Dutch debut

CTP Invest, owner and operator of a network of 39 business parks in the CEE region, has announced plans to enter the Polish market with a €50 [zł.171] million technology park and logistics center in the Silesian town of Jaworzno. CTPark Jaworzno will feature 62,000 sqm of developed space on a 17-ha plot. The project is scheduled for delivery in 2009.

The area where CTPark Jaworzno will be situated was awarded a "Grunt na Medal" award in 2007 by the Polish Information and Foreign Investment Agency in recognition of the local authorities' extensive work to make it investor-friendly. This was a key factor in CTP's choice of the area for its first investment, as was the site's strategic location.

"Silesia is located within 600 km of six European capitals and has access to three international airports. Along with its three international railway routes, Silesia enjoys the most dense railway network in Poland," said Remon L Vos, managing director of CTP Invest.

CTPark Jaworzno is expected to become an ideal location for suppliers and partners to the automotive industry due to its proximity to factories owned by General Motors, Fiat, Opel and Isuzu. CTP Invest is targeting a variety of other industries as well, such as high-tech manufacturing, electronics, plastics and services.

Although a newcomer to the Polish market, the firm is confident that its CTPark network can successfully challenge already established competitors. It emphasizes the network's low turnover and long rental periods, averaging eight years, which it credits to its unique turnkey property solutions and the multitude of business activities supported. 

Netherlands-based CTP Invest has so far been a significant player on the Czech Republic's logistics market, where its investments exceed €1 [zł.3.4] billion. The company has already completed a portfolio of 1.2 million sqm of leasable space and has secured another 6.5 million sqm for future projects. CTP Invest's properties are leased out to more than 150 companies.