EBC Poland organizes the conference “Key to the business success – how to join forces and raise funds for business activity”.

European Business Club Poland organized a nationwide conference “Key to the success of business  –  how to join forces and raise funds for business activity” that was held on 27 June 2019. It was the first edition of the conferences entitled “Key to the success of business  “. The main partner of the event was the Industrial Development Agency JSC (Agencja Rozwoju Przemysłu S.A.). The event took place at the Olympic Center John Paul II in Warsaw and was hosted by the editor Krzysztof Skowroński.

The conference, that was created by the people of business, prominent practitioners and was dedicated to all entrepreneurs – attracted both entrepreneurs who are interested in the subject as well as a large group of representatives of marshal offices from whole Poland and representatives of the administration who presented various methods of obtaining domestic and EU funds by Polish companies.

Main Partner of the conference – the Industrial Development Agency JSC – was represented by: Cezariusz Lesisz, President of the Board; Paweł Kolczyński, Vice President of the Board; Konrad Trzonkowski, Managing Director.

The special guest of the event was Anna Gembicka, Undersecretary of State in the Ministry of Investment and Development, Government Plenipotentiary for Small and Medium Enterprises.

Our invitation was also accepted by Jarosław Stawiarski, Marshal of the Lubelskie Voivodeship; Marek Olbryś, Deputy Marshal of the Podlasie Voivodship; Andrzej Garlicki, Deputy President of Łomża, as well as representatives of the Marshal’s Office of the Śląskie, Świętokrzyskie, Małopolskie and Podkarpackie Voivodeships.

Janusz Cieślak, President of the European Business Club Poland, who has opened the conference and welcomed the guests, has also defined the objectives of the undertaking, which are the integration of the business environment around one of the most difficult challenges in running business – gaining financial resources and transferring knowledge, or sharing “know-how” by organizations that have been successful.

Janusz Cieślak, President of the European Business Club Poland

The next speaker was Cezariusz Lesisz, President of the Management Board of Industrial Development Agency JSC, who presented the Agency’s main activities and its achievements. Among the discussed projects was the ARP Investment Zone – a project addressed to entrepreneurs interested in investing in areas managed by ARP S.A. – special economic zones in Mielec and Tarnobrzeg, that were created on the base of a governmental project of the Polish Investment Zone; Technology Transfer Platform – a website through which registered users can inform each other about their innovative resources, needs, and search through the technologies and experts bases. The advantage of PTT, together with the rich and continuously updated information resources, is the intelligent system matching technology donors and its recipients; Network of Open Innovations – the aim of the project is to build a network of open innovations through actions that animate the transfer of technology between the innovative environment and the sector of micro, small and medium Polish enterprises. As part of the project, it is possible to refinance the purchase of intangible and legal property, the so-called WNiP in the form of patents, licenses, know-how and utility models; Capital-Accounting Agency JSC (Agencja Kapitałowo Rozliczeniowa S.A.) – AKR S.A is a financial and service institution with a broad business profile, with an offer for individual and institutional clients. A large spectrum of renowned, recognized on the market companies, that AKR SA cooperates with. It gives an opportunity to choose the best and most-tailored offer.

Cezariusz Lesisz, President of the Management Board of Industrial Development Agency JSC

One of the guest of the conference was also Ms. Anna Gembicka, Undersecretary of State in the Ministry of Investment and Development, Government Plenipotentiary for Small and Medium Enterprises, who presented a very comprehensive information on support for companies, that is provided by the ministry, among others loan and guarantee funds, support instruments under specific legal bases and programs of their functioning, as well as issues related to the Constitution for Business and the sustainable development program.

Anna Gembicka, Undersecretary of State in the Ministry of Investment and Development, Government Plenipotentiary for Small and Medium Enterprises

The next part of the conference included the following panels:

  1. “Presentation of ARP products addressed to entrepreneurs, including the SME sector”. The offer of the Entrepreneur Service Center was presented by: Paweł Kolczyński, Vice President of ARP S.A. and Konrad Trzonkowski, Managing Director of ARP S.A.
Paweł Kolczyński, Vice President of the Industrial Development Agency JSC
Konrad Trzonkowski, Managing Director of the Industrial Development Agency JSC
  1. “Support of export support and foreign cooperation”, that was presented by Wojciech Dzięgiel, Head of the International Cooperation Team ARP S.A.
Wojciech Dzięgiel, Head of the International Cooperation Team ARP S.A.

3. “Offer of the Industrial Development Agency JSC. Restructuring (Agencja Rozwoju Przemysłu S.A. Restrukturyzacje)”, presented by Radosław Świątek from the Capital Investment Office ARP S.A. (Biuro Inwestycji Kapitałowych ARP S.A.)

Radosław Świątek, Capital Investment Office ARP S.A.

4. “Presentation of products from the area of ​​innovation implementation” made by Kamila Bitner and Włodzimierz Pomierny, specialists from the ARP S.A.

Kamila Bitner and Włodzimierz Pomierny, specialists from the Industrial Development Agency JSC

5. “EU funds for enterprises – presentation of current and planned calls for proposals, advising on where to find locations of information on European funds”, presented by Hubert Komorowski and Jaroslaw Pawlak, experts from the Center for European Projects (Centrum Projektów Europejskich).

Hubert Komorowski, expert from the Center for European Projects
Jaroslaw Pawlak, experts from the Center for European Projects

The integral part of the conference were stands with information and advertising materials of  Industrial Development Agency JSC  – Main Partner and European Projects Center –  Conference Partner.

Partners of the event were also: WALKRYS Security Group, RAGUS Printing House and PINUS J and M. Smolarczyk.

Both in the opinion of the organizers of the event and, above all, the participants, the goal of the conference was fully achieved. The guests were provided with a very conrete and practical knowledge on how to raise funds for business operations: how, when and where. Participants expressed their interest in participating in the next conferences of the cycle entitled: “Key to the success of the enterprise”.

The Management Board of the European Business Club Poland would like to thank all guests and participants of the conference as well as give special thanks to the Main Partner of the Conference – the Industrial Development Agency JSC – and Partners: Centrum Projektów Europejskich, WALKRYS Security Group, Drukarnia RAGUS and PINUS J and M. Smolarczyk.

We would like to already invite entrepreneurs as well as representatives of other interested institutions and organizations for our next conferences, which will be announced on the website www.ekb.org.pl.

 

 

 

The 11th edition of the European Economic Congress in Katowice, May 13-15, 2019.

Over 12,5 thousand participants, 1000 speakers and 38 thematic sessions – the 11th edition of the European Economic Congress (EEC) has ended in Katowice. All thematic sessions were grouped into the following blocks:

  1. Main strands;
  2. Europe from scratch;
  3. Digitization and new technologies;
  4. Industry, investments, infrastructure;
  5. Energy and climate;
  6. Financial market;
  7. Transport, market, trade;
  8. Business, work, education;
  9. Cities, real estate, development;
  10. Other topics;
  11. Accompanying events – European Strat-up days.

There were both practitioners and representatives of economic departments among the speakers. The Polish government was represented by: Jarosław Gowin, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Science and Higher Education, Jadwiga Emilewicz, Minister of Entrepreneurship and Technology, Jerzy Kwieciński, Minister of Investment and Development and Krzysztof Tchórzewski, Minister of Energy. Lithuania was represented by: Žygimantas Vaičiūnas, Minister of Energy and Rokas Masiulis, Minister of Transport and Communication, from Slovakia – Iveta Radičová, Prime Minister of Slovakia in 2010-2012, Latvia – Tālis Linkaits, Minister of Transport. The European Economic and Social Committee was represented by President Luca Jahier.

The European Business Club Poland was represented by President Janusz Cieślak, who took part in the inaugural session and panels such as: “New Union – a young Union: European social challenges and healthy economy”, “Logistics between Europe and Asia”, “The future of EU relations and Great Britain “,” Generational change in business “,” International expansion of Polish companies “,” Poland-China economic cooperation forum “,” Europe, what’s next? Strategic challenges “,” 2050 Poland for Generations “,” Poland in Europe “,” Year of Business Constitution from the perspective of the SME sector “.

Information and promotion campaign of the Operational Programme ‘Fisheries and Sea’ for the years 2014–2020 (GOING AFTER FISHES 2014-2020) carried out by EKB Polska at the Olympic Center in Warsaw on April 11, 2019.

On April 11, 2019, at the Olympic Center in Warsaw, the European Business Club Poland inaugurated the Association’s celebration of the 15th anniversary of Poland’s accession to the European Union. The event consisted of two parts:

1.Meeting of entrepreneurs with the Vice-President of the European Parliament prof. Zdzisław Krasnodębski on the subject of “Poland’s position in the European Union: current state and perspectives” and with Undersecretary of State in the Ministry of Maritime Economy and Inland Navigation Grzegorz Witkowski on the subject of “Implementation of GOING AFTER FISHES 2014-2020 co-financed from the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund: objectives and benefits”. The meeting was held at the Sports and Tourism Museum located in the Olympic Center in Warsaw. We invite you to read the information about the meeting in the news.

Janusz Cieślak, President of the European Business Club Poland, prof. Zdzisław Krasnodębski, Vice-President of the European Parliament and Grzegorz Witkowski, Undersecretary of State in the Ministry of Maritime Economy and Inland Navigation

2.Conducting information and promotion campaign on the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund in the context of the possibility of obtaining support under GOING AFTER FISHES 2014-2020 at the Olympic Center, the Museum of Sport and Tourism and Galeria -1 at the Olympic Center.

The Polish information and promotion campaign carried out by the European Business Club covered, among others the following topics:

  • visible marking of the Olympic Center (foyer), Museum of Sport and Tourism and Gallery -1 with the logos of the Ministry of Maritime Economy and Inland Navigation as well as the European Union and GOING AFTER FISHES  2014-2020
  • organizing two stands presenting materials related to GOING AFTER FISHES 2014-2020, both operated by hostesses: in the foyer of the Olympic Center and the Museum of Sport and Tourism;
  • distribution of informational and promotional materials by hostesses at the Olympic Center in Warsaw;
  • a projection of the film on the subject of GOING AFTER FISHES  2014-2020 and logotypes of the Ministry of Maritime Economy and Inland Navigation as well as the European Union and GOING AFTER FISHES  2014-2020; on a multimedia screen located in the foyer of the Olympic Center prepared by the Association;

  • tasting of Polish fishes (including sturgeon, trout, herring, cod, pike) at Gallery-1 of the Olympic Center in Warsaw;

  • culinary show in the form of Live Cooking – 3 dishes (including herring tartare) combined with presenting information on GOING AFTER FISHES 2014-2020 along with free fishes tasting presented by 2 chefs in aprons with logos of GOING AFTER FISHES 2014-2020;
  • presentation of information materials on GOING AFTER FISHES 2014-2020 on an 80-inch screen in the Gallery – 1 during the tasting of Polish fishes and Live Cooking shows;

  • placing information and promotional materials on GOING AFTER FISHES 2014-2020 in the Association’s gift packages given to guests at the end of the event;

We are pleased to announce that the information and promotion campaign carried out by the Association has been met with great interest from the entrepreneurs. The guests were particularly interested in the issue of financing the restocking of Polish rivers and lakes.

We invite you to familiarize yourself with the Operational Program “Fisheries and Sea” for the years 2014–2020 (GOING AFTER FISHES 2014-2020).The program of financial support from the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund of the EU (EMFF) for Poland was approved by the European Commission by a decision from 22 October 2015. Poland was granted over 531 million euros, which together with the contribution from the national budget (about 179 million euros), it gives around 710 million euros. This means that our country is at the forefront of the countries that have received the most funds – this allocation is one of the four highest in the European Union.

Division of the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund for 2014-2020 among EU countries (million euros).The managing authority is the minister for fisheries.

The EMFF contributes to the implementation of the Europe 2020 strategy and to the implementation of the EU Common Fisheries Policy. It pursues the Union’s priorities for the sustainable development of fisheries and aquaculture and related activities.

Six Union Priorities (UP) and Technical Assistance are implemented under the GOING AFTER FISHES 2014-2020. Financial assistance has been directed at supporting both the traditionally understood fisheries sector (as was the case in the financial perspective 2007-2013) as well as the new components, previously financed from sources other than EU funds – such as: the fish market, control and enforcement, collection data and the Integrated Maritime Policy.

UP1: promoting environmentally sustainable, resource-efficient, innovative, competitive and knowledge-based fisheries

  • UP2: fostering environmentally sustainable, resource-efficient, innovative, competitive and knowledge-based aquaculture
  • UP3: implementation of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP)
  • UP4: increasing employment and territorial cohesion
  • UP5: fostering marketing and processing
  • UP6: implementation of the Integrated Maritime Policy (IMP)

UP1: promoting environmentally sustainable, resource-efficient, innovative, competitive and knowledge-based fisheries – the area of support under sea fishing includes, among others measures aimed at the sustainable exploitation of resources and increasing the profitability of fisheries sector entities, including the diversification of their activities and the diversification of income sources.

The general objective of Priority I is sustainable exploitation of resources and increasing the profitability of the fisheries sector. Under this objective, measures that will be implemented, are aimed at increasing the profitability of fisheries sector entities, including the diversification of activities and diversification of sources of income of fisheries entities. In addition, projects will be implemented while maintaining sustainable management of marine and inland water resources, as well as more efficient use of resources and the innovative use of discards and by-catches.

The emphasis will also be put on strengthening cooperation and links between science and the fisheries sector, using the environmental and social conditions of inland fishing to diversify its activities.

To a limited extent, the program of permanent and temporary cessation of fishing activities will be continued, which will primarily be an element of resource protection due to the fact of temporary imbalance between fishing capacity and available resources. Despite the reduction of fishing capacity by more than 40% (until the end of 2013) it is necessary to continue the program of temporary and permanent cessation of fishing activities due to, among others dynamic changes taking place in the share of Baltic Sea fish resources and fluctuations in the availability of fishing opportunities (catching limits). In addition, it should be noted that the majority of the Baltic fleet is inshore fishing and has no alternative fisheries to the Baltic Sea.

The comprehensive approach to resource protection will be complemented by the construction or installation of devices for the protection and development of aquatic fauna and flora or the dismantling of hydrotechnical devices to restore the continuity of fish migration routes (river fragmentation).

UP 2. Fostering environmentally sustainable, resource-efficient, innovative, competitive and knowledge-based aquaculture – in the aquaculture sector, support was provided to, among others, investment activities, purchase of consultancy services (of a technical, scientific, legal, environmental or economic nature) related to running a farm and insurance of aquaculture resources.

The general objective of Priority II is Poland’s achievement and maintenance of the leading position in the European Union in the production of fish from inland aquaculture (extensive and intensive).

This goal will be implemented through a number of activities, among which should be highlighted the strengthening of cooperation between breeders and the world of science for the needs of innovation and practical solutions in aquaculture farms and focus on the growth or maintenance of the level of entrepreneurship in the aquaculture sector (including encouraging the exchange of generational staff management in aquaculture enterprises, modernization and development of innovative aquaculture farms).

Pro-environmental measures that reduce the negative or increase the positive impact of aquaculture farms on the environment are another key aspect.

As part of sector-wide measures, support will cover operations aimed at increasing production, increasing the profitability of aquaculture entities and strengthening planning (spatial, water policy), with particular emphasis on aquaculture areas.

These activities will be supported by comprehensive funding in the field of:

-supporting sustainable aquaculture providing environmental services,

-supporting the transition of aquaculture (where appropriate) from a classical system to a recirculation (closed loop) system,

-developing or introducing new aquaculture species with already good market potential as an alternative to the dominant carp and trout,

-developing and introducing new or improved products, technological processes, management systems, technical, scientific and organizational knowledge in aquaculture farms,

-diversification of aquaculture activities (farming or supplementing existing operations).

There will be also attempts to carry out aquaculture of marine and euryhaline species (adapted for a wide spectrum of water salinity) with a high market value (e.g. turbot, salmonid fish, sturgeon, eel, zander) e.g. in land-based plants fed with seawater or usually brackish water geothermal.

UP 3. Supporting the implementation of the Common Fisheries Policy – measures implemented under this priority are aimed at increasing the efficiency of the fisheries control system and improving the process of collecting fisheries data for the implementation of the CFP.

The objective of priority III is to increase the efficiency of the fisheries control system and to streamline the process of collecting fisheries data for the implementation of the Common Fisheries Policy and ensuring 100% fulfillment of the obligation to provide all the necessary data for fisheries management.

This goal appeared as a response to the identified need for modernization of IT systems, including the local IT system and a more complete integration of the systems with fisheries administration databases.

In the bottom-up approach, program activities will focus on training fishermen on the objectives and objectives of the Common Fisheries Policy and its implementation, in particular on raising public awareness on the effects of illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and the application of the rules of the Common Fisheries Policy.

In the top-down approach, support will be directed to the administration responsible for control. It will also cover the modernization and purchase of control measures. It is also connected with the need to consolidate and improve the quality of tasks performed by control services.

Incorporating inland fisheries elements into control, enforcement and data collection will be a new component of data collection.

PU 4. “Increasing employment and territorial cohesion” is to serve the socio-economic development of fisheries and aquaculture areas. The overall objective of Priority IV is to develop fisheries and aquaculture areas by creating jobs and developing alternative sources of income for fishermen and other industries related to fisheries.

Activating the labor market will be very important in this area. Among them there will be the diversification of employment of people who already have work related to the fisheries sector. It will be done by creating additional jobs outside this sector, not related to the main fishing activity and by encouraging entrepreneurial thinking   in young people, e.g. setting up a business. To make this possible, it is planned to launch actions, that would stimulate entrepreneurship of young people as well as increase their participation in the labor market, which will help reduce migration of young and highly qualified people from these areas.

To stimulate the market for a greater demand for products and services produced by newly hired employees, there will be launched activities, that would promote and facilitate the entrepreneurship of local fishing communities, including creating or developing a product supply chain in the fisheries and aquaculture sector. Promotional activities will also include the promotion of local fish products as well as non-production values of fisheries and aquaculture areas.

Particularly, the emphasis will be put on supporting these projects, that are related to maintaining good environmental status in fisheries and aquaculture areas, as well as supporting bottom-up initiatives of Fisheries Local Action Groups and local public-private partnerships for the development of these areas.

PU 5. Supporting marketing and processing – the support area has been focused on activities aimed at increasing the competitiveness of the Polish fishery and aquaculture products processing sector.

The general objective of priority V is to increase the competitiveness of the Polish sector of processing fishery and aquaculture products.

Activities in this area will be focused on increasing fish consumption in Poland.

To make this possible, the support will cover activities focused on:

-better adaptation of the producers’ offer to market requirements,

-limiting the negative impact of fish processing on the environment,

-increasing consumer awareness of the origin and nutritional value of fisheries products,

-intensified marketing of fish products,

-launching new products,

-fuller and more efficient use of resources and raw materials through the use of innovative technologies and the use of waste and discards.

PU 6. Integrated Maritime Policy – under IMP, financial assistance will be directed to, among others, activities aimed at organizing an efficient maritime management system.

The general objective of Priority VI is to support the creation of a maritime management system and to achieve and maintain good ecological status of the marine environment, in particular biodiversity and marine protected areas.

The EMFF contributes to the implementation of the Europe 2020 strategy and to the implementation of the CFP. It pursues the following Union priorities for the sustainable development of fisheries and aquaculture and related activities that reflect the relevant thematic objectives pertaining to Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013:

1) promoting environmentally sustainable, resource efficient, innovative, competitive and knowledge-based fisheries by achieving the following specific objectives:

(a) reducing the impact of fisheries on the marine environment, including the avoidance and reduction, as far as possible, of unwanted catches;

(b) protection and restoration of aquatic ecosystems and their biodiversity;

(c) ensuring that there is a balance between fishing capacity and available fishing opportunities;

(d) improving the competitiveness and profitability of enterprises in the fisheries sector, including the small-scale fishing fleet, and improving safety and working conditions;

(e) supporting the strengthening of technological development and innovation, including energy efficiency and knowledge transfer;

(f) development of vocational training, development of new skills as well as lifelong learning;

2) supporting environmentally sustainable, resource-efficient, innovative, competitive and knowledge-based aquaculture by achieving the following specific objectives:

(a) supporting the strengthening of technological development, innovation and knowledge transfer;

(b) increasing the competitiveness and profitability of aquaculture enterprises, including improving safety and working conditions, in particular in SMEs;

(c) protecting and restoring aquatic biodiversity and supporting aquaculture-related ecosystems as well as promoting resource-efficient aquaculture;

(d) promoting aquaculture with a high level of environmental protection and a high level of animal health and welfare, as well as promotion of public health and safety;

(e) development of vocational training, development of new skills as well as lifelong learning;

3) supporting the implementation of the CFP by achieving the following specific objectives:

(a) improving and supplying scientific knowledge, and collecting and managing data;

(b) supporting monitoring, control and enforcement, enhancing institutional capacity and the efficiency of public administration, without increasing the administrative burden;

4) increasing employment and territorial cohesion by implementing the following specific objective: promoting economic growth, social inclusion and job creation, and supporting employability and labor mobility in coastal and inland communities, that are dependent on fisheries and aquaculture, including diversification of activities in fisheries, as well as towards other maritime sectors;

5) supporting of turnover and processing by achieving the following specific objectives:

(a) better organization of the market of fishery and aquaculture products;

(b) encouraging investment in the processing and marketing sector;

6) supporting the implementation of the Integrated Maritime Policy.

The Managing Authority delegated part of its tasks related to the implementation of GOING AFTER FISHES 2014-2020 to intermediate bodies (IB): the Agency for Restructuring and Modernization of Agriculture and Provincial Governments. The Agency for Restructuring and Modernization of Agriculture as IB implements the tasks in the scope of priorities I-III, V-VI and technical assistance. Its main tasks are to announce calls, consider applications for co-financing, sign contracts, as well as summon and pay assistance and control operations.

Provincial Governments on the other hand, implement the above-mentioned tasks within priority IV – under this priority, there have been selected 36 Fisheries Local Action Groups (RLGD), which carry out the call for applications.

The rules applicable to beneficiaries when applying for funding are announced e.g. on IB or RLGD websites. Announcements about the call for applications for co-financing for Priorities I-III and V-VI are posted on the website administered by the Agency for Restructuring and Modernization of Agriculture www.arimr.gov.pl and in its headquarters and regional branches as well as on the website of the office supporting the minister responsible for fisheries www.mgm.gov.pl, and for priority IV announcements of the call for applications for co-financing are posted on the website administered by the RLGD that is conducting the recruitment.

 

Operational Program ‘Fisheries and Sea’ for the years 2014–2020 (GOING AFTER FISHES 2014-2020)

Ministerstwo Gospodarki Morskiej i Żeglugi Śródlądowej

(Ministry of Maritime Economy and Inland Navigation)

Nowy Świat 6/12, 00-400 Warszawa

www.mgm.gov.pl