Business Forum addresses commercial relations between the US and Poland

The theme Entrepreneurship and Innovation in the Context of US-Poland Trade and Investment Relations provided the focus of the general session and various breakout sessions, which were MC-ed by Charles Komosa, National Secretary of the Polish National Alliance. Adam Szejnfeld, Secretary of State in Poland’s Ministry of Economy, the keynote speaker, addressed the conference on “The Economic Priorities for the Current Polish Government and Their Impact on Polish American Economic Relations.” Other sessions presented export promotion strategies and instruments, issues of Polish and American market access as well as an overview of Polish American commercial relations. The attendees also had an opportunity to become familiar with a variety of distinct regions in Poland and met with a record number of Marshals (provincial governors) at one gathering in Chicago, including Adam Jarubas from Swietokrzyskie; Marian Ormaniec from Slaskie (Silesia); Jozef Sebesta from Opolskie; and Krzysztof Szymanski from Lubuskie. The Lodz Voivodeship was represented as well by Special Economic Zone President Marek Cieslak and Agnieszka Sobieszek, Director.

“Many attendees of this year’s Forum sought information on trade, partnership and investment opportunities in Poland, an attractive gateway now both to the EU, of which Poland is a full-fledged member, and to eastern Europe. We’re very pleased that the Economic Department of the Consulate General of Poland in Chicago was among the strongest supporters of the event,” says PACC executive director Bogdan Pukszta. Notable corporate sponsors included Safe Hire Consulting; Star-Tech Glass, Inc.; HT Central Development; Fuksa, Bucaro & Khorshid, LLC; Polish National Alliance; and Bank of America. Organizational co-sponsors included the Polish American Contractor Builders Association (PACBA), Paderewski Association, the International Trade Club of Chicago, and World Trade Center Illinois.

The Department of Trade and Investment at the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Washington DC, was an institutional sponsor as well, and deemed the Forum important with regard to the development of Polish-American trade and economic relations. Minister/Counselor Zbigniew Kubacki, head of the Department, was in attendance and addressed the gathering during the general session.

“As the host organization of the Forum, the PACC intended to make a significant contribution to helping identify new markets and new opportunities, with special emphasis on capitalizing on the Illinois-Poland partnership,” said PACC president Henry Kazmierczak. “We are confident that the high caliber of presenters, their inspiring and thought provoking presentations, and the enthusiastic response we’ve heard, coupled with sponsor assistance and participation, bode well for the future of our Chamber and its mission to provide maximum opportunities and networking for member companies and colleagues in the Polish and Polish American business community,” added Kazmierczak.

The finale of the event was Business After the Forum gathering at the Seneca for attendees to revisit the issues presented during the day, and to cement new relationships.

---

As the voice of Polish American business men and women, the PACC is dedicated to serving their best interests through education on current trends and facilitating commercial contacts. The organization is at the forefront at encouraging and promoting domestic and foreign trade to benefit its members, and to contribute to the expansion and integration of the Polish and Polish American business communities in the U.S. and abroad.