Tony Blair to visit Poland

Tony Blair, one of the most influential world leaders, Prime Minister of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from 1997 till 2007, is soon coming to Poland. This British politician will be the guest of the 6th ABSL Conference, which is taking place on 16-17 June in Kraków. It is going to be one of the biggest business events in this part of Europe. Tony Blair will participate in the debate about the ways in which Poland can continue to strengthen its political and economic position in the international arena. Between 1997-2007 Tony Blair served as Prime Minister ofGreat Britain and Northern Ireland. From 2004 till 2007 he was the leader of the Labour Party. Blair supported the enlargement of the European Union in 2004 and Polish accession to NATO in 1999. ABSL Conference, this year held already for the sixth time, is the most important business service sector event in Europe. It is a major platform for discussion on the development strategy for the Polish economy, bringing together business leaders and politicians. Last year the special guest of the event was Madeleine Albright, the 64th US Secretary Of State. Moreover, in recent years the Conference was attented, among others, by Lech Wałęsa, Jerzy Buzek, Marek Belka and Jan Krzysztof Bielecki. - The rapid business service sector development is accompanied by the growing professionalization and handling of increasingly advanced business processes. ABSL Conference constitutes an important discussion platform on how to optimally stimulate further sector’s growth. We are pleased that once again, this year’s edition of one of the most important sector events in our part of Europe attracts inspirational and experienced leaders - commented Piotr Dziwok, Country Chair Shell Polska, General Manager Shell Business Operations Krakow, Vice President ABSL. The driving force of the Polish economy The sector of business services, to which the ABSL Conference is devoted, is currently one of the main driving forces of the Polish economy. Foreign capital service centres located in our country employ more than 130,000 people, and untilthe end of the year this figure will increase by another 30,000.Currently, this sector represents in Poland325 entities from 28 countries, running over 470 service centres. Our country is one of the most attractive locations in the world for the investors from this industry. The leading location in Poland is Kraków. - Krakow is the number one business services destination in Europe. According to the 2014 data, foreign-capital service centers employed over 33,000 specialists in the city. – explains Marek Grodziński, Vice President, Head of European BPO Delivery Centers Capgemini, Vice President ABSL. Kraków has been also recognized as the best European location and one of the top 10 world locations for investment in this sector in the annual ranking "2015 Tholons Top 100 Outsourcing Destinations".