2020 brought growth in special economic zones, despite numerous concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic. In total, 369 decisions were issued in 2020 (15 more than in 2019), worth over PLN 15.1 billion, with the declaration of 5,888 new jobs. Compared to 2019, the number of projects under the PSI increased in 2020 by 4% year on year.

The development of Polish industry and its innovation, strengthening of the resilience of its economy to turbulences and the improvement of the global competitiveness of the Polish economy – these are some of the desired effects of the Industrial Policy of Poland, on which works have started in the Ministry of Economic Development, Labour and Technology. This policy will be developed in cooperation and dialogue with entrepreneurs. One of its important steps will be to draw up a White Paper on Industrial Development. This will be done following the consultations with entrepreneurs, industry representatives, experts, scientists and NGOs. The first phase of the consultations, the results of which will be used to draw up the White Paper, will last until 31 January 2021. The subsequent versions of the White Paper will also be presented to business organisations for consultation.

Anti-crisis Shield, Industry Shield, Polish Tourist Voucher, protecting jobs, Small ZUS Plus benefits for entrepreneurs or the housing package – these are some o the activities and projects that the work of the Ministry of Economic Development, Labour and Technology in 2020 was focused on. The main objective in the time of the Covid-19 pandemic and the associated crisis was to support employees and employers.

We want Great Britain to remain one of the most important economic and trade partners of Poland,’ declared Deputy Prime Minister Jarosław Gowin – Minister of Development, Labour and Technology during his conversation with the Ambassador of Great Britain in Poland Anna Clunes.

UN Global Compact Network Poland (GCNP) and the Warsaw Stock Exchange (WSE) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to support the instruments for financing sustainable development. The Ministry of Economic Development, Labour and Technology took honorary patronage over the initiative.

The Polish government strives to ensure that entrepreneurs are affected as mildly as possibly by the conclusion of a transitional period in the relations between the European Union and the United Kingdom, established based on the Brexit withdrawal agreement, and that they are well-prepared for the new conditions of trade with the UK. United Kingdom is a very important trade partner of Poland, therefore we aim at maintaining the thorough cooperation conducted so far – such is the stance of the Polish government in connection with the approaching termination of the transitional period, on December 31st, 2020. The Polish Ministry of Development, Labour and Technology (MRPiT) launched information campaigns to help Polish entrepreneurs prepare for new conditions in economic relations with the UK, which are bound to change after January 1st, 2021.

A new programme, called Soft Landing, has been launched. It is addressed to foreign entrepreneurs willing to build and develop their businesses in Poland. The programme is available to be used by Belarussian entrepreneurs, as part of the Poland. Business Harbour project, initiated in September and created to aid Belarussian companies. The project is organized by Cambridge Innovation Center (CIC), Venture Cafe Warsaw and EY, in liaison with the Polish Investment and Trade Agency (PAIH).

Taking specific actions for the standardisation of the EU market and lifting barriers for entrepreneurs – these are one of the main topics brought up by Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Development, Labour and Technology Jarosław Gowin during Thursday meetings with 6 European commissioners. ‘I have arrived in Brussels to support Polish entrepreneurs on the European market,’ said the Head of the Ministry of Development, Labour and Technology. He announced that Poland wants to reinforce the competitiveness and economic autonomy of the EU, including the sovereignty of European industry by relocating production to the EU and reducing the dependence of deliveries on third countries.

Direct support – for companies and employees affected by COVID-19; new direction – a comprehensive support in adapting to market requirements for entrepreneurs and employees in a difficult situation; development impulse – elimination of unnecessary bureaucracy, digitisation of the business environment, pro-entrepreneurial legal regulations – these are the main assumptions of the Plan for Labour and Economic Development prepared by the ministry of economic development, labour and technology. “Our goal is to protect Polish entrepreneurs and employees in the time of the pandemic and to prepare our economy to return to growth trajectory when it is over,” emphasises Jarosław Gowin, deputy prime minister and head of the ministry.

Only from the beginning of 2020 to the end of October this year, 224 investment decisions were issued within the Polish Investment Zone representing a total value of over 7.9 billion Polish zlotys, accompanied with a declaration of creating 3,559 new jobs, informs the ministry of economic development, labour and technology. Moreover, we are heading the inter-ministerial consultations on the draft amendment to the act on supporting new investments, which shall begin soon.