Clock ticking on Wroclaw tech park project
An estimated 120 local and national government leaders along with Wroclaw-based, high-tech firms answered the call and received a preview of the project's architectural concept.
"We wanted to get the information out to a circle of potential users," said Marek Winkowski, director of the city's economic initiatives department and WPT board member. "For the first time we are showing a design, something concrete that can be discussed, not just an idea."
Having lost out to Krakow in luring a $150 million Motorola investment, the city has been focusing on establishing its own park to entice long-term, cutting-edge investment.
While participants may have gotten a better idea about how the park might look, the city fell shy of coming up with specifics as far as location and an incentive package. This shortcoming may prove a turn-off to investors.
"There are many investors more important than I am who would like to have specifics right now," said Andrzej Mikolajczyk, director of Elektropomiar, a small Wroclaw-based company that services electric and electronic measurement devices. "I can wait, but I think that some people are bypassing Wroclaw because there are still not enough specifics."
Although work to set up a high-tech park in Wroclaw has been underway for three years, the WPT has remained homeless. The city has wanted to purchase a 50-hectare site on Wroclaw's southern edge, but to date it has not been able to afford the asking price proposed by the state treasury's Agency for Agricultural Property (AWRSP).
However, under legal changes that took effect Jan. 1, much property formerly owned by central government institutions can be passed to local government bodies if it will be used for regional development initiatives.
Winkowski said last week that only formalities were preventing WPT from gaining control of the coveted site. "The (Treasury Ministry) has said that only the paperwork has to be completed, then there will be a positive decision," Winkowski said. "I don't want to say that out loud yet. I won't believe it until I see it."
Solving the land deal is a key prerequisite to preparing an incentive package that will entice investors to join WPT. If WPT gets control of the land it will be able to offer plots for sale or rent up to 50% lower than market value. "This is an essential preference for companies wanting to locate here," Winkowski said.
The city of Wroclaw could also offer exemptions from local property taxes. Although proposals fall short of corporate tax breaks typical of special economic zones, the city may have succeeded in piquing some interest. "The preferences talked about here such as lower land prices or lower local taxes are important," said Mikolajczyk of Elektropomiar. "The level of taxes in my case slow down development. If part of these taxes could be saved, it would for sure be used for investment purposes."
"We wanted to get the information out to a circle of potential users," said Marek Winkowski, director of the city's economic initiatives department and WPT board member. "For the first time we are showing a design, something concrete that can be discussed, not just an idea."
Having lost out to Krakow in luring a $150 million Motorola investment, the city has been focusing on establishing its own park to entice long-term, cutting-edge investment.
While participants may have gotten a better idea about how the park might look, the city fell shy of coming up with specifics as far as location and an incentive package. This shortcoming may prove a turn-off to investors.
"There are many investors more important than I am who would like to have specifics right now," said Andrzej Mikolajczyk, director of Elektropomiar, a small Wroclaw-based company that services electric and electronic measurement devices. "I can wait, but I think that some people are bypassing Wroclaw because there are still not enough specifics."
Although work to set up a high-tech park in Wroclaw has been underway for three years, the WPT has remained homeless. The city has wanted to purchase a 50-hectare site on Wroclaw's southern edge, but to date it has not been able to afford the asking price proposed by the state treasury's Agency for Agricultural Property (AWRSP).
However, under legal changes that took effect Jan. 1, much property formerly owned by central government institutions can be passed to local government bodies if it will be used for regional development initiatives.
Winkowski said last week that only formalities were preventing WPT from gaining control of the coveted site. "The (Treasury Ministry) has said that only the paperwork has to be completed, then there will be a positive decision," Winkowski said. "I don't want to say that out loud yet. I won't believe it until I see it."
Solving the land deal is a key prerequisite to preparing an incentive package that will entice investors to join WPT. If WPT gets control of the land it will be able to offer plots for sale or rent up to 50% lower than market value. "This is an essential preference for companies wanting to locate here," Winkowski said.
The city of Wroclaw could also offer exemptions from local property taxes. Although proposals fall short of corporate tax breaks typical of special economic zones, the city may have succeeded in piquing some interest. "The preferences talked about here such as lower land prices or lower local taxes are important," said Mikolajczyk of Elektropomiar. "The level of taxes in my case slow down development. If part of these taxes could be saved, it would for sure be used for investment purposes."
