en POLONIA - Warsaw Business Journal

Krzysztof Żuk, mayor of Lublin, talks to
Investing in Poland about the most promising
investment sectors in his city
Lublin is situated in an area that is believed to contain
large shale gas resources. Is the city promoting
shale gas exploration? What impact could shale gas
exports have on the region?
Shale gas deposits were discovered in the Lubelskie voivodship,
but not the city itself. Nevertheless we foresee
enormous benefits from the shale industry in R&D centers
located in Lublin, as well as graduates which specialize
in this sector.
If shale gas extraction in Lubelskie was to prove profitable,
it would have a tremendous impact on the development
of local communities in the Lublin region. It would
create many new jobs, which is one of the most important
impacts that this could have on eastern Poland. Secondly,
the community would benefit from additional income
taxes, which could in turn lead to an increase in local
investment.
The Lubelskie voivodship has a lower GDP per
capita than most other Polish regions. How is the
city of Lublin stimulating the economy and convincing
entrepreneurs to invest their capital here?
Aside from the intellectual potential, Lublin has competitive
labor costs. With our eyes set on future investors,
we created a tax system and tax incentives which should
make us very attractive. What is especially attractive is
Lublin’s subzone of the Euro-Park Mielec special economic
zone. The subzone has over 118 hectares.
By the end of the year all the appropriate infrastructure
that will make it easier for entrepreneurs to do business
should be in place in two other districts of Lublin, Bursaki
and Rudnik, totaling close to 100 ha.
Lublin is also has a well-established office space market.
On top of all that, we have an excellent system of aid and
support for investors.
Lublin’s position makes it a good location for eastbound
trade and logistics. However, transport infrastructure
in eastern Poland is generally perceived as
poorly developed. What are Lublin’s most important
infrastructure projects at the moment?
Transport will be greatly facilitated thanks to the Lublin
Airport, which has been built in Świdnik, 10 kilometers
from the city center. Our target is to handle over one
million passengers every year. The airport is expected to
launch its services this autumn.
Meanwhile the General Directorate for National Roads
and Motorways will build the expressways S12, S17 and
S19, which will also facilitate communication. As a city, we
are currently working on access roads to the expressways.
It is thanks to EU structural funds that we are able to
improve the quality of infrastructure in and around Lublin.
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Your city’s industry sector suffered after Korean
car maker Daewoo Motor Polska closed its factory,
following the company’s bankruptcy. What is in store
for the future of industry in the city? Where are the
opportunities?
After Daewoo Motor Polska closed down its factory in
2001, we began to invest quickly in other companies using
the current industrial infrastructure. In 2007, we were able
to turn part of the area into an integral part of the Euro-
Park Mielec special economic zone.
Today, on the former Daewoo factory site, we have several
businesses which are also related to the automotive
industry. Those companies include D&D Resory Polska, a
manufacturer of car springs, and MW Polska, a company
that manufactures steel wheels. Aside from those, we have
POL-MOT, an important player in the Polish automotive
industry, both in the passenger-car segment and that of
industrial and utility vehicles, as well as the DZT car
plant, which continues to produce traditional Polish models
such as the Pasagon and the Honker. There are also
several companies from the automotive sector which have
expressed their interest in investing in Lublin.
Which other industries are considered a priority for
Lublin?
We focus on several key industries, namely the business
process outsourcing (BPO) and shared services centers
(SSC), the food industry, as well as IT and telecommunications.
We also see great potential in developing the
transport and logistics sectors, as well as renewable
energy, biotechnology, health care and pharmaceuticals.
We outlined our plans with regards to these industries in
the strategy document “Lublin 2020,” released this summer.
One of our main focuses will be on innovation, which
is also a central priority both for Poland and the European
Union. F
Major infrastructure investments will help boost Lublin’s investment
profile, believes mayor Krzysztof Żuk, who expects the city’s new airport
to handle over one million passengers a year
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