ABOUT SILESIA Territory : 12,333 km 2 (over 3,8% of Poland) Population : 4,599,447 (almost 12% of Poland) Density : 373 people/km 2 Capital : Katowice Silesia is one of the smallest but most populated region of Poland 77,3% of region s population live in cities and towns big population and consumer market = 4.6M inhabitants convenientand easy access via air, roadsand rail every 3 rd town in Poland is in the Silesia
LOCATION Location is a big advantage of the region. The small distance to the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary and the Slovak Republic as well as the fact that within 600 km one can find 6 European capitals i.e. Warsaw, Prague, Bratislava, Vienna, Budapest and Berlin makes this region very attractive for investors and tourists.
COMMUNICATION NETWORK Distance from Katowice to: Warsaw Gdańsk Wrocław Cracow Ostrava Vienna Berlin Prague 290 km 525 km 190 km 80 km 97 km 430 km 620 km 450 km
ACCES Silesia has the densest network of the different roads including motorways (A1 - from north to south and A4 - from west to east). Katowice International Airport - the major regional and international polish airport in terms of cargo services and the second biggest in terms of passenger traffic. The region is crossed by important domestic and international railway routes for passengers and combined transport (including central railway main line and AGC network). The Railway Euroterminal (container transport) - direct connection with intercontinental Trans-Siberian Railway (Europe - Far East Asia).
SILESIAN AGGLOMERATION This is the biggest urbanized area in the Central Europe. Consists of more than a dozen cities and several towns. The agglomeration area constitutes 18% of the whole region with the population density of 1900 people per sq.km. About 2 million of people live here.
HUMAN RESOURCES The indicator of the high level of urbanization of the region is the fact that 77,4 % of the residents live in 71 cities what in turn means that every third big city in Poland is situated in the Silesia. over 63 % of the population is within the economically productive age group; 77,6 % of the population aged 25 to 54 years; over 19 % of the population is within the economically post-productive age.
EDUCATION The Silesian Region is home to 41 higher schools, including 1 university, 4 higher schools of technology, 13 higher schools of economy, 2 higher schools of pedagogy and other higher vocational schools. Over 126,800 students. Almost 8,6% of the whole group of students in Poland. Almost 9,3% of the whole group of graduates in Poland.
ECONOMY The Silesian Region is the most industrialized region in Poland. Almost 12,4% of the Polish gross domestic product (GDP) is being generated here what ranks the region on the second position within the country. Silesian s GDP is higher than the national average. The share of services in regional economy amounts to 57,2% and of industry comes to 34,2% what ranks the region in the first place in the country. The Silesian Region is famous for its well developed automotive, energy, metallurgical and mining industries as well as food, electromechanical and IT industries. Almost 462,000 national economy entities are registered in the Silesian Region.
ECONOMY REGIONAL EXPORT Region s share in the export value of Poland in 2014 in mln Euro: exports total : Poland: 165774 Silesia: 21333 -this amounts to 12,87% The main products of silesian export: -industrial machineries; -electric and electronic equipments; -vehicles and accesories; -iron and steel products; -coal and coke. The main export destination s countries: Germany, Italy, Czech Republic, France, Great Britain.
AUTOMOTIVE SECTOR The region is the major car producer in the country. In 2014 69,5% cars produced in Poland were produced here, most of which is for export.
HEAVY INDUSTRY Mining and metallurgical industry, the traditional branches of the regional commerce, have been adjusted to the free market reality.
BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT Regional Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Katowice (RIG) Chamber of Crafts and Small and Medium Entrepreneurship in Katowice Upper Silesian Agency of Promotion Entrepreneurship (GAPP) Upper Silesian Fund (FG) Technological Parks and Business Incubators HR companies and property developers Katowice Special Economic Zone (KSSE) Local authorities
KATOWICE BUSINESS SPECIAL ENVIRONMENT ECONOMIC ZONE Special Economic Zone (SEZ) is a perfect combination that satisfies the needs of investors with the needs of a particular region within the borders of which it has been established. Each zone is a special area within the borders of Poland assigned for business activity on preferential conditions. An investor within the area of the SEZ is guaranteed tax exemptions and another advantage is the fact that one may start his activities on specially prepared improved land. For 20 years of its activity over 250 companies have invested almost 5,6 billion and have created over 55 000 jobs. www.ksse.com.pl ksse@ksse.com.pl
HEALTH Medicine on the national and international scale: - Silesian Centre for Heart Zabrze (hospital) & Katowice (clinic) (cardiologic and transplantation operations) - Silesian Centre for Oncology Gliwice (hospital) & Katowice (clinic) (oncologic treatment, hematology and transplantation) -Silesian Centre for Burns Siemianowice Śląskie (hospital) (burns treatment and post-burns rehabilitation) -Health resorts - especially in Ustroń and Goczałkowice; (orthopedic and rheumatic rehabilitation, respiratory tract treatment, after-cancer treatment, also cardiological and neurological problems).
TOURISM The Silesian Region is one of the most touristically attractive areas in Poland. The aura of the Polish Jura Chain and the Beskids is a guarantee that everyone will find their place of active leisure. Jurassic Highland Chain (Trail of the Eagles Nests) presents perfect conditions for rock climbing. In the Beskid Śląski, where one can find over 200 kilometres of ski runs, every enthusiast of winter fun will find excellent conditions to enjoy winter attractions.
TOURISM On Pauline Monastery of Jasna Góra in Częstochowa is the heart of nation beats. Every year over 5 million people visits the sanctuary to see the famous icon of Black Madonna Many historical castles and palaces with the beautiful parks and forests could be also destination of touring and leisure - for example in Pszczyna. Brewery Museum in Tychy and in Żywiec are located directly by brewing production of the polish fairest beer.
THE INDUSTRIAL MONUMENTS ROUTE The Industrial Monuments Route is the most interesting route of industrial tourism in Poland. The route encompasses 36 facilities connected with the industrial heritage of the region. These facilities remind the visitors about the old traditions of mining, metallurgy and energetics as well as about the old times of the railways, communications systems, water production and food industry.
THE INDUSTRIAL MONUMENTS ROUTE
CULTURE Theatre of Silesia Katowice (drama theatre) Silesian Opera Bytom Musical Theatre Gliwice (operetta, musical comedy) Theatre of Entertainment Chorzów (variety theatre) Silesian Philharmonic Katowice Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra Katowice Polish National Song and Dance Ensemble Śląsk Koszęcin Silesian Museum Katowice Silesian Library - Katowice
CULTURE
CULTURE The Silesian Region is a place of grand cultural, sport and religious events. At the Silesian Stadium and in Spodek concert hall and sports venue the greatest artists took the stage. Among many Silesian Region hosted such artists as: U2, Genesis, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Metallica and Pearl Jam. Many festivals are organized in the region: Rawa Blues Festival which every year gathers thousands of blues fans and The Beskidy Highlanders Week of Culture, the oldest folklore event in Europe. Additionally, many of the most interesting alternative music events i.e. Off Festival in Katowice have their home in the Silesian Region.
SO, WHY SILESIA? Silesia Region is leader among Polish provinces in terms of investment attractiveness (Report of the Institute for Market Economics, December 2015) Main criteria: resources and labor costs, social and economic infrastructure, market itself. Silesian Region in the 6 position among the most attractive regions in Eastern Europe in terms of investment attractiveness and 2nd place in the category of cost efficiency among large European regions (report FDI Intelligence, 2014)
SO, WHY SILESIA? Silesia: big population and consumer market = 4,6 M inhabitants Katowice: center of the largest Polish Metropolis = 2 M inhabitants Convenient and easy access via air, roads and rail Healthy economy & growing market Presence of foreign investors Well developed business environment Support from helpful local and regional authorities Professionally skilled human resources and unique work ethics Good place to live
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION Marshall Office of the Silesian Voivodeship Department of Economy, Tourism and Sport Silesian Investors and Exporters Assistance Centre gospodarka@slaskie.pl Invest-in-silesia.pl slaskie.trade.gov.pl