Poznań finds the right mix
Andrzej Wróbel: The city has attracted a number of investments recently. Which do you consider most important?
Ryszard Grobelny: Poznań's main characteristic is a well-balanced economic structure and consequently a well balanced structure of investments. One of the newest industries is car manufacturing, with the recent investment of Volkswagen. But we also have the chemical industry, cosmetics with Nivea Poland, pharmaceuticals with GlaxoSmithKline, banking and insurance with WBK. For the last 15 years, foreign direct investment has reached $4.3 [zł.13.4] billion - mainly from Germany, but also from France, Great Britain and Japan. We also need to remember that the public sector is also investing, especially in higher education, which also attracts large investments in Poznań. It's equally important to say that Poznań's economy is based on small and medium enterprises. It's hard to list particular companies, but they greatly contribute to the city's economic activity.
Many economies are SME-based. What makes Poznań different?
Poznań is the leader in that respect. Here the number of SMEs per 1,000 inhabitants is the highest in Poland and amounts to 160.
You have mentioned the car industry. Is that the sector Poznań wants to focus on?
The city has become the center of transport-automobile manufacturing, mainly buses. This is definitely an attractive industry because it creates new jobs but also because it is very innovative. Solaris currently has one of the most innovative factories in Poland. They introduce new products and successfully compete on foreign markets. This is good for the local market but also for economic growth. I believe that the economic diversity characteristic of Poznań is the city's advantage and I am in favor of promoting a situation in which companies representing different industries function simultaneously. I am sure that is one of Poznań's strengths and I wouldn't like to lose it.
What investments are planned in the near future?
Currently Poznań wants to attract investments in large concerns' servicing centers. Similar centers are now being opened by Carlsberg and MAN. We are having talks with several other companies which are considering relocating their centers to Poland and to Poznań. This is a branch that provides a lot of modern jobs.
But the unemployment rate in Poznań is quite low, isn't it?
We actually have a different problem. We are facing a lack of hands to work in may industries, mainly engineers, qualified workers, builders, etc. Apart from Warsaw, we have the lowest unemployment rate and the highest increase of those newly employed in Poland. This proves high economic activeness, but also that Poznań's workers are appreciated by companies.
How does the city encourage new investors?
We try to treat them all seriously and provide them with the opportunities they need. Here we have the highest efficiency and it has been proved in many industries. We show the best developed academic center in Poland with 130,000 students and high teaching standards. Our schools are very flexible and open to make changes in teaching profiles. Within the next couple of days the City Council will accept property tax exemptions for new investors.
How do you see the city in ten to twenty years?
I would like to see a place worth living and investing in, a city with a good atmosphere where the most important matters are discussed. I would like to see a modern city with modern roads, information infrastructure. I would like it to remain an academic center, these young people to dominate here.
We are on the eve of the local elections? Will the political structure change?
Poznań is a stable city so I don't expect it to change. It will still be governed by the center. Extreme right-wing and leftist parties will still be in the minority.
