A public-private affair

In return, private investors would receive the right to profits obtained after the completion of a project.

Jarocin City Hall is currently looking for an investor that could invest funds in building and renovating 100km of roads around Jarocin. The city has already taken the first step and signed a letter of intent with Chinese company Tsinghua Uniforce Technology. Besides road construction, the Asian investor is also looking into the possibility of setting up its European headquarters in Jarocin.

"When the gmina's budget is limited, public-private partnership might be a good solution for speeding up investments," said Hubert Nawrot from the Chancellery of the Mayor of Jarocin. "Jarocin is the first European city that got the attention and interest in investing from our prospective Chinese partners. Tsinghua Uniforce Technology, which has so far only been active on the US and Asian markets, decided to invest $60 (zł.182) million in Europe to the end of the year. If our pilot program with the Chinese investor is successful, we might think of similar public-private developments that could help our city in other road-infrastructure projects and building sport or entertainment venues."

Authorities in Zabierzów, a village near Kraków, are looking for a private investor that could build a market square from its own funds. After completing the project the investor will obtain the right to manage the property.

Żarów in Lower Silesia is also looking for a investor to build the gmina's indoor stadium. In return the investor will profit from selling tickets for sports events.

Such plans are not only restricted to smaller towns and cities. In Warsaw there is interest in public-private projects that would, for example, set up suburban street-lighting systems.    

Piotr Paciorek