Stronger Together: A conference of Ukrainian and Polish entrepreneurs, organized by PUIG and the Ukrainian Business Center, was held in Warsaw
The transformation of economic cooperation and business ties between Ukraine and Poland was discussed at a major conference held recently in Warsaw, attended by associations of Polish and Ukrainian entrepreneurs as well as government officials. The event, titled “City—A Space for Business—Warsaw,” was organized by the Polish-Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce in collaboration with the Ukrainian Business Center and other partners.
The conference brought together entrepreneurs looking to grow their companies, find new partners, exchange experiences, and open up new opportunities for cooperation between Poland and Ukraine. Read about the key insights from this event in this UA.News article.
The
Potential of Ukrainian Entrepreneurship in Poland
In Poland, approximately 100,000 Ukrainian entrepreneurs have started and are running their own businesses. At the same time, Ukrainians have bolstered and significantly strengthened the Polish labor market, which overall reinforces Poland’s economy. Jacek Piechota, president of the Polish-Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce (PUIG), emphasized this point in his speech. He is convinced that more should be said about the economic aspect of Polish-Ukrainian relations and real business cooperation.
“We are already doing business. Not only because we see the potential for Polish-Ukrainian cooperation, but also because we are already conducting joint business today,” the PUIG president emphasized.
Speaking about the importance of such joint Ukrainian-Polish events and their effectiveness, Jacek Piechota stressed: “We still have a lot ahead of us. That is why I want to reassure our Ukrainian friends once again: business stands with you. And especially the business of the Polish-Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce, because we are together every day and together we are building the strength of our joint organization. Let’s not allow ourselves to be divided. Let’s not allow ourselves to be divided—this is the most important message to all forces of evil.”
Dariuszym Szimczycha, First Vice President of the Polish-Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce, noted that in the difficult conditions caused by the war, Ukrainians have demonstrated their resourcefulness and hard work.
“This is not only a consequence of the changes brought about by the war, but above all the result of the hard work and entrepreneurship of our Ukrainian friends. And it is precisely this entrepreneurship that is one of the reasons for their success in Poland,” Shimchikha noted. In his view, it is important now to speak not only of aid to Ukraine but also of its future within the European community.
Vasyl Bodnar, Ukraine’s
ambassador to Poland, thanked Poland for its support and for the opportunities Ukrainians have received to develop their businesses. He emphasized that Ukraine is fighting and working to keep its economy functioning and that “without Poland’s support, this would be very difficult.” At the same time, Bodnar is convinced that the business ties and cooperation established can serve as the foundation for Ukraine’s future reconstruction.
“This is important because today it is, to a certain extent, an investment in cooperation, and tomorrow it will pay off in the form of cooperation in Ukraine, because after the war, Ukraine will need to be rebuilt,” emphasized the Ukrainian Ambassador to Poland.
Mariusz Frankowski,
Governor of the Mazovia Voivodeship, emphasized that business ties, joint investments, and business projects bring both sides together.
“Entrepreneurship and economic activity know no borders. A good idea, capital, technology, or professional expertise bring both sides together and strengthen them,” Frankowski stated.
Grzegorz Kaczorowski, Director of the Economic Development Department of the City of Warsaw, spoke about the contribution of Ukrainian citizens and companies to Poland’s GDP growth. He also discussed support programs for entrepreneurs operating in Warsaw. Such initiatives benefit both startups and large companies. The main focus of these programs is on fostering innovation.
“Innovation is one of those things that simply must develop faster now if we want Warsaw, Poland, and Europe to remain competitive in the global market,” Kaczorowski explained.
Practical Assistance for Entrepreneurs
The conference also addressed the challenges faced by Ukrainian entrepreneurs new to Poland. They can receive specific assistance, in particular, through the Nano Business Lab program—a joint initiative of the Polish-Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and the International Rescue Committee Poland. The program provides free one-on-one consultations for small business owners.
When starting their own businesses, Ukrainians face a wide range of issues, from finding a market niche to taxes and business development, notes Kateryna Litvinova, director of the Ukrainian Business Center. She emphasizes that it is important for entrepreneurs to first analyze the economic viability of the business idea itself, as well as the specifics of the local market.
“Because this is the Polish market, where there are different customers, different competition, different customer acquisition costs, and different consumer habits. Sometimes a person who has already lived here, learned the language, and understands the market adjusts their approach, tweaks the product a bit—and things start to work out for them,” Kateryna Litvinova shares her insights.
A number of experts spoke
at the conference, sharing useful information on various topics, ranging from communications to legal issues. Among the speakers were:
Viktor Chikhon—director of Agencja Rozwoju Przemysłu S.A., Melec branch.
Ivan Osadchiy—co-founder and president of the Polish-Ukrainian innovation company Knopka, Fundacja Fundusz Współpracy.
Babken Khanzadyan — Legal Counsel and Managing Partner at the law firm Khanzadyan Lewandowski i Partnerzy sp. p.
Marta Leman — Senior Specialist in the Communications and Marketing Department, Polska Agencja Rozwoju Przedsiębiorczości.
Adrian Penkowski — Director of Sustainable Finance Development at Bank Ochrony Środowiska.
Shared Business Space
As part of the “City—A Space for Business—Warsaw” conference, there were themed zones where attendees could talk with experts and receive consultations. An exhibition area featuring presentation booths from Polish and Ukrainian companies was set up. There were also themed networking zones tailored to the participants’ profiles and business needs, where attendees could learn about the practical experiences of Ukrainian brands expanding into the Polish market and establish valuable contacts for future partnerships.
