Only 15 per cent of Polish companies have made a decision about investing their means so far. However, it is expected that the interest is going to increase in the future. It is demonstrated by more noticeable interest in investments concerning areas as well as research and development sector. The entrepreneurs may count on great incentives from the European Union, especially in that second field.
Generally, the companies in Poland do not invest a lot. Moreover, 14-16 per cent of enterprises do not invest at all and even less companies decide to invest in innovative activities. Hence, a great part of our instruments in the years 2007-2013 and in a new financial perspective of the European Union for the years 2014-2020 co-finance investments which are being realized by entrepreneurs – explains Bożena Lublińska-Kasprzak, chairman in the Polish Entrepreneurship Development Agency.
Many infrastructural investments received a bailout in a previous budget perspective of the EU for the years 2007-2013 – reminds Lublińska-Kasprzak. Moreover, some of them were conducted by research units and companies interested in running an innovative activity – for instance, new research centers were built. At present, the emphasis is primary put on the best possible usage of that infrastructure.
The European Union funds are a great incentive for entrepreneurs. Although they do not finance the whole investment, the additional payment – often in the form of 50 per cent – induces companies to spend a greater amount from their own means.
That new public infrastructure will be certainly used in the following years in order to support entrepreneurs and creating the potential of innovativeness. Among other things, we prepared a special program within Eastern Europe which is supposed to fill up the infrastructure with innovative entrepreneurs – explains Lublińska-Kasprzak.
The increased interest in investments is not only noticeable in the area of research and development. The companies need some new areas all the time. In 2014, the Agricultural Property Agency sold 25 per cent more areas in comparison to last year. Moreover, 128 thousand hectares were privatized which brought about over 2,3 billion zlotys to the Public Treasury. The level of sales this year is expected not to be lower than last year.
It may be a sign that Poland is going to experience a great investment boom. We sold jointly ca. 1500 hectares of investment areas in 2014. I think that the Agency is one of the biggest units on the market which has the greatest diversity and the most attractive investment areas – points out Leszek Świętochowski, chairman in the Agricultural Property Agency.
The increased interest in investment areas translates itself into higher prices which is a positive factor for the Agricultural Property Agency. The Agency sold the areas in the outskirts of Warsaw at the amount exceeding 100 zlotys per one sq. m.