The meeting, which took place in Warsaw on 22 July, was attended by representatives of Polish companies doing business in the region and interested in non–European markets along with representatives of business support institutions, including Team Poland.

The attendees discussed how to synergistically combine diplomatic and economic activities as well as those related to development assistance in countries of Africa and the Middle East. A particularly interesting aspect of the discussion was the context and specific nature of the cooperation with partners from Africa and the Middle East.

Minister Zajączkowski outlined key trends shaping the international environment and challenges which Africa faces as a result of rapid population growth that the economic growth rate does not keep pace with. He pointed out Poland’s image benefits—lack of colonial past and economic success as well as diplomatic activities involving the recent visits to Africa by MFA’s senior officials and intensified dialogue with partners from countries of the Global South. He highlighted the need to build development partnerships, which should be accompanied by economic cooperation.

The MFA officials presented the basic objectives and focus areas of the current project activities of the Polish Aid programme as well as tools offered by the MFA as part of economic and development diplomacy. The speech by Robert Zduńczyk, president of Poland–East Africa Economic Foundation, was particularly valuable, as he presented a project implemented in Tanzania, which supports the Kondiki dairy cooperative in Tanzania which has been growing and enjoying commercial success with funding from the MFA.

The meeting provided an opportunity to share experiences and opinions on Polish economic presence and development assistance in countries of Africa and the Middle East. The participants agreed that development assistance could be an instrument supporting the expansion of Polish business into African and the Middle East markets. To support the success of enterprises it is key to coordinate the institutions’ activities as well as provide access to measures promoting sustainable investments, such as the Global Gateway. 

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Polish Aid is a brand of Poland's development and humanitarian assistance delivered in developing countries and funded by the state budget. The current strategic document determining the goals and priorities of Polish Aid is the Multiannual Programme for Development Cooperation for 2021–2030. Solidarity for Development. The operational documents are annual development cooperation plans specifying detailed forms of cooperation and activities in the areas of development and humanitarian assistance, global education as well as the amount of funds allocated for these activities in a given budgetary year. Polish development cooperation in 2026 primarily focuses on activities aimed at supporting: Ukraine, Moldova, Palestine, Lebanon, Kenya, and Tanzania.