The reopening of stores in malls and shopping centres, the reopening of art galleries and museums, as well as the withdrawal of “senior hours”, are the most important principles that will apply in the first half of February throughout Poland. The regulation in this matter awaits the signature of Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki.

Polish-German relations, joint trade contacts, situation related to the coronavirus pandemic, IPCEI projects, issues related to the Green Deal and German investments in Poland are some of the topics discussed by the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Economic Development, Labour and Technology Jarosław Gowin during his visit to Berlin on January 21. Deputy prime minister met with, among others, the President of the German Bundestag, Wolfgang Schäuble, and with Peter Altmaier, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy.

November was the third month in a row with increasing exports (+6.7% y/y). The trade balance surplus after 11 months reflected the record amount of EUR 11.4 billion, the best result in the 21st century. Such positive figures are the result of the high competitiveness of Polish products on foreign markets and the improved condition of our exporters.

175 billion PLN, 35 billion PLN under the PFR financial shield 2.0 for entrepreneurs that are most severely affected by restrictions today and 1 billion PLN of support for mountainous communes – this is the most recent summary of governmental support under anti-crisis shields. ‘Our reply to the second pandemic wave is the second financial shield of the Polish Development Fund for micro-, small and medium enterprises,’ said Deputy Prime Minister Jarosław Gowin – Minister of Development, Labour and Technology. He said that new PKD codes were likely to be added to the list of industries covered by aid already the following week, and support from the industry shield would be extended for further two months.

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.