Back to the drawing board for SEZs

Last month, Ministers changed the borders of the Kostrzyń-Słubice, Wałbrzych Invest Park and Starachowice SEZs to accommodate surging interest from entrepreneurs.

These zones can only be enlarged if a new investor intends to create 500 new jobs or invest at least EUR 40 (zł.160) million. In some cases, the enlargement of one zone means a reduction in size of another.

The Kostrzyń-Słubice SEZ was enlarged by 73.9 hectares, and the extension of the Goleniów sub-zone meant a reduction in the Starachowice SEZ. In Zielona Góra and Chodzież new sub-zones were created to accommodate new investments. If all the potential investments are carried out, during the period 2006-2017 Polish budget revenues will increase by zł.851 million. The area of the Kostrzyń-Słubice SEZ now amounts to 542 hectares, up from its initial 400 hectares.

The Goleniów sub-zone was enlarged by 21.6 hectares. This new section is close to the original SEZ, some 5km from the city and 7km from the airport. The territory of the Kostrzyń-Słubice SEZ is already 89-percent developed, but new investors are still flocking to its gates. The authorities of the SEZ are currently negotiating with one Polish and two German companies. These firms intend to create a total of 430 new jobs. Their investment outlays will exceed EUR 10 (zł.40) million.

The Chodzież sub-zone is located on 16.2 hectares. It will be developed by a foreign furniture company. Initially, the investor intends to employ 500 people, with employment eventually reaching 1,000 persons. In the first phase investment outlays will stand at zł.30 million and in the second zł.70 million, with production scheduled to start in October 2006. Moreover, negotiations concerning the creation of a Poznań sub-zone and attracting a large German investor are ongoing with the authorities of the Kostrzyń-Słubice SEZ.

The Zielona Góra sub-zone will now cover 36.1 hectares. The area has already attracted a Polish company from the timber sector, which intends to create 600 new jobs and construct a facility at a cost of zł.160 million. The construction will be completed in 2006.

The Wałbrzych Invest Park SEZ has been enlarged by 99.38 hectares altogether. The new plots are situated in Wrocław, Brzeg Dolny and Krotoszyn. The territory of Invest Park is now 745.8 hectares. As a result of reshaping the SEZs' borders, 1,350 new jobs will be created. The Wrocław sub-zone has also been enlarged by 19.13 hectares.

Wrozamet SA, which belongs to Fagor Electrodomesticos and MCC group and is one of the largest Polish producers of white goods, intends to extend its already existing plant. The estimated investment outlays will stand at zł.124 million and eventually 1,000 new jobs will be created.

A new sub-zone of the Wrocław SEZ has been created in Brzeg Dolny. On part of the 44-hectare area, PCC Rokita SA, a chemical sector company, plans to build a factory. The value of the investment is roughly zł.180 million. The other new Invest Park sub-zone is located in Krotoszyn. On its 36-hectares area, Mahle Polska will extend its production hall for internal-combustion engine elements. The cost is estimated at zl.160 million.