The S5 – a quick road to success

They have been brought together by the S5, which is currently under construction. The Agricultural Property Agency, the Polish Foreign Investment and Information Agency (PAIiIZ), special economic zones, self-governments and the Ministry of Economy – these are the signatories of the agreement “The S5 – Towards Good Investments”. The agreement, which was signed in Żmigród, Trzebnica County, is intended to economically activate the areas situated along the expressway, which will eventually connect the south of Poland with Pomerania. The Lower Silesian part of the road is scheduled for completion by the end of 2017.

Ilona Antoniszyn-Klik, Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Economy, called for united action.

“We must combine our energy to provide the gminas with an impulse to develop. It is an opportunity for sustainable development of all towns, not only the large cities,” she said. Mrs. Antoniszyn-Klik added that small and medium-sized Polish companies in particular should be encouraged to invest, not just large foreign enterprises. “What we need is active and intensive promotion,” she emphasized.

Marek Łapiński, MP, remembered the beginnings of the construction of S5 expressway.

“It was a risky decision taken by the General Directorate for National Roads and Motorways because the EU’s subsidies for this aim had not been formally approved yet. However, the Agricultural Property Agency designated areas to be used for the construction of the road, and we jumped at the opportunity in Trzebnica County,” he said.

“According to the most recent rankings of attractiveness, Dolnośląske Province comes second in Poland. The project is being developed under the patronage of the Ministry of Economy. Entrepreneurs always ask about the roads first, and then about the areas in their proximity and the human resources. For this reason, the project is hugely important to us,” added Monika Gąsiorowska of the PAIiIZ.

Iwona Dyszkiewicz of the Agricultural Property Agency also talked about the project with enthusiasm.

“The Agency own 1,200 ha along the S5. Investing in these areas will revive the economy and guarantee development,” she said. Mrs. Dyszkiewicz also declared the Agency’s support and participation in the efforts to promote the areas.

The expectations and benefits connected with investing along the S5 were outlined by the representatives of special economic zones situated in western Poland: Barbara Kaśnikowska, President of the Wałbrzych Special Economic Zone “INVEST-PARK”; Rafał Jurkowlaniec, President of the Legnica SEZ; Józef Adam Bela, Deputy President of the Pomeranian SEZ; Andrzej Kail, Marketing Director of the Kostrzyńsko-Słubicka SEZ; and Wojciech Smoliński of the Kamienna Góra SEZ for Medium Business. Each of them has an attractive offer for investors, including developed sites, tax exemptions, comprehensive investor services, and friendly self-governments. The Wałbrzych Special Economic Zone, which is the largest among them and owns around 490 ha of land that is still available to investors along the S5, has also begun the construction of production floors for rent. “The first four halls built by us were quickly leased out, in spite of being located in difficult areas, far from the large cities. We are now planning to build another eight production floors,” said Mrs. Kaśnikowska.

The meeting was hosted by Robert Lewandowski, Mayor of Żmigród. He emphasized the advantages of his gmina, mostly the proximity of Wrocław and the airport (35 km).

“The investors will have no trouble finding the right employees here. There are not enough jobs in the region, but we have already found tenants for 50 ha of the land,” he said.

All those present agreed that a fast road to Wrocław and Poznań, and then to Pomerania, will be an excellent complement to the existing A1, A2 and A4 motorways.

“This vertical connection between the south and the north of Poland is what we really needed,” said Barbara Kaśnikowska, President of the WSEZ.