POLISH DIASPORA HOLDS GREAT POTENTIAL P. Tracz/ KPRM
ANNA MARIA ANDERS, Secretary of State at the Polish Prime Minister’s Office, and the PM’s Plenipotentiary for International Dialogue, addressed a congress of Polish communities abroad, known as the 60 Million Congress – Global Polonia Summit, in Jasionka, outside the south-eastern city of Rzeszów on August 30. She spoke to “Polish Market’s” Błażej Grabowski about Poland’s relations with its diaspora. My first question is about our contacts with the Polish diaspora, which we call Polonia, and Poland's image abroad. In Poland the potential of cooperation with the diaspora has been discussed since the 1900s, but primarily through the perspective of possible donors. In your opinion, how should we perceive the diaspora and its role? There is certainly huge potential. I often participate in various meetings with Polish communities living abroad to see how this potential can be tapped. Looking at the Polish economy, many foreign companies are currently investing in Poland, but they are not necessarily connected with the Polish diaspora. My goal is to encourage the diaspora, politicians, and the business sector, to promote the Polish economy. Poland has amazing potential, but often we are unable to get through to people with our positive portrayal. The good things about Poland are found in the eighth or tenth page of an international newspaper, and I would like them to be on the cover. If Poland's global image is good, this will inspire foreign investment, including by companies owned by Polish people based in other countries. I also think that one of the main directions of my mission is to improve Poland's image in the world.
abroad as a modern, dynamically developing, country. First of all, we should encourage people to come to Poland, and I don’t only mean the Poles who come here to be with their families, but also people associated with Polonia, who might not even speak Polish, but are specialists in a given field, or have their own companies, often with a global presence, or are decision-makers in such companies. The goal is to make them come to Poland and find out for themselves about Poland's potential.
Our interview is just before the 60 Million Congress, which is referred to as the global Polonia summit. What is the actual significance of such initiatives? What can we expect of them? The first conference in the series, attended by Minister Jerzy Kwieciński and Minister Tadeusz Kościński, was held this year in Miami, Florida, and it turned out to be a great success. A month before, another meeting took place, this time in Buffalo, New York, featuring American politicians. This contributed to the positive image of Poland. I think Poland should be promoted
Poland's economic situation has also changed. Our economic challenges are completely different. Does establishing new relations with the diaspora by changing the way we think about Poles who live abroad - seeing them as business partners rather than as “fairy godparents” who might be willing to support a noble initiative - can have an impact on the country's economic development? It can have a huge impact. It is worth remembering that the children of these “fairy godparents” are very often well educated, study
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The members of the diaspora who left Poland many years ago often have a strong attachment to their homeland. How to encourage their children, who represent a new generation, to take an interest in Poland? First of all, they should come to our country. I think that common initiatives, meetings, competitions, and online activity, all arouse interest. Poland should be presented in its current form and not in the version remembered and imagined by their parents. This is true for everyone, not only the diaspora. I often visit Washington and talk to various congresspersons and senators who have completely changed their approach to Poland after coming here, and began to see the country from a different perspective. PM
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at the best universities in the United States or the United Kingdom, and represent specific professions. And they should be seen as potential partners. We should persuade them to open European divisions of their companies in Poland, or to move part of their production here. However, we should not distance ourselves from people with Polish roots who come to our country, but do not speak Polish. The goal is not to discourage people. I often invite various politicians to Poland, including those at the local level, and organise inter-departmental meetings for them. Establishing partner cities has proven very successful. Foreign politicians discuss this during their meetings with their voters, which is their way to promote Poland. One more practical question – how can potential businesspersons or individuals with interesting ideas from Poland or abroad get in touch with their foreign partners? I suggest they contact the Office of Minister Anders at the Prime Minister’s Office. We have extensive capabilities to assist in making contacts. If the president of a company comes to us, we will be happy to arrange a conference or meeting for them at the office. Its employees speak English and are experienced in projects of this type. We will surely be able to help. PM
Can your office be contacted directly, or is it better to go to a Foreign Trade Office run by the Polish Investment & Trade Agency (PAIH)? Yes, both. PAIH is currently very active, with more and more offices being opened around the world. Recently, the president of Poland opened a new office in Australia, and soon another one is to be launched in New York. In general, they have been very successful. • PM
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