The war brought Ukraine and Poland closer together. It became absolutely obvious that, in addition to geographical proximity, close mentality and culture, we have the same view on geopolitical challenges. So why not transform our relationship into successful joint business projects?
According to the Ministry of Development and Technology of Poland, 420 Polish companies are ready to participate in the reconstruction of Ukraine and the restoration of exports within the framework of a special program launched by the Ministry and the Polish Agency for Investment and Trade. This program provides numerous preferences for participants – in particular, in the field of insurance, access to legal services, export guarantees. Among the participants who volunteered, more than a third came from the construction industry, followed by the IT industry, as well as from the field of mechanical engineering, pharmaceuticals, and food production.
Polish companies remain to be interested the most in the reconstruction of Ukraine, a participation in the so-called ‘Marshall Plan’. According to the director of the Polish Association of Employers in the Construction Industry Konrad Wierwas, many Polish construction companies are ready to develop project documentation for objects that were difficult to restore, which were destroyed by the occupiers in Ukraine, in order not to waste time on this after the victory but to be able to start a reconstruction immediately.
The relocation program of Ukrainian enterprises from war zones to safer regions is promising. Poland can become a kind of hub for establishing connections between the relocated Ukrainian business and the European market in the context of integration processes. Companies with Polish investments can and even should participate in this program. Instead, Ukraine must guarantee their safety and is interested in such enterprises continuing their work on national territory and maintaining their staff.
In addition, the Polish market also offered a reliable shelter for Ukrainian business. Even before the war, as of 2021, the number of companies founded by Ukrainians in Poland reached a record 6,000. According to various estimates, there are currently up to one and a half million Ukrainian refugees in Poland. 40% of them have already found a job, more than 71% support themselves on their savings or income, thereby contributing to the development of the Polish economy.
After Ukraine had received the status of a candidate for membership in the European Union, an interest in it increased significantly. The state is becoming attractive for investors, builders, and trading companies. At the same time, we must modernise our industry to modern European standards. In particular, the improvement of labour efficiency, and greater mobility, flexibility in the production of certain goods and services, and more attention to the environmental friendliness of production. And here, the experience of Poland, which has already gone through this path, will be very important.
