There was a tremendous response to the previous issue of Contact magazine, which appeared in July to commemorate the BPCC's 25th Anniversary. This special, printed edition of Contact Magazine, (if you haven't seen it, please download a .pdf format version of it here), had a print-run of1,500 copies and has been sent to our members, partners and stakeholders.
Ahead of us, later this month, is the second great highlight of our anniversary year: the Gala Dinner. The event is sold out and we are looking forward to see all those attending. Tamara Arciuch, the Polish actress is the latest addition to our VIP guest list. Tamara will be our Master of Ceremonies for the night.
The BPCC been active throughout September, with our staff members attending Krynica forum and EFNI, as well as helping with the organisation of a British trade mission to Europe's biggest rail event this year, Trako, in Gdańsk.
We conducted a major consultation exercise among our members on the government's proposed changes to corporate and personal income tax in Poland (CIT and PIT). The meeting and emails led to the formulation of a statement by the BPCC that was addressed to finance minister, Paweł Gruza. We would like to thanks all members who actively participated during the consultation process, and hope that our voice will be heard loud and clear by the Polish government.
Last month also saw the meeting of the Entrepreneurship Council (Rada Przedsiębiorczości) with all the major bilateral/national chambers of commerce in Poland who were invited to join this platform. The Council was initially established in 2003 by 11 of the biggest Polish and international business organisations representing entrepreneurs, employers, managers and some foreign investors with the BPCC amongst them. Major issues addressed in the dialogue with the government at that time: public finance, economic growth, foreign investments, economic regulations and labour market.
The council became dormant in late 2008 and has been reactivated in May 2016, by six Polish organisations: Business Centre Club (the equivalent of Britain's Institute of Directors), Krajowa Izba Gospodarcza (fulfilling a similar role to the British Chambers of Commerce), Konfederacja Lewiatan (the Polish CBI), Polska Rada Biznesu (Polish business council), employers' body, Pracodawcy RP, and the trade association, Związek Rzemiosła Polskiego.
During September meeting the Entrepreneurship Council has listed five areas of focus including Poland in the EU, judicial and taxation systems, media, and dialogue with economic policy makers and regulators. We shall keep all members up to date with the work of Entrepreneurship Council and BPCC’s involvement.
The next Contact Magazine Online is due to be published in December 2017, in the meanwhile, there's plenty to read in this issue, which is focusing on IT – and in particular its impact on the future of the Polish labour market.