. Now, thanks to our cooperation with Instytut Wspierania Przedsiębiorczości (www.polishinstitute.pl) and Poland 3.0, as the co-organizer of the Economic Forum, we would like to participate in this “Flywheel” which, thanks to implementation of the main investments on the E-30 Waterway (Oder Waterway) and E-40 Waterway (Dnieper - Vistula), will support construction of the New Silk Road routes. Through the successful implementation of public contracts and investments in Poland we can see our further growth and good prospects for development in the other 27 European Union member states, and I do believe this cooperation will succeed. We are grateful to the organizers of the Economic Forum with the participation of 5 countries’ government members and the largest companies from this part of Europe, for allowing us to participate in this great event. Special thanks to Poland 3.0 - as the co-organizer of the panel concerning implementation of programs aimed at the development of Polish-Chinese cooperation.

Hoping to meet you while implementing the investments in Poland, we present our compliments,

Photo, from the left: President of Instytut Wspierania Przedsiębiorczości - Ms. Izabela Łochowska and President of Beijing Zhongliao Jiaxin International – Mr. Zhang Dianying

www.polska-3-0.pl


www.polska-3-0.pl


Cultural Monitor

ICONIC WORKS OF POLISH ART FOR VIEWING PLUS MANY BEAUTIFUL AND STYLISTICALLY DIVERSE SOUNDS FOR LISTENING. RELEASES FOR AUGUST RECOMMENDED BY MACIEJ PROLIŃSKI. “The Dead Class” - Narodowy Instytut Audiowizualny (NInA) - DVD

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staging of the most famous play of Teatr Cricot 2 – "The Dead Class" directed by Tadeusz Kantor and filmed by Andrzej Wajda in 1976, first time on DVD! The play has been performed all over the world almost two thousand five hundred times. It was a collage of images with clear-cut expression and precise orchestration of the movements of actors and sound. Inspired by works of Witkacy, Gombrowicz and Schulz, it was a personal statement of Kantor about Poland. About little Jewish towns, about World War One and our independence, our culture, avant-garde, and about World War Two and its irreversible consequences... “Dead childhood. But not only that. Because something more than the memory of the past has been put into the effigies as if by magic” – wrote the late Marta Fik, a Polish historian and theatre critic. “There appears to exist a deeper connection between the old people, who like in a nightmare, have returned to a non-existent classroom and the effigies containing their past portraits. When the little dead pupils, gathered from a slapdash heap and again placed behind desks, look at us with their dead faces with expressions which nonetheless remain so very individual, we can see that they contain the entire subsequent fate of the characters met at the beginning.” Reading these shocking words you can have at the back of your head the shocking images from this play. Kantor, one of the greatest figures in Polish theatre, continues to remind us painfully that it is impossible to speak about the human condition, the spiritual situation of man, by distilling the matter down to a pure, metaphysical model. For me, his radicalism and his lesson of absolute truth are a kind of saving when faced with the consternation resulting from dealing with the increasingly militarised and empty world. We must know and remember this because this is our dramatic canon. But we cannot read this in an “armour suit.”

Kobra BOX 5 (Teatr Sensacji Kobra) - TVP - 3 DVDs

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ere are more episodes of "Kobra", a highly popular series of crime thrillers from the Television Theatre of the 1960s and 1970s. At the peak of its popularity "Kobra" reached audiences of 90%. Today, viewers may be surprised that shows with just a few actors and sets made of plywood can give more thrills than any contemporary movie. Now, in 2016, we can again see what the phenomenon of the beloved “Kobra” really meant. In my opinion, at the time of ubiquitous scarcity of the communist period, Polish ingenuity and talents got the better of the system in art and entertainment. Charm, intelligence and wit – in other words, an icon of Polish production and acting art, mercilessly highlighting the banality of many current television productions. This entertainment is not going to age even years from now! The three newly mastered stories of crime and intrigue are directed by: Bogdan Augustyniak, Piotr Szulkin and Mieczysław Waśkowski. The actors appearing in these episodes include: Marian Kociniak, Irena Karel, Igor Śmiałowski, Emil Karewicz, Barbara Wrzesińska, Jan Machulski and Marian Opania.

Włodek Pawlik - “4 Works 4 Orchestra” - Pawlik Relations - 2 CDs

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łodek Pawlik is the hottest name in Polish jazz today. One of the most outstanding Polish jazz pianists, he also composes symphonic, vocal and chamber music. The year 2016 also brings fans of this music-making at the highest level plenty of attractions. “4 Works 4 Orchestra” is Pawlik’s new, symphonic-jazz offering. The album contains four symphonic pieces: 2nd Piano Concerto, “We Are From Here,” “Cellomania” and “Puls 11/8” with the participation of Myślenicka Chamber Orchestra “Concertino” under Michał Maciaszczyk and Włodek Pawlik Trio. Apart from Włodek Pawlik, the soloists are: Łukasz Pawlik – pianist and cellist and Natalia Jarząbek – flutist. The music is supple, colourful and very interestingly combines “classical” and jazz elements. This fusion appears to be something natural for this composer and pianist. It is also clear that Pawlik is no musical revolutionary and thinks in the “here and now” terms (this is not an accusation! after all, Dave Brubeck himself was just like that), which does not prevent us from being enchanted by his beautiful melodies, elegance and optimism. One listens to this with great pleasure, not only thanks to the improvisations. Of equal importance is the subtle and intelligent “juggling” of elements of the piano tradition (also classical) neatly interwoven into modern “mainstream” music.

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Cultural Monitor

CM – August 2016 Krzysztof Herdzin - “Suite On Polish Themes” - Universal Music Polska - CD

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he latest album of Krzysztof Herdzin – one of the most interesting Polish jazz pianists, who, just like Pawlik, explores diverse music styles, including contemporary music. This time the record contains his own compositions performed by the famous English chamber orchestra The Academy of St Martin in the Fields, recorded in the legendary Abbey Road Studio. This is the first such close collaboration between the composer and this orchestra. Moreover, he also assumed the role of the conductor. “I would use the term 'neoclassical impressionism' to describe the compositions contained in the album. They are strongly connected to Polish folk music. This is contemporary music with an extended tonality, inspired both by my Polish masters: Karol Szymanowski, Grażyna Bacewicz, Tadeus Baird, Wojciech Kilar, and Shostakovich, Prokofiev or the French band Les Six” – summarised Herdzin. Herdzin, in keeping with the title of the album, clearly cites the most popular Polish melodies, such as “W murowanej piwnicy,” as well as motifs borrowed from Fryderyk Chopin, Stanisław Moniuszko or Wojciech Kilar. So, apart from a degree of derivativeness, it is a pleasant musical experience, once again showcasing the skills of the composer. And the British orchestra is a class in its own.

Wojciech Majewski Quintet - “Remembrance” - For Tune - CD

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rom the archives of Polish jazz. A “live” version of the “Remembrance” album of 2003 – a beautiful, poetic record by one of Poland’s best jazz pianists – Wojciech Majewski. He has been present on the jazz stage for years, working with Jan “Ptaszyn” Wróblewski, Zbigniew Namysłowski or Henryk Miśkiewicz. He also acquits himself well in classical and popular music. This time, the pianist and his ensemble (including excellent musicians: Tomasz Szukalski – saxophone, Robert Majewski – trumpet, Michał Miśkiewicz – drums, Palle Danielsson – double bass) took on compositions by Krzysztof Komeda and Czesław Niemen and, together with the music composed by the leader, played pieces which can easily be called new evergreens. Majewski avoids a formulaic approach and plays jazz of the highest water. He continues to surprise his audience with his ability to use his quintet to create new moods, deliberately foregoing this or that instrument, the stronger to emphasise the characteristics of others. Today “Remembrance” is more than ten years old, yet it remains a homogenous work. It emanates balanced proportions, the privilege of experience, and wonderful musicality enhanced with apt solos. In other words – real pure jazz. This is honest and great music.

Voo Voo- "Suwałki Blues Festival 2015 – Bielszy Odcień Bluesa” - ART2 Music / Agora - CD

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his concert album comprises eight themes coming from the latest studio album: “Dobry wieczór” (“Good Evening”) by one of Poland’s most important rock bands. And just like the studio recording, this album comes across as a highly coherent statement containing several threads. We know how much good rock music owes to blues. This work is another confirmation of this truth. We find here all the hallmarks of Voo Voo present in their music in the last decades. There is improvisation, listening to each other, openness to the sounds of other instruments, artists (in this case the Suwałki Gospel Choir). There is a dialogue making up a bigger whole: musicians instantly respond to what is happening “here and now,” while not forgetting about the dynamics of the entire composition. They rely on the best traditions of jazz or blues. All this is underlined by very expressive singing imbued with the spirit of the East, and sometimes the American Deep South. This is neither the first, nor, I hope, the last concert album of Voo Voo. You should go to their gigs, then your applause would stand a chance of being recorded for posterity. You should also go to see that these recordings are only a pale reflection of the real events taking place during such meetings!

„…teraz i po wszystkie czasy” (Psalm 121) - Polskie Radio - CD Dominika Barabas - “Rustykalny cyrk” - Polskie Radio - CD

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compilation of more than a dozen pieces bearing a religious message. The album has been released to coincide with the World Youth Day Kraków 2016 and contains music found in the archives of Polish Radio. Selected texts and psalms gave the impulse for creating songs with music written by outstanding Polish composers, such as Seweryn Krajewski, Zbigniew Namysłowski, Zygmunt Konieczny, Wojciech Karolak, or Marcin Pospieszalski. The artists include Anna Maria Jopek, Dorota Miśkiewicz, Grzegorz Markowski, Stanisław Sojka and Mietek Szcześniak. The grand finale of the album is the hymn entitled “Błogosławieni miłosierni” (“Blessed are the Merciful”) composed especially for the WYD. These songs, including moving pieces by Konieczny and Pospieszalski, have lost none of their artistic power – sometimes lyricism, sometimes passion. On occasion we come across attempts to find new ways of expression which still remain fresh. Such songs stimulate our capacity for dreams about something better, maybe unattainable, which nowadays is a rare thing indeed. This balanced combination of ballads, soul, ethnic elements, imbued with the individual styles of the composers and artists has given us music that really shines.

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inner of many prizes, including 1st place at the 15th “Remember Osiecka” competition, or the Grand Prix of the 38th “Let’s Sing Poetry” Festival in Olsztyn, has released her third full album. However, she is still among those young Polish vocalists who awaits discovery on a bigger scale. The album, containing Polish and pop-rock references, can bring lots of pleasure to even the most refined listeners. I recommend it to all those who do not like banality in their music, preferring a smile and a touch of melancholy, but also melodies and hits! The album rushes ahead on the colourful wheels of the stories told by the author, because every song is a different narrative. Searching, a huge number of interesting instruments, interesting lyrics and a fusion of acoustic-electronic sounds, youthful spirit, excellent quality of this message recorded without any visible tension – all this brings the listener to a unique musical world and confirms that Barabas can do a lot. 8-9/2016  polish market

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Culture

"WHAT IS NEEDED NOW? COURAGE. HAVE COURAGE, BE BRAVE, DO NOT BE AFRAID" Pope Francis

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Culture

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sked on his way back to the Vatican about his experiences during the World Youth Day in Poland, Pope Francis said that during his trip Poland was exceptional. He added jokingly: "In Poland, there was another invasion, but this time by young people." The Pope spent the last days of July at the World Youth Day in Kraków. In addition to meetings and talks with young people, the Holy Father also participated in the Mass in the monastery of Jasna Góra to commemorate the 1050th anniversary of the Baptism of Poland. Pope Francis also met with the gravely ill Cardinal Franciszek Macharski, who died two days after the visit of the Holy Father. The Pope visited the former Nazi concentration camp of Auschwitz-Birkenau. This time was filled with prayer. "Lord, have mercy on your people! Lord, forgive us for so much cruelty" – Pope Francis wrote in the visitors' book in front of the cell of father Maksymilian Kolbe. The Pope's visit took place on the day of the 75th anniversary of the fateful assembly at the camp site during which father Kolbe offered to exchange his life for that of a fellow prisoner. Pope Francis met with a group of former prisoners. One of them, a Russian Eugeniusz Gruszczyński (camp number 149850) gave Francis a vigil light. The Pope placed it at the Wall of Death, where during the operation of the camp, the Nazis executed thousands of prisoners. During his meeting with 11 Jews who survived their stay in this place of doom, held in the yard in front of the camp’s Block 11, Francis handed the last of the people with whom he spoke, a lighted candle. It was a symbolic passing of light to the survivors by the Catholic Church, but also a commemoration of the victims. The Holy Father also met with a number of "Righteous among the Nations", representatives of the families and representatives of the already deceased people who risked their lives to help Jews. On the last day of his visit, Pope Francis celebrated a Holy Mass in Brzegi, outside Kraków. He announced that the next World Youth Day would be held in Panama in 2019. The ceremony was attended by Polish President Andrzej Duda and his wife. The Presidential Couple bade farewell to the Holy Father at Balice airport. The Sunday Mass in Brzegi was also attended by President of the Republic of Panama Juan Carlos Varela Rodriguez and the First Lady of Panama who had arrived on Friday with an official visit to Poland. After the end of the Mass on Campus Misericordiae, the Panamanian couple in the company of President Andrzej Duda and his wife came to the altar and talked with Pope Francis. Later, President Rodriguez received congratulations from his fellow countrymen. Campus Misericordiae was also visited by Premier Beata Szydło, Deputy Speaker of the Parliament Ryszard Terlecki, head of the Premier’s Office Beata Kempa and Poland’s Foreign Minister Witold Waszczykowski and Jarosław Kaczyński, President of the Law and Justice Party. "God loves us as we are, and no sin, defect or error is going to change his mind," Pope Francis said in his homily. "God is counting on you because of who you are, not because of what you have," he added. Pilgrims – 2.5 million people – gathered in 103 sectors of the campus. Francis, with a smile, blessed the faithful, and young people tried to approach as close as possible to the barriers to see him up close and greet him.

An altar, 93 metres wide and 50 metres deep (175 m and 57 m including side stages) towered over the entire vast area. It was split into four levels; the altar was set 8.5 m above ground level; the top of the canopy reached a height of 21 m; the cross was 28 m high. "If you want to be the hope for the future you must fulfil two conditions," Pope Francis said. "The first condition is remembrance. Always ask yourself the question, where I come from, remember the place we come from, about the family, about the whole history. A young man devoid of remembrance is not a hope for the future," he stressed. The second condition is courage." What is needed now? Courage. Have courage, be brave, do not be afraid – he told the young people. A collectible Spanish edition of “Quo Vadis,” one of the most well-known novels by Henryk Sienkiewicz, and a photo album commemorating the World Youth Day were the gifts that Pope Francis received from President Andrzej Duda. This collector's edition of "Quo Vadis" given to the Pope, had been found in a small bookstore in a small Catalan town. Director of the National Library Tomasz Makowski presenting the book stressed that this was one of the best preserved and most representative copies. It was printed in 1900. Pope Francis also received a wooden cross handed to him by Polish Primate Archbishop Wojciech Polak at Jasna Góra, during the Mass of thanksgiving for the baptism of Poland. As emphasized by the archbishop, the cross was made of wood from the times of the Polish ruler who had embraced Christianity. Francis said to the young people: "A big 'thank you' goes to you, dear young people! You have filled Kraków with the enthusiasm of your faith, which was taken up by others. Pope John Paul II rejoiced from heaven, and will help you carry everywhere the joy of the Gospel." •

Source: Gazeta Krakowska, prezydent.pl

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Culture

“ON BOTH SIDES OF THE MOUNTAINS” “On both sides of the mountains” was the slogan of the 16th Music Gardens Festival. This year, the event was held on July 15 – August 9 at the Grand Courtyard of the Royal Castle in Warsaw. The programme included dozens of events: presentations of outstanding opera and ballet productions, meetings with famous artists and concerts. This year the Guest of Honour was Slovakia. Maciej Proliński

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pecial guests of the 16th Music Gardens Festival included: film director Janusz Majewski, composer Krzesimir Dębski and stage designer Boris Kudlička. Radu Mihăileanu, a French director of Romanian extraction, was also present. In the previous edition he won the audience prize – Gold Watering Can 2015 – for his excellent movie “Le Concert.” In 2010, the film received two Césars – for the best score and the best sound. It tells a story of a group of Russian Jews, former Bolshoy Theatre musicians, who pretend to be the real orchestra of that theatre in order to give a concert in Paris. The film was shown again during this year’s festival, and the screening was preceded by the presentation of the Gold Watering Can to the director. On July 15, the Slovak folk ensemble Kandráčovci played during the inaugural concert of the “Oj, zabawa! Janosikowa muzyka” (Oh, fun! Janosik’s Music) event. The programme included Slovak roots music. The special guest was Dušan Krištofík, Slovakia’s ambassador to Poland. The “Artists” night was also interesting. Boris Kudlička – one of the best-known Slovak living in Poland – talked about his father, a painter and professor at the Academy of Fine Arts in Bratislava. Documentaries about Leonard Bernstein, Arvo Pärt and Fryderyk Chopin were shown in the music portraits series. The documentary about Poland's most famous composer was made in 2014 by

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Phil Grabsky – a British film-maker of Polish origin, author of the excellent “In search of…” series. Paweł Kowalski, a talented Polish pianist specialising in Chopin’s music, was the guest appearing before the screening. The opera part was filled with productions recorded at New York’s Metropolitan Opera, and the ballet section with productions from the Bolshoy Theatre in Moscow (including “Camille” choreographed by John Neumaier). The concert on July 22 of YOA Orchestra of the Americas, winner of the 2015 Grammy award in the Best Classical Music Album category, was a special event. The mission of the ensemble is musical unification of both continents, promotion of music at places where access to it is limited, building partnerships and bridges between social classes and non-political actions. On August 1, Sinfonia Viva Orchestra under Tomasz Radziwonowicz presented a programme strongly associated with this important date in Poland’s history by playing works dedicated to the memory of war victims, composed by Toru Takemitsu, Dimitr Shostakovich, Tomasz Sikorski and Béla Bartok. The final event in the live concerts segment was “Koniecznie Konieczny” (Necessarily Necessary – word play of Zygmunt Konieczny’s surname). Outstanding Polish artists: Agata Zubel – vocals, Andrzej Bauer – cello, Bartłomiej Wąsik – piano, Cezary Duchnowski – electronic instruments, presented the best-known songs by one of the

greatest Polish composers – Zygmunt Konieczny, in new arrangements. The Music Gardens is among the largest music festivals in Poland. It was created by Ryszard Kubiak, culture manager and filmmaker who is its director general, television producer Barbara Pietkiewicz, programme director and composer Zygmunt Krauze, music director. They all wanted to do more than their everyday jobs. They organised the first festival in 2001. On that occasion, the courtyard of the Royal Castle in Warsaw saw the birth of a festival form intended to promote more classical forms of art in new arrangements. Hence the emphasis on audiovisual productions of operas, ballets and films about art. In view of the huge popularity of the first edition, in 2002 the aforementioned trio decided to set up the Music Gardens Foundation, organiser of the event. Since then the Festival has been held every year in July, attracting approximately 50,000 visitors. Each edition is organised under a different slogan. In recent years, the inspiration has been the culture and art of countries taking over the EU Presidency in a given year. Among the projects to-date we should mention the “Music Gardens of Europe,” the “Vienna in the Music Gardens” edition co-produced with Wiener MozartJahr and EuroArts, “France in the Music Gardens”, co-organised with the French Embassy and the “Music Gardens of the North” held with the support of the Swedish Embas• sy in Warsaw.


Culture

THE OPERA GALLERY

The Opera Gallery is a joint project of the National Opera and the Academy of Fine Arts (ASP) in Warsaw. Its initiators are Waldemar Dąbrowski, director general of Warsaw’s Teatr Wielki- Polish National Opera, and Adam Myjak, rector of the ASP. The Gallery is a place where the most important figures of Polish avant-garde, the generation of artists who laid the foundations of modern art in this country, are presented. It is open on Wednesdays between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. and for an hour before every play, and also during intermissions. Theatregoers should remember to visit this venue. Maciej Proliński

The idea is a simple consequence of the Romantic correspondance des arts concept – a community of artists and arts under one roof. The Gallery in the Opera House aims at saturating this space with yet another value”, says Waldemar Dąbrowski. “During previous seasons this gallery played a very important role in the life of our institution as its permanent fixture allowing us to present works by artists creating Polish contemporary art: Stanisław Fijałkowski, Tadeusz Dominik, Franciszek Starowieyski or Jerzy Mierzejewski”. For nearly two months, at the end of the 2015/2016 artistic season, we could see at the Opera Gallery an interesting and witty fashion exhibition entitled “Opera od stóp do stóp” (“Opera from feet to feet”). The exhibition centred on the shoes worn during plays staged at the National Opera. Each of the 150 pairs was made to measure, both for the soloists (including Olga Pasiecznik, Iza-bela Kłosińska, Wanda Bargiełowska, Katarzyna Trylnik, Wioletta Chodowicz, Rafał Bartmiński) and for a horse or a puppet. The shoes in display provided a review of the trends existing in the world of fashion, while being an excellent history lesson. The exhibition reminded

us of the repertoire of the National Opera in the last two decades and highlighted a detail which until now was rather overlooked. It took Marcin Fedisz, the initiator and curator of this presentation, to elevate these shoes from their invisible storerooms to prominence. He did this in a neat and witty way. “Opera from feet to feet" also paid homage to the expert craftsmen to whom soloists, extras and choirs owe their posture. An added attraction was a possibility to have one’s own shoes repaired by an authentic theatre shoemaker. During the new season at the Opera Gallery its main hero may be Edward Dwurnik, one of Poland’s most popular and valued artists whose works will be on display between November 14, 2016 and January 8. 2017. Edward Dwurnik graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw where he studied painting under Professor Eugeniusz Eibisch and sculpture under Professor Jerzy Jarnuszkiewicz. In 1970, he graduated under professor Krystyna Łada-Studnicka. He lives and works in Warsaw. In 2013, the artist celebrated his 70th birthday. On that occasion the National Museum in Kraków organised a large retrospective exhibition of nearly 150 paintings

and works on paper. “He is a true-born artist who sees the world through the eyes of a painter. He admits that he would go mad if he stopped paining. Painting is his way of life, a necessity. It is worth getting to know him and enter the mad world of Dwurnik", Zofia Gołubiew, the-then director of the National Museum in Kraków, wrote in the invitation to the exhibition. Over nearly half a century Edward Dwurnik has made almost 5,000 paintings, some 14,000 works on paper and close to 3,500 etchings. The artist developed his own, inimitable and clear artistic language very early in his career, winning over institutions, audiences and collectors alike. He shows with great humour the reality of Poland under communism and today. Critics say that his paintings resemble "comic books reporting current events," and that he "focuses on the homely reality,” he is “its chronicler,” and “a eulogist of “provincial” Poland". Dwurnik is undoubtedly among those Polish artists who have succeeded commercially and financially. He has also influenced a number of very popular young Polish artists. For example, Wilhelm Sasnal admits to having been impressed by his • paintings. 8-9/2016  polish market

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Culture

PIOTR SALABER’S OWN NOTE... Piotr Salaber, one of the most interesting Polish composers of theatre and film music, works all over the world for theatres in Russia, Hungary, Canada, and Taiwan. On July 22, a new film by Witold Orzechowski, a comedy entitled “Kobiety bez wstydu” (“Women with No Shame”), with Salaber’s score, entered the cinemas. He does not slow down and does not allow us to forget about his own, often very melancholic, note. Maciej Proliński

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elebrating his 50th birthday, this composer, arranger, conductor and pianist, graduate of the Academy of Music in Bydgoszcz, has composed music for 100 various theatre plays in Poland and abroad. He perfected his composer’s skill under Karlheinz Stockhausen at master's courses in Kuerten near Cologne (1998-2002), and under Elżbieta Sikora and Alain Savouret at the International Course for Composers in Gdańsk (2000). Since the academic year of 2006/07 he has been providing courses on film music at the Audiovisual Arts Institute of the Jagiellonian University in Cracow, and since 2010 he has been giving lectures at the Academy of Music in Bydgoszcz; recently he has been a visiting lecturer at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. Since 2013 he has been an associate professor at the Academy of Music in Bydgoszcz. ”Working at theatre allows you to make use of your skills to move around various styles and eras. Theatre is an oasis, a place where you can feel really free. Here we can let ourselves speak subjectively and genuinely,” says Salaber about his work for theatre. When asked about his most important productions at theatre he mentions “Measure for Measure” by Shakespeare at one of the most important Russian theatres Bolshoi Drama Theatre (BTD) in Saint Petersburg. The play was directed by Andrzej Bubień and Salaber also mentions other important joint productions with this director such as “Operetta” by Gombrowicz at the National Theatre in Budapest, which

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was all sung in Hungarian accompanied by a symphonic orchestra), and “Uncle Vanya” by Chekhov at the Warsaw’s 6th Floor Theatre featuring Wojciech Malajkat, Michał Żebrowski, Anna Dereszowska and Piotr Machalica. „The thing that has always been extremely important to me is the thing I am currently working on. It is a bit like this joke that we like the most because it is the one that we have heard most recently. Currently I am working on the music score for the 'The Old Lady Sits Waiting,' a drama by Tadeusz Różewicz. It is going to be staged at Sovremennik Theatre in Moscow and directed by Andrzej Bubień. It is translated by Ivan Vyrypaev, one of the most outstanding and intriguing representatives of modern Russian art, who lives and works a lot in Poland. The premiere is in November 2016,” says the composer. We could listen to Piotr Salaber’s music at the beginning of this year in a very important radio adaptation of Różewicz’s another great drama, “The Trap,” directed by Julia Wernio. The radio show featured Marcin Bosak, Piotr Adamczyk, Maria Pakulnis and Julia Kijowska. The most recent premiere of Salaber’s music was on May 27, 2016 in Taiwan by the Puppet and It’s Double Theatre band directed by Chiayin Cheng. The play was based on the famous and touching fairy fairy tale “Nightingale” by Andersen and performed in Mandarin Chinese. It joined not only European and Asian tradition, but also confronted these two distinctive cultures and completely different theatre techniques. Do all these attempts and meetings with diverse places

and cultures transfer somehow to the music? “This 'travel time' does not mean that I do not work earlier. Everything that I have, including a voice recorder in my mobile phone, is full of ideas. I have learnt that developing ideas and orchestration can be done later, actually at any given moment. However, a moment of discovery has to be noted down immediately. I think that if you want to develop music skills, you should look into other cultures because each of them teaches you something different: rhythm division, harmony or melody,” emphasises the composer. There have also been some interesting publications of Salaber’s music. His “Postcard from Paris,” the main theme from “Women with No Shame” by Witold Orzechowski, is to be found on “The Most Beautiful Film Music” record by Progress Chamber Orchestra directed by Szymon Morus, with Natalia Walewska, a concertmaster of the Baltic Philharmonics. The other composers featured on this record are true masters of the film music, including, Astor Piazzolla, Ennio Morricone, Nino Rota, John Williams. Poland is represented by Waldemar Kazanecki, Jerzy Maksymiuk and Piotr Salaber. The soundtrack of Orzechowski’s film is, in words of its composer, half symphonic, half jazzy music and its premiere coincided with the premiere of the film on July 22, 2016. In spring “Śpiewająca Lokomotywa” (“Singing Locomotive”) record appeared in the Polish market. It includes Piotr Salaber’s music to the most beautiful poems by Julian Tuwim played by a symphonic orchestra and sang by actors. All these records have been published • by Soliton publisher.


STAN BORYS

„Rozmowy z Samym Sobą” poniedziałek godz. 18.00 101 FM


Food Industry

POLAGRA FOOD REVEALS THE POTENTIAL OF THE FOOD INDUSTRY The Polagra Food Fair in Poland's mid-western city of Poznań has for many years been an event supporting the food sector. Modern infrastructure and long experience in attracting visitors mean that Polish food-processing firms and distributors representing the EU countries and countries from outside Europe come to Poznań to present their high innovativeness as well as extensive portfolios of products thus confirming their openness to the needs of consumers.

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his year’s exhibition is spread over three pavilions and a total area of over 10,000 m2. The event will be dominated by Polish food manufacturers. During last year’s edition of the fair many of them stressed that presence at Polagra Food allows them to present almost the entire range of products to domestic customers and learn about their expectations, which form the basis for product development work in the coming months. Nonetheless, the main argument which brings them to the Poznań fair is the opportunity to reach foreign markets, thus offering a remedy to many problems currently faced by the food industry, such as the Russian embargo or changing consumption habits affecting certain products. By the end of May, more than 75% of the exhibition space had already been reserved. This shows that a decision to participate in Polagra Food is not due to surpluses in the marketing budgets which must be used, but a result of a deliberate promotional strategy of companies, undoubtedly affected by the success of last year’s edition of the fair – says Miłosz Jankowiak, Project Director. Every year Polagra Food attracts a large number of visitors by tempting them with well-known brands of food products, innovative foods containing new ingredients or offering new flavours and exotic delicacies from all over the world. This year will not be any different. Certainly, the leading role will be played by the Polish dairy and meat processing sectors. Every year, they are represented by many companies – market leaders whose products are well-known from store

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shelves. There will also be an interesting presentation prepared by companies operating in the fruit-and-veg processing segment. Naturally, sweets, snacks, teas, beverages and alcoholic drinks will also be amply represented. The part of the fair presenting food from outside Poland is going to be very interesting, too. Italian hams are a classic element of Polagra Food, but we can also expect original Asian food, both in the form of ready-to-eat dishes and separate ingredients. There will also be the original Spanish chorizo, Greek delicacies and teas from Sri Lanka. It is going to be a veritable melting pot of flavours and aromas. The preparations for this great festival of the food industry are nearing completion. Without a shadow of a doubt I can say that in September Poznań will again become a Mecca for buyers from retail chains, managers of food wholesalers or individual stores. This year’s edition of Polagra Food will provide lots of inspiration as regards filling shelves not only in accordance with consumer preferences, but also by creating them. Above all, the event is a place where long-term business contacts are established, both domestically and internationally," concludes Miłosz Jankowiak, Project Director. This year, the International Polagra Food Fair will be held on September 26-29. The event will be accompanied by the International Polagra Gastro Fair, and the entire Polagra block will be inaugurated two days earlier by the Flavours of Regions fair presenting traditional and certified products. •




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