US-Polish IT Forum

Special guest Rita Cosby, a television news anchor and correspondent will share her thoughts and views on Poland and its spectacular changes in recent years. Keynote speaker Jacek S. Levernes, Hewlett-Packard Executive Management Board Member Europe, Middle East, Africa (EMEA), Vice-President of HP Global Business Services EMEA, President of Association of Business Service Leaders (ABSL), will present a comprehensive overlook on latest development it Polish economy with focus on the IT and business services Sectors and the US - Polish business partnership. Meet also many other experts from leading US and Polish technology companies to learn about market trends, opportunities to partner with strong Polish companies and experiences companies have made.

Poland is the only country in the European Union to register positive economic growth (of 1.7%) during the crisis in 2009.  Since then Poland has been the fastest growing economy over the last 4 years across all the region, significantly outpacing all other European counter partners. At this moment the country has become a vital logistic, services and manufacturing hub for many European companies. With the EURO 2012 Soccer Championship around the corner Poland is rapidly modernizing its transport and technology infrastructure thus becoming the largest construction site in Europe.

Among many thriving parts of the economy, the IT and business services sectors are specially successful.  In the last Harvard Business Review (2011) ranking of investment attractiveness, Poland ranked 5th in the world. The report notes that Poland could still climb in the rankings if its government implements its market-oriented reforms. Will Poland be able to seize this opportunity and sustain its economic growth and high level of foreign investment?

According to the FTSE Group (2010), Poland is one of the leading "advanced emerging markets" in the world. Foreign investments, especially in the business and IT services sector, are a key factor in the development of the country. The global recession did not exert a negative influence on Poland, which investors liked and rewarded.  As The Economist stated: "economic growth and a strong, stable government to boot: time to rethink old notions about Poland."

According to the Association of Business Service Leaders (ABSL) Report "Business services sector in Poland - 2012", almost one-third of all service centers with foreign capital in Poland are American investments, we are talking about 10\'s of thousands of specialists working in Poland for companies like HP, IBM, McKinsey, Google, Thomson Reuters,..... "Poland is often at the top of the short-list of foreign investors, who look to setup a European service hub for their business and IT operations. It\'s not only about finance & accounting or basic IT support, but truly about highly advanced, innovative services and decision support provided often in up to over 20 languages to top global and American corporations by experts from Poland" - says Jacek Levernes.

 

The Polish business services sector started to develop approximately 10 years ago mainly in the fields of accounting and finance, IT, HR and R&D.  Favorable investment climate, highly qualified human resources and stable economic growth based on a clean, green and socially responsible long-term development platform, combined with geographical and cultural proximity to major European markets, make Poland a  destination for sustainable global projects.  Just ask Intel, HP, Siemens, IBM , Google, WNS, or Motorola. Home grown companies are also starting to expand in this and other fields, both nationally and more and more internationally. Many agree that Poland\'s is THE place, and the time is NOW.

Guests are welcome to attend any part of the networking meeting. The number of admissions is limited, therefore, please RSVP in advance by sending an email to events@manhattancc.org or by calling 212-473-7875.

Venue:
De Lamar Mansion
The Consulate General of Poland in New York
233 Madison Avenue (at 37th Street), NY

Organizers:
The Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in New York and the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce

Official Partners:
Association of Business Service Leaders (ABSL),New York Grant Company, European-American Chamber of Commerce

US Polish IT Forum Agenda