Polish firms eyeing German businesses: gov’t minister

Enterprise and Technology Minister Jadwiga Emilewicz told a newspaper that Germany was a “natural partner” and “the market of first choice” for Polish entrepreneurs.

Polish businesses are increasingly encouraged to invest in Germany because of that country’s proximity and large market, Emilewicz told Poland’s Rzeczpospolita daily in an interview published on Monday.

Emilewicz was also quoted as saying in the interview that Polish-German economic relations were thriving and that two-way trade was growing.

She cited data according to which Polish-German trade was growing at a rate of 8 to 10 percent a year despite a recent slump in orders in German industry.

According to Poland’s Central Statistical Office (GUS), Poland in 2017 had a EUR 9.1 billion trade surplus with Germany. Last year, the surplus grew to EUR 11.6 billion, Emilewicz said, citing what she said were preliminary statistics.

Speaking at a Polish-German Economic Forum in Berlin on Monday, Emilewicz said that the two neighbouring countries were benefitting from robust trade ties and growing cross-border investment amid a challenging environment in Europe and the wider world.

Almost 400 companies and institutions took part in the Polish-German business event in Berlin on Monday, a news agency reported.

(gs/pk)

Source: Rzeczpospolita, IAR