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Published on March 17, 2008

Businesses should consider Poland as a potential investment location as the country offers many attractive benefits, said Vannaporn Ketudat, director of the Thai Trade Centre in Warsaw.

They can sell to Polish consumers whose purchasing power has risen, she said, adding that by investing in the country, firms can use it as a springboard to the rest of Europe.

Manufacturers should set up production plants in Poland to facilitate distribution to European Union markets.

Vannaporn said investors would enjoy many advantages, including the availability of natural resources, export privileges to the EU and an increasingly affluent market place.

"Many countries have invested in Poland as well as other Eastern European countries. Thai investors should penetrate the markets now before they lose these opportunities to rival exporting countries," she said.

To promote investment, Commerce Minister Mingkwan Sangsuwan will head a trade mission to tighten ties between governments and private enterprises. He will make a mid-year visit to Warsaw.

Potential investment sectors include processed foods, car assembly, electronic goods, garments and tourism services, including restaurants and hotels.

With higher income, Polish consumers are demanding more imported goods.

With a population of 38 million, Poland is part of the EU. It joined the grouping in 2004 and can now export goods to other member states with low tariffs.

The country's gross domestic products jumped to 6.5 per cent last year. The Foreign Trade Department has recently revised upward its export growth target for Eastern Europe from 25 per cent to 32.5 per cent, or a total of US$3.1 billion (Bt98 billion) this year.

Last year, Thai exports to the region grew 55.4 per cent to $2.34 billion.

Many international companies have already invested in Poland, including HP, Volvo, Toyota, GE, Electrolux, IBM and Toshiba.

However, only two Thai companies - S Khonkaen and Lucky Food - have done so.

Petchanet Pratruangkrai

The Nation

Warsaw