5th Anniversary of the Scandinavian-Polish Chamber of Commerce

X. Norwegian Business ForumXI. Norwegian companies in PolandNorwegian companies in PolandThe history behindThe Norwegian Business Forum (NBF) was establishedin the early nineties as an informal organisationintegrating and supporting companies withNorwegian share capital operating on the Polishmarket, companies co-operating with Norway andindividuals directly engaged or interested in the Polish-Norwegian economic and cultural co-operation.Since March 2004 the NBF has been an integratedNational Section of the Scandinavian-Polish Chamberof Commerce (SPCC).The NBF can conduct informational, educational andpublishing activities and can co-operate with similarassociations, institutions and organisations in Polandand abroad.Our activities:The activity of the NBF takes the form of regularquarterly meetings, which are a great occasionfor those managing the Norwegian companies inPoland to meet, establish new business contact aswell as to share their experiences.There are around 150 companies in Poland thatare more than 50% owned by Norwegian parentcompanies. In addition there are a number of Polishcompanies with Norwegian owner shares less than50%, and also a large number of Polish partnerscooperating with Norwegian companies doingbusiness in Poland.Most Norwegian companies in Poland operate withinthe manufacturing, wholesale trade, retail trade,transportation, finance and service sectors. The mostimportant areas are aluminium, chemicals, vehiclewill gradually result in more Norwegian activitiesin Poland.The biggest obstacles for Norwegian companiesinterested in the Polish market are:• Language,• Differences in business culture,• Strong competition in the market,• Most of the Norwegian companies are small,• Polish bureaucracy.But there are also chances for Norwegian companiesin Poland:Our Purpose:• To promote Polish-Norwegian economicand cultural co-operation.• To integrate the management of the companieswith Norwegian share capital and theMembership in the Norwegian Business ForumSPCC members registered in the Norwegian Sectionare automatically members of the NBF. Today thebiggest Norwegian companies operating in Polandare also members of the NBF: Statoil Polska, Yaraparts, trailers, fish, vegetables, gasoline servicestations, clothing stores, air traffic, hotels, banks andconsulting services. In the future we will also seeincreased cooperation between Norway and Polandwithin tourism, the environment and defence.• Find a good Polish partner to representthe company,• Long-term approach to the market,• Niches in the market,• Norway has a good reputation in Poland.management of companies co-operating withNorway in order to exchange their experiences.• To organise training according to the needsof the members.• To conduct social and charitable activities.Poland, Selvaag Polska, Fibra Polska (ScandinavianTextile Group), Rieber Foods Polska.H.E. Enok Nygaard, Ambassador of Norway to Poland,is an Honorary Member of the NBF.Trade between Norway and Poland has tripled since2004 when Poland became a member of the EU,and with that, also a part of the European EconomicArea (EEA). The numbers of tourists between our twocountries is also growing fast, and that has lead toNorway and Poland can benefit in cooperationin many ways. Based on Norwegian salmon andherring an important fish-processing industry inPoland has been established. This year there has alsobeen initiated a fruitful and promising cooperationcloser cooperation between tourist destinations andbetween the Polish defence market and Norwegiantour operators in Norway and Poland.suppliers. Another example is Norway’s knowledgein renewable energy and environmental technology,Norwegian companies want to do business in Polandwhich are also interesting to Poland. The Norwegianfor many reasons:EEA-grants also make it possible to establish a closer• Low cost production not far away from Norway,relationship between our two countries.• Access to well qualified workers and specialists,• Increasing purchasing power among Poles makesBased on the aforementioned prospects, thePoland a big, growing market,forecast for the next few years are optimistic, with• Central location in Europe.a growing cooperation between Norwegian andPolish companies and organisations.In the future, all the factors mentioned above will stillbe important. Over the last few years a large numberVidar Segtnanof Poles have been working in Norway. This has leadCommercial Counselorto closer relations between our two countries, andRoyal Norwegian Embassy, WarsawPhoto: Izabela StaniszewskiPhoto: Izabela Staniszewski185th Anniversary of the Scandinavian-Polish Chamber of Commerce5th Anniversary of the Scandinavian-Polish Chamber of Commerce 19