The 9th edition of the Warsaw Economic Hub annual meeting at Novotel Warszawa Centrum brought together about 300 experts, business leaders and other influential figures who discussed Poland’s status as the strongest EU economy in this part of Europe, which makes the country the natural interactive economic hub of the region. Poland draws investment and provides businesses with access to new markets, cutting-edge logistics and advanced business services.

The speakers at the event included: Jerzy Kwieciński, Secretary of State in the Ministry of Economic Development, Paweł Borys, president of the Polish Development Fund, Marek Czerski, president of KUKE, Paweł Nierada, first vice-president of BGK bank, Tomasz Pisula, president of foreign investment agency PAIiIZ/Invest in Poland, Guenter Verheugen, former EU commissioner responsible for EU enlargement, Gilles Clavie, president of Orbis S.A., and many more key business players in Poland.

The past decade has seen Poland’s economy expand at an average rate of 3.8 percent a year, making it one of the fastest growing economies in the European Union. However, economists have identified certain flaws in Poland’s economic system and factors that prevent Poland from becoming one of the most developed countries in Europe and beyond. The Warsaw Economic Hub conference looked at how Poland could overcome these obstacles and unlock new development potential as one of the EU’s largest economies.

Hence this year the conference motto was: New Potential for Growth. The Polish Economy in Europe and the Wider World Today and 10 Years from Now.

During the all-day meeting business leaders, economic experts and politicians focused on many crucial issues such as:

– Poland as the leading economy in the CEE region. How can its growth be further stimulated? The strengths and drivers of the Polish economy and the country’s Plan for Responsible Development.
– High time that Polish businesses embraced innovation and expanded more vigorously abroad. In what areas can Poland become a strong player in the near future? What kind of support can Polish enterprises expect to receive from the government and the Polish Development Fund?
– The economic security of Poland and its region amid major changes taking place in Europe and elsewhere.
– Poland’s energy security.
– Poland’s financial security.

Another important topic taken up at the conference was: The meetings industry as a “dark horse” of the Polish economy with a potential to boost GDP growth at a low cost. Speakers, who discussed the issue included Jerzy Kwieciński, secretary of state in the Ministry of Economic Development, Dawid Lasek, undersecretary of state in the Ministry of Sport and Tourism, Ireneusz Węgłowski, vicepresident of Orbis S.A., Luc Gesvret, Sales, Distribution, Marketing and Loyalty for Eastern Europe, Russia, Georgia, Ukraine and CIS, Accor Hotels.

As in previous years, the annual Warsaw Economic Hub conference was hosted by The Warsaw Voice magazine and The New York Times newspaper.