will receive a great number of delegations from China’s different provinces as well from various industries this year. In addition, the China Desk at the Far East Section of PAIiIZ provides comprehensive information to the companies that send e-mail inquiries about investment opportunities in Poland.

PAIiIZ is also active in China, and the leaders of PAIiIZ often come here to present investment opportunities in our country. PAIiIZ participates in trade fairs and conferences, including the China Fair for Investment and Trade in Xiamen and the Xi’an Investment Fair in April this year, and organizes investment missions, for example, to Shanghai in April this year and to Qingdao last December. PAIiIZ also plans to organize a big investment seminar in Shanghai in November this year.

Along with promoting Poland, PAIiIZ supports the activities of Chinese investors who already have decided to start operations in Poland.

PAIiIZ has organized two conferences on Chinese-Polish economic cooperation. China seemed to be interested in creating an industrial park to draw Chinese businesses to Poland. What’s the status of the industrial park and where is it located?

The Chinese Industrial Park is located in Koszalin in north Poland. Last year the city was nominated as one of the top 50 locations in the world for Chinese investment. The park is devoted especially to Chinese investors. It is going to be expanded soon. Several Chinese companies have expressed interest in investing in this industrial park or in other existing industrial parks in Poland.

What was the specific amount of foreign investment that Poland received from China in 2006, and what is your estimate for what it will be for all of 2007?

The year 2006 was very good as far as inward flows of foreign direct investment are concerned. It is estimated that Poland received a total of more than $11 billion worth of FDI. The Chinese participation was not as high as we would like it to be. It is believed that Chinese companies invested around $60 million-$70 million in Poland. There seems to be, however, a friendly atmosphere between our two countries that creates a good climate to further expand our economic relations and intensify bilateral investments. We honestly hope to double the above-mentioned figures in 2007, although we realize it might be indeed extremely difficult. I believe Chinese companies realize that this is the right moment to invest in Poland, as the economy experiences high and steady growth, which, I’m sure, will soon prove to be a long-term trend. Poland is also a member of the EU, which in business terms translates into a stable political and economic environment with significant potential.

Which industrial sectors does Poland expect to receive increased investment from China in 2007, and why?

We believe it’s necessary to continue the current trend, in which Chinese companies are acquiring strong positions in electronic equipment manufacturing, construction and retail. However, we also see certain potential areas in which Chinese presence would be more beneficial for both China and Poland.

Because of Poland’s dynamic socioeconomic development and the fact that together with Ukraine we will host the [Union of European Football Associations] Euro 2012 tournament, we hope that Chinese companies also will be present in infrastructure projects, building roads, airports and stadiums. There are indeed many Chinese companies that already seem to be interested in such projects, including China International Industry and Commerce Co. Ltd., China Overseas Engineering Group Co. Ltd. and Beijing Urban Construction International Co. Ltd. I can assure you, investment in this sector is the right direction to go.

Naturally, we expect further expansion of transit centers and assembly centers for Chinese products, which would then be redistributed either in Poland or other EU countries.

Last but not least, we would like to see Chinese companies involved in services such as hotels and gastronomy, because these sectors can be a potentially large source for employment.

Poland has had investments from China in the electronics sector and in desktop publishing. Why these two sectors? Does Poland expect the Chinese to make further investments in these two industries?

There is increasing demand for electronic goods throughout the EU, especially in new member states such as Poland. Consequently, this manufacturing sector is believed to have a great future indeed. China has outstanding potential and the capability to become a leader in electronics manufacturing in Poland, because Chinese companies have proved to produce goods of a good standard. And, yes, we would like to see more investment in those sectors and to witness Chinese firms following the footsteps of TCL Corp., TPV Technology Ltd. and currently Lenovo.

And now for a security-related question. Poland has agreed to join the U.S. missile defense system. How do you view the importance of this system? How will this move affect Poland’s relations with Russia?

The negotiations concerning the elements of the missile defense system of the United States to be placed in the territory of Poland are still taking place. There hasn’t been any decision made in this matter either by the Polish or American side. Poland stands on the position that the most important purpose of the elements of national defense system in Europe is to guarantee the stability and security of the European continent, strengthen the capabilities of NATO in the future, as well as deepen transatlantic relations in terms of security cooperation with no intention to negatively influence the interests of the other countries.