Will Poland be able to absorb all the EU structural and cohesion funds earmarked for it?

Will the Polish government be able to implement overdue reforms of public finances? Will it be able to reduce bureaucratic burdens on entrepreneurs? What are the biggest obstacles facing the government as it tackles these key tasks?

What do Polish employers need to do to recruit and retain skilled people to ensure their businesses continue to grow? How must Polish bosses leadership style change?

Are Polish enterprises losing their competitive edge as wage levels rise and the zloty strengthens? How will Poland’s corporate landscape change in coming years?

All these key questions will be addressed by expert speakers at the BPCC’s 5th Annual Conference, which takes place next Monday and Tuesday (21-22 April) in the Hyatt Regency Warszawa hotel. In the four years since Poland joined the European Union, the country has undergone a dramatic economic transformation. The pound, which cost 7.15 PLN on the day of Poland’s Accession to the EU on 1 May 2004, today costs 4.24 PLN – a depreciation of over 40%! Polish average wages have risen from 2,200 PLN a month to over 3,100 PLN during that same time. From a British investor’s point of view this rise in sterling terms has been from £310 to £740 a month! These factors have caused British investors to look at in a completely different light. “Where once Poland was seen as a low-cost manufacturing and service base, today it is increasingly being perceived as a high-growth consumer market,” says Martin Oxley, chief executive officer of the BPCC.

“This conference will reveal the expected trends for trade and investment between Poland and the UK for years to come. Factors such as the credit crunch in the US and Britain, €67 billion of EU funds flowing into Poland, the EURO 2012 finals and skills shortages facing certain Polish sectors and regions will all affect the direction of Poland’s further economic growth”, says Oxley. “All of these factors will be discussed in depth.”

Of particular interest will be the shape of corporate Poland and its ability to compete in a rapidly-changing economic environment. Results of a survey of 27,000 Polish companies will be presented at the Conference. The programme also includes presentations focused on the plans of venture capital and private equity funds, the use of public-private partnerships to deliver public services in Poland and Poland’s entry into the Euro-zone.

Household name economists from Poland and the UK, business leaders and politicians will assess the state of Poland’s economy and prospects for the future.