Poland and Ukraine are intensively cooperating in business – these issues were recently discussed at a summit in Berlin concerning the rebuilding and development of Ukraine. Today, the Ukrainian authorities are strongly encouraging investment in their country. However, it must be acknowledged that as long as it remains a war zone, the level of investment will be limited. Nevertheless, after the war ends, Poland’s cooperation with Ukrainian companies will develop, both through investments and by building additional industrial and production capacities in Poland for the needs of the Ukrainian market. An Odessa company should be established in Poland as soon as possible – an export safety valve and an export alternative to the Black Sea. Unfortunately, this region will always have to consider the Russian threat.
“The war in Ukraine already plays a developmental role for the Polish economy due to increasing exports. We are the first country to which exports from Ukraine go,” said Maciej Witucki, President of the Confederation of Leviathan, to eNewsroom.pl service. “We are also the second source of imports to Ukraine. Polish companies send many products to Kyiv, Lviv, or Kharkiv – mainly the food industry. This is an element that changes the Polish economy. Let’s also remember that a million refugees from Ukraine are somewhat saving the Polish economy today – as 2/3 of them have found permanent and legal work in Poland. This means that they are filling the gap we have in the Polish labor market. Of course, it is important that this war ends as soon as possible with a Ukrainian victory. This, in turn, will bring additional benefits for Poland. The first is the immediate reconstruction of infrastructure in Ukraine – although the possibilities here may be limited. Today, considering the Operational Programs and the new European perspective, Poland will not have enough labor resources to implement infrastructure investments in Poland, from CPK to railways or the expansion of housing construction. And as a consequence, few Polish and European companies will be massively involved in rebuilding Ukraine. These are likely to mainly be Turkish, Middle Eastern, or Asian companies – which will be able to provide labor. However, we certainly have a chance in areas such as trade and transit. I would therefore focus less on bridges, roads, classic infrastructure in the future, and more on the joint construction or expansion of the potential of the Ukrainian industry,” predicts Maciej Witucki.
Source: https://managerplus.pl/polsko-ukrainska-wspolpraca-biznesowa-nabiera-tempa-31337
