Agriculture, food industry, organic food, biotechnologies, aviation, logistics - over 100 participants at the meeting tried to define Lublin's business profile, and the diversity of their answers proves the city's great potential. Mariusz Sagan, Director of the Strategy and Investor Service Department and co-author of the strategy Lublin 2020, argued that in 10 years at most, Lublin will be in the first league of investment locations in Poland, next to Krakow and Wrocław. Why? Because the city effectively and consistently builds a business ecosystem, overcoming investment barriers and skillfully using local resources. This is also emphasized by experts, who believe that Lublin is the second fastest-developing city in Poland.
Director Sagan emphasized that the city's role is to support local businesses actively. He recalled that Lublin is the only city in Poland with "academicism" embedded in its strategy and history. The discussions during the conference "How Lublin inspires business" show that human capital is the region's future. The challenge facing the city authorities is to retain the best graduates.
"A few years ago, we established the Lublin IT Upland because we defined this sector as key to the development of the local economy" - said Director Mariusz Sagan. “The support we provide to companies operating in this industry and to universities, and even junior high and primary schools, to promote this field of study brings outstanding results. Currently, 90% of IT graduates stay in Lublin," added Mariusz Sagan, Director of the Strategy and Investor Service Department of the Lublin City Hall. This example proves that the Lublin authorities know how to manage local resources and support strategic areas of the economy.
Another example is the city's involvement in creating a modern aviation industry ecosystem in Poland. Last year, the Lublin City Hall, the Marshal's Office of the Lublin Voivodeship, and PZL-Świdnik established the Lublin Cluster of Modern Aviation Technologies. Krzysztof Krystowski, President, PZL-Świdnik, emphasized that the high-tech industry related to the defense, aviation, and space sector significantly increases critical economic indicators. He reminded us that only 5 European countries produce helicopters, including Poland, so it is worth using our resources to build a competitive advantage internationally. Let us remind you that since 2010, the owner of PZL Świdnik is the Italian-British company that designs and produces helicopters, AgustaWestland.
Economist and financial market analyst Marek Zuber, a big city supporter, emphasized that the city needs more foreign investors. While the city authorities are actively working to support local entrepreneurs, they should also place greater emphasis on convincing international players. Paweł Poncyljusz, vice president of the management board of the AVIO group, suggested that the most credible people for the business community are other entrepreneurs, not representatives of the administration. Building and promoting case studies in cooperation with investors already in Lublin should be essential to B2B communication.
Another area defined as a challenge during the conference is road infrastructure. The meeting participants unanimously stated that only completing the S17 expressway, i.e., connecting Lublin to the European road network, will allow the city to spread its wings fully. The city authorities assured that this would happen within the next three years.
During the conversation about completing infrastructure investments in the region, eastern neighbors were brought up. Current events in Ukraine have led to increased interest of local investors in areas in the Lublin region and, as Tadeusz Buczek from the Department of Economy and Innovation of the Marshal's Office admitted at the conference, talks with several potential companies considering moving their business to Lublin and the surrounding area are already underway. In turn, the representative of the logistics company Raben, Andrzej Siess, noted that the crisis in Ukraine would end sooner or later, naturally making Lublin a transit city to the eastern part of Europe.
Conference participants repeatedly emphasized that Lublin is associated with development. This is reflected in the increase in regional investments, including hotel investments. It should not be forgotten that Lublin is an attractive city for tourists and a place of many business events related to developing industries in the town. Despite the considerable hotel base, there is still space and even a need to create new accommodation places.
"Until now, hotels in Lublin were the domain of local investors," - said Adam Konieczny, Country Head Poland, Christie + Co.
“Now it's time for hotel chains, such as Hilton, which is very interested in opening its hotel in the city.” "I think that after today's conference, no one has any doubts that it is worth thinking about Lublin in the context of business investments," - said Artur Szymczyk, Deputy President for Investments and Development.
"Taking into account the outstanding quality of life, local human potential, our positive attitude towards entrepreneurs, and the fact that we will abolish the communication barrier within three years, Lublin will be among the leading Polish business destinations"