Polish Investment and Trade Agency Returns to Kyiv

The office of the Polish Investment and Trade Agency (PAIH - Polska Agencja Inwestycji i Handlu ) in Kyiv has resumed operations after temporarily relocating to Warsaw during the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, where it served as a support center for Ukrainian businesses. 

This information has been reported by Rzeczpospolita.

The publication notes that the PAIH office in Kyiv had been closed in recent months due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the threat it posed to the lives and health of its employees. However, PAIH experts, led by the head of the office, Karol Kubica, continued their work from Warsaw.

The reopening of the PAIH commercial representation in Kyiv and the establishment of a second branch of the agency in Western Ukraine (to be opened in Lviv) was announced by Jadwiga Emilewicz, the government's representative for Polish-Ukrainian cooperation in development.

"The economic cooperation between Poland and Ukraine is proceeding very smoothly. I hope that the office reopening in Kyiv will become a landmark for all companies wishing to work here," said Emilewicz.

"We encourage businesses to inform us about their needs so that we can support their relations and enable them to conduct business in Ukraine. We consider the Kyiv office a priority, and we encourage you to contact us," stated Grzegorz Oszust, a member of the PAIH board.

The Ukrainian side is also optimistic about further Polish-Ukrainian cooperation.

"We are very open to the presence of Polish businesses. We see directions for further cooperation improvement. We aim to raise sector standards to a global level, which will also accelerate the development of Ukrainian companies," noted Mustafa Nayyem, Chairman of the State Agency for Restoration and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine.

The dynamics of mutual trade between Poland and Ukraine are very high. According to data from the Central Statistical Office (GUS), Poland's exports to Ukraine in 2022 amounted to €9.7 billion (+55.1%), and imports reached €6.1 billion (+43.3%). Poland became Ukraine's top trading partner. In turn, Ukraine is currently the 8th largest export partner and the 15th largest import partner of Poland.

"According to the Central Statistical Office, Ukraine's share in Polish exports has significantly increased over the past year. This has allowed us to rise from 19th place to 8th among recipients of goods from Poland. In addition to supporting access to new export markets, BGK (Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego - National Economy Bank) supports Polish entrepreneurs who want to establish business contacts with Ukrainian partners. Our participation in this, within the Government Export Support Program, amounts to PLN 500 million (€111 million). Since February 2022, we have supported new projects totaling over PLN 10 million (€2.2 million) through export credits. The agreements have involved the fuel-chemical sector and the sale of small household appliances," said Marek Tomczuk, a member of the BGK board.

"We are ready to continue supporting economic relations with our eastern neighbor. Therefore, together with development institutions, our experts train Polish entrepreneurs on constructive involvement in the reconstruction of Ukraine and the resumption of regular trade. They meet with entrepreneurs from the following sectors: agri-food, medical and pharmaceutical, machinery and equipment, and IT/ICT," he added.

The Polish Investment and Trade Agency (PAIH) is an advisory institution that operates as part of the Polish Development Fund under the guidance of the Ministry of Economic Development and Technology of Poland.

Previously, The Gaze has reported on remarkable individuals born in Poland whose actions have become exemplary and whose ideas have changed humanity's perception of itself.