Country Trading Profiles Poland

Setting up a company | FDI in figures | Why you should choose to invest | Procedures relative to foreign investment | Finding assistance for further information

Setting up a company

Types of companies and capital (max/min)	Number of partners/shareholders and liability
The Spolka ackjna (SA) is the equivalent of a public limited company 100,000 PLZ of which 25% will be paid up on registering. (Minimum nominal value: 1 PLZ)	No minimum Liability is limited to the amount of capital contributed.
The Spolka zoograniczona odpowiedzialnoscia (ZOO) is close to a limited liability company 5,000 PLZ (Minimum nominal value: 50 PLZ).	No minimum Liability is limited to the amount of capital contributed.

Business setup procedures

Setting up a company	Poland	Eastern Europe & Central Asia
Procedures (number)	6.0	6.3
Time (days)	32.0	16.3

Source: Doing Business.

For further information: Consult Doing Business Website, to know about procedures to start a Business in Poland.
Polish National Court Trade Registry
The competent organization: The Polish National Court Trade Registry.

FDI in figures

Foreign Direct Investment	2008	2009	2010
FDI inward flow (millions USD)	14,689	13,698	9,681
FDI stock (millions USD)	163,360.1	186,114.8	193,140.6
Performance Index*, ranking on 141 economies	89	65	-
Potential Index**, ranking on 141 economies	42	-	-
Number of Greenfield investments***	370	222	-
FDI inwards (in % of GFCF****)	12.8	41.1	-
FDI stock (in % of GDP)	31.1	42.5	-

Source:

Note: * The UNCTAD Inward FDI Performance index is based on a ratio of the country's share in global FDI inflows and its share in global GDP. ** The UNCTAD Inward FDI Potential index is based on 12 economic and structural variables such as GDP, foreign trade, FDI, infrastructures, energy use, R&D, education, country risk. *** Green field investments are a form of foreign direct investment where a parent company starts a new venture in a foreign country by constructing new operational facilities from the ground up. **** Gross fixed capital formation (GFCF) measures the value of additions to fixed assets purchased by business, government and households less disposals of fixed assets sold off or scrapped.

Why you should choose to invest Poland

Strong points

A fast-growing economy, location in central Europe, a multilingual work force and cheap labor costs make Poland an internationally attractive country. Poland also enjoys a well managed healthy economy, which is withstanding the crisis better than other European countries. Unlike other Central European countries, its population did not have to resort to loans in foreign currencies, in particular Swiss, a fact which protects the population from maximum debt.

Weak points

Slow administrative procedures (according to the World Bank it takes 31days to form a company) and a deficit in the current account are the negative points linked to the Polish economy. The adoption of the Euro, initially planned for 2012 is compromised by the financial crisis and thus delaying the benefits to the economy.

Government measures to motivate or restrict FDI

- Investment assistance in special economic zones (SEZ);
- Entrepreneur access to European Union structural funds;
- Creation of industrial and technological zones that enable a synergy of companies working in the same sector;
- low costs of labor.

In order to face the economic crisis and support long term foreign investments, the Polish government has formulated a stabilization and development plan of Euro 24 billion, particularly to grant credit to small and medium companies and invest in renewable energy sources.

Procedures relative to foreign investment

Acquisition of holdings: Taking a majority holding in the capital of a Polish company is allowed, as long as an authorization is obtained.
Obligation to declare: The investment promotion agency in the country gives information about the authorizations necessary for setting up business.
Competent organization for the declaration

Finding assistance for further information

Investment aid agency: The Polish Agency for Information and Foreign Investment
Polish Agency for industrial development
Other useful resources: Website/Guide to investment
Poland's official website