Dear Members,
December is traditionally the time to reflect on significant changes and developments that have happened throughout the year, so we thought that we would look back over the last 11 months and remind you what has been happening at the Chamber as 2015 has been a memorable year for the BPCC.
Dear Readers,
This issue of Contact Magazine Online looks at the commercial, retail and industrial property sectors in Poland. There are solid investment opportunities here, if you choose your market wisely.
These are challenging times for investors. Interest rates are at a historic low, stock markets are underperforming, government bond yield rates are flat and emerging-market growth is evaporating.
Those who remember the Polish real estate and construction market as communism was ending are aware of just how far it’s come in such a short time.
Recent changes in the way of thinking about office architecture allow for higher work efficiency in any company. Today, the office is a place that creates opportunities for employees to effectively implement various tasks, develop personally – and rest.
Before we ask ourselves about the future for leisure, we need to look to other countries which have developed a comprehensive offer, one that remains successful and profitable and hence can be deemed sustainable over the medium to long term.
Durham based producer of premium freeze dried coffees Beanies Flavour Company has lifted the lid on the Polish market thanks to BPCC Trade, innovative products and a great market entry strategy.
The BPCC has great contacts with exporters across Poland wanting to sell to the UK. Use our service to help you buy directly from them. In response to strong interest from Polish manufacturers wishing to export their products and services to the UK, last year the BPCC launched a support service intended to help businesses from all over Poland by matchmaking them with potential British partners.
Is the Polish warehouse market ready for a sector boom?
The total modern retail space in Poland amounts to 10.6 million m². Traditional shopping centres constitute majority of this volume. There are also two other formats of retail projects: retail parks and outlet centres.
The BPCC's 23rd Annual Ball, held this year at the Sheraton Warsaw Hotel, was a fantastic event at which over 200 VIP guests enjoyed a memorable evening. Guest speakers included Lech Wałęsa, legendary Solidarity leader and modern Poland's first democratically elected president, who spoke about the new Europe, and the need for reform within the free-market democratic system. Other speakers were the Polish Ambassador to the UK, Witold Sobków and Sarah Tiffin, Deputy Head of Mission at the British Embassy Warsaw.
The BPCC, together with PAIiIZ, the trade and investment section of the Polish Embassy in London, Jones Lang Lasalle and Cushman & Wakefield, held a seminar to outline the main investment opportunities in the real estate sector for foreign investors. The event was held on the evening of 26 November 2015 at the Polish Embassy. The focus was on commercial, retail and industrial properties.
The second in this year edition Wrocław Agglomeration Real Estate Forum took place on Wednesday 18th November 2015 in Radisson BLU hotel in Wroclaw in cooperation with Wroclaw Agglomeration Development Agency, AD Capital, CBRE, Kinnarps, Knight Frank, Reesco, Smagała Strzelczyk law firm and Vantage Development SA.
The cyber security landscape is changing rapidly thanks to our greater dependency on the virtual world. One examples of the growing symbiosis between man and the cyber world is the Internet of Things. This increased reliance on the internet and technology has sadly gone hand-in-hand with greater frequency, sophistication and professionalism of hacking.
This will be a record year for Kraków Airport. For the first time in history we will exceed 4 million passengers handled throughout a year. This great result is due to the attractiveness of Kraków and the region of Małopolska, but also our efforts to expand our route network, make it more interesting every year and bring in more and more airlines.
Modry Las Golf Club has been named Poland’s best golf course at a prestigious global awards ceremony in Portugal. For the second consecutive year, the West Pomerania Gary Player designed-course picked up Poland’s national prize at the World Golf Awards which aims to benchmark excellence in golf tourism.
The lease rent and other payments associated with the lease of a commercial office space constitute a significant part of costs incurred by a company. In the case of lease agreements, they also form long-term liabilities. Concluding a lease agreement therefore, although it undoubtedly offers a company many opportunities for development, may also pose certain risks.
It’s hard to define a good formula for a suitable working space that will please every company. Currently, average leases are signed for around five years. No later than one year before the lease agreement expires, a tenant should consider the future of their office space.
Paweł Oszczyk from La Rotisserie restaurant in Mamaison Le Regina Hotel was announced the Chef of the Year 2016 by the prestigious international culinary guide “Gault & Millau” 2016. On 29 November 2015 at the Służewiec Racetrack the Polish edition of the „Gault & Millau” guide held its ceremony and gala dinner for more than 500 guests and presented 2016 edition of the yellow guide.
At the invitation of the Marshal of the Świętokrzyskie province, Adam Jarubas, the BPCC paid an official visit to Kielce on 20 October. The aim was to establish working links with the province. The meeting, held in the marshal's office, was attended by Urszula Kwaśniewska, director of the BPCC's Kraków office Kraków, Marta Smolarek, the BPCC's export consultant, and Michael Dembinski, the BPCC's chief advisor.
