Poland as the destination for Shared Services Centers

Poland as the destination for Shared Services Centers 41
Infrastructure
Cracow is a very important transport hub, offering a well-developed network of international
and national roads as well as railway and airline connections.
Roads International roads: E40 from Calais in France via Belgium, Germany,
Wrocław, Cracow to the Ukraine, Russia and Kazakhstan and E77 from
Hungary via Slovakia, Poland and the Baltic States to Russia
Railways Railway connections to 12 major Polish cities and many international
destinations, including Berlin, Hamburg, Vienna, Budapest, Bucharest,
Bratislava, Prague, Lvov, Kiev and Odessa
Airports John Paul II International Airport Kraków-Balice (11 km from the city);
no. of flights in 2008: 35,568; no. of passengers in 2008: 2,923,961;
regular flights to 2 domestic and over 40 international destinations
(including New York and Chicago) 24
Special Economic Zones Special Economic Zone - Kraków Technology Park
Real estate
Cracow enjoyed a housing boom in 2008, which resulted in a considerable increase in the
number of private accommodations available on the primary market. In mid-2008, the number
reached 6,620 and there are over 7,600 more currently being constructed. However, demand for
residential housing in Cracow is currently relatively low and many developers have decided to
lower prices.
Unlike the other major Polish cities, Cracow does not have a central business district and most
of its office stock is located outside the city center, mainly to the south and north-west. In
recent years the demand for office space in Cracow has been very strong for the most part due
to the undiminished interest of foreign investors in the city (many large international companies
are locating their service centers here). There are currently ca. 120,000 sq m of modern office
space under construction and developers potentially plan to provide as much as 600,000 sq m
in new projects. However, these figures were calculated before the effects of the global credit
crisis began to set in and therefore, they will probably need to be negatively revised.
Dwellings completed (2008) 6,621
Dwellings stock (end of 2008) 311,157
New apartments – average price per sq m (end of 2008) PLN 7,800 (approx. EUR 1,700)
Office space stock (end of 2008) 400,000 sq m
Vacancy rate (end of 2008) 2.8%
Office rental prices (per sq m) EUR 15-18
24 Source: Official website of the Kraków – Balice airport: www.krakowairport.pl
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