PAIiIZ gone to POT

Only recently did the Sejm Committees for Economy and Enterprise Development finish work on a governmental draft to set up the Polish Agency for Trade and Investments (PAHI). In the meantime, there were rumors that the Ministry was working on another draft, combining the Polish Information and Foreign Investment Agency (PAIiIZ) and the Polish Tourism Organization (POT).

For the last couple of weeks Andrzej Kaczmarek, the Deputy Economy Minister, has been reluctant to reveal any details. Now the Ministry is confirming the rumors.

"The consolidation of tasks concerning the promotion of economy and tourism in one governmental agency will lead to the creation of a 'Poland brand,' recognized abroad and associated with quality products and services (including tourism), technological advancement, qualified workers as well as investment and tourist attractiveness," says an official statement from the Ministry of Economy.

The Ministry says the Polish Organization of Economy and Tourism Promotion (POPTiG) will provide a clear promotional message directed to entrepreneurs, tourist institutions, business organizations as well as domestic and foreign local authorities, and will have a budget bigger than today's PAIiIZ and POT. The new organization will spend EU funds within the Operational Program Innovative Economy between 2007 and 2013.

The Ministry plans to present the amendment to the Council of Ministers in January 2007.