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Number of subjects and employment in individual GDP sections (private sector).
| GDP SECTION |
INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF SUBJECTS IN SILESIA (2005/2001) |
PARTICIPATION OF THE SILESIAN PROVINCE IN EMPLOYMENT IN EACH SECTION IN POLAND (2005) |
| Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles, motorbikes and articles of personal and domestic use |
142% |
13% |
| Hotels and restaurants |
165% |
13% |
| Transport, stock management and communication |
137% |
12% |
| Financial brokerage |
147% |
12% |
| Real estate service, lease and services connected with conducting economic activity |
152% |
12% |
| Education |
150% |
6% |
| Health care and social welfare |
151% |
10% |
| Municipal, social and individual service activity, others |
157% |
13% |
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Source: drawn up on the basis of the Central Statistical Office.
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High investment attractiveness appreciated by foreign companies.
The dynamic development of the region is stimulated by the
investments of the companies, which have been connected with the
Agglomeration for a long time, as well as by the inflow of foreign
investors, who appreciate the human potential, well- developed
transport infrastructure and the accessibility of the technical
utilities.
A range of projects carried out in the region during the past decade
confirms the advantages of the Agglomeration for potential investors.
The privatization projects, typical at the beginning of the 90s, have
given way to the Greenfield Investments, which prevail at the moment.
The exception of this rule was the privatization of the steel plant
industry in 2005 and the appearance in Silesia of one of the biggest
investors in Poland: Mittal Steel. At the moment, the majority of the
mining industry is still owned by the State Treasury. The privatization
of this sector may mean a significant inflow of foreign capital to the
region.
Foreign investments are the driving force of the Silesian economy,
including its main specialty - the automotive industry. The automotive
industry is based on two pillars: the factories of Fiat and General
Motors. We should not forget however about other investors, especially
about suppliers producing components for Polish and foreign producers
of passenger cars, trucks and buses.
The production of machines and devices, used both in industry
and in households, is another sector in which foreign investors have
their broad representation. The Agglomeration is also responsible for
the production of construction materials: starting with cement, through
insulation and weatherizing systems to glass and steel profiles, as
well as the roofing materials. Also food processing, power industry,
logistics, trade, financial and insurance services as well as
telecommunication occupy an important position in the group of foreign
investors.
Selected investors in the Silesian Agglomeration.
CASE STUDY 1: MOTORIZATION - FROM ASSEMBLY TO RESEARCH CENTRE
The
TRW company is a good example of using the potential of the region. It
located 3 production plants in Silesia: in Częstochowa (car security
systems), in Czechowice-Dziedzice (steering systems), in Gliwice
(braking systems). In 2004 the company also opened the Engineering
Centre (Centrum Inżynieryjne) in Częstochowa in which car security
systems (safety belts, air bags, electronic systems and steering
wheels) are designed. The employees of the Centre cooperate with other
TRW centres in the whole world and run common projects with them. At
present, intensive recruitment is conducted. About 90 people have been
employed. By the end of 2007 there will be about 300 employees.
CASE STUDY 2: TRADITION AND MODERNITY
Bombardier Transportation Polska is a producer of control, steering and
traffic systems and equipment for rail vehicles used by railways,
industrial stations, underground and tram transport, both in Poland and
abroad. In 2001 the Canadian investor took over the Manufacturing
Plants of Signalling Equipment (Zakłady Wytwórcze Urządzeń
Sygnalizacyjnych), an enterprise which was created in Katowice over 80
years ago. Currently, it employs about 400 people (45% with higher
education), 85 of whom deal with research and development works and
planning solutions intended for the global market.
Both companies actively cooperate with higher technical schools located
in the region, which helps them recruit well-educated employees.
The Katowice Special Economic Zone, offering tax concessions to
those who wish to invest, was created in 1996 for investors interested
in the region.
CASE STUDY 3: SERVICE CENTRE
A new office of the international company Capgemini specializing in BPO
(Business Process Offshoring) was created in Katowice. It is to be a
part of the IT Outsourcing Centre in Kraków. Capgemini provides
computer services related to remote technical support and remote
management of the computer infrastructure of its customers.
There are also several smaller companies in the region which
offer high quality outsourcing services related to, e.g. call / contact
centre, IT, accounting services and administration of personnel and
wages. The availability of educated graduates and office space at
relatively low costs indicates that this is a business line with a
great development potential.
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