Special Economic Zone

60 Pages·2014·2.8 MB·English

KPMG IN POLAND
20 years of
Special Economic
Zones in Poland
A Guide to SEZs
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Contents
1 Foreword 5
2 Introduction 7
3 Poland as an investment destination 9
3.1 Why Poland? 9
3.2 Sources of support for entrepreneurs 11
4 Special economic zones in Poland 15
4.1 What are special economic zones? 15
4.2 Legal acts regulating the operation of SEZs in Poland 16
5 Incentives and exemptions for investors in special economic zones 19
5.1 Income tax exemption 19
5.2 Eligible expenditures of a new SEZ investment 21
5.3 Real estate tax exemption 21
5.4 Obtaining a SEZ permit 21
6 Profles of special economic zones operating in Poland 23
6.1 Kamienna Góra Special Economic Zone for Medium Business 24
6.2 Katowice Special Economic Zone 26
6.3 Kostrzyń-Słubice Special Economic Zone 28
6.4 Legnica Special Economic Zone 30
6.5 Łódź Special Economic Zone 32
6.6 Pomeranian Special Economic Zone 34
6.7 Słupsk Special Economic Zone 36
6.8 Special Economic Zone Euro-Park Mielec 38
6.9 Kraków Technology Park Special Economic Zone 40
6.10 „Starachowice” Special Economic Zone 42
6.11 Suwałki Special Economic Zone 44
6.12 Tarnobrzeg Special Economic Zone 46
6.13 Wałbrzych Special Economic Zone 48
6.14 Warmia-Mazury Special Economic Zone 50
7 20 years of Special Economic Zones in Poland 53
8 Methodology 57
© 2014 KPMG Sp. z o.o. is a Polish limited liability company and a member frm of the KPMG network of independent
member frms affliated with International Cooperative (‘KPMG International’), a Swiss entity. All rights reserved.
4 | 20 Years of Special Economic Zones in Poland
A Guide to SEZs
Billions of złotys, thousands of jobs,
Polish and foreign capital operating
hand in hand – this is the result
of two decades of special economic
zones in Poland.
© 2014 KPMG Sp. z o.o. is a Polish limited liability company and a member frm of the KPMG network of independent
member frms affliated with International Cooperative (‘KPMG International’), a Swiss entity. All rights reserved.
20 Years of Special Economic Zones in Poland | 5
A Guide to SEZs
1 Foreword
‘20 years of SEZs’ Concentration of companies operating in closely related sectors
became a natural starting point for business clusters. Many
Special Economic Zones: Putting the wind in the sails
SEZs have developed a specialisation in specifc industries.
The Legnica and Katowice SEZs have a prevailing component
It was with great pleasure that I welcomed the initiative to from the automotive industry, the Mielec SEZ houses the
prepare a new guide to special economic zones in Poland. I am Aviation Valley, and the Pomeranian SEZ hosts an ICT cluster.
convinced that the guide drawn up by KPMG will prove to be a In turn, the Wałbrzych SEZ is a preferred choice for producers of
useful source of information for investors looking to commence household appliances whereas the furniture sector is growing
business activity within a SEZ. in the Warmia-Mazury Special Economic Zone.
Nearly two decades ago Poland embarked on the path to Science & technology parks are becoming an important
democratic transformation, opening its doors to foreign element in the Polish business landscape. Operating at the
capital and offering opportunities to Polish entrepreneurs interface of business and research, they are instrumental in
as well. Exactly 20 years ago the Parliament adopted the act diffusing state-of-the-art technologies, supporting growth
establishing special economic zones. Soon afterwards, this and creating new jobs. Collaboration between a science
turned out to be a highly effective tool to support Polish and & technology park and a SEZ refects a natural symbiosis
foreign investments. between their actors.
Today, we know that special economic zones have evolved into Last year, the Polish government took a quantum leap in its
an instrument which helps to boost the appeal of regions as efforts to address the needs of the business community, and
investment destinations. This, in turn, translates into economic extended the zones’ period of operation by another six years,
recovery and reduced unemployment. After two decades of until 2026. Today, we are about to see an amended version of
SEZs in Poland we can say that they have become a fywheel the act on special economic zones. Experts assert that the new
of change and modernisation for the country’s economy. provisions will most likely attract new projects and boost the
appeal of Polish regions further.
While many associate SEZs with large multinational
corporations, in reality the majority of their investors are small Billions of złotys, thousands of jobs, Polish and foreign capital
and medium companies. Contrary to stereotypes, Polish operating hand in hand – this is the result of two decades of
entrepreneurs really thrive in SEZs. Nearly 20% of the capital special economic zones in Poland. We are about to commence
invested in the zones in 2013 originated from Poland, 15% the new 2014-2020 Multiannual Financial Framework in the EU,
from Germany and 12% from the USA. Therefore, special where Poland has received a sizeable sum of EUR 82.5 billion.
economic zones are not simply a place where companies get Let us make the most of this opportunity!
tax exemptions and foreign players receive incentives, but they
are also an excellent way to support local businesses.
Sławomir Majman
President of the Polish Information
and Foreign Investment Agency
© 2014 KPMG Sp. z o.o. is a Polish limited liability company and a member frm of the KPMG network of independent
member frms affliated with International Cooperative (‘KPMG International’), a Swiss entity. All rights reserved.
6 | 20 Years of Special Economic Zones in Poland
A Guide to SEZs
© 2014 KPMG Sp. z o.o. is a Polish limited liability company and a member frm of the KPMG network of independent
member frms affliated with International Cooperative (‘KPMG International’), a Swiss entity. All rights reserved.
20 Years of Special Economic Zones in Poland | 7
A Guide to SEZs
2 Introduction
This year will mark 20 years since the adoption of the Act on Special Economic
Zones (SEZs) in Poland. Under conditions of global competition, the zones remain
one of the key tools for boosting Poland’s appeal and ensuring the further growth of
our economy. Towards the end of 2013 the total value of capital invested in all the
14 SEZs in Poland reached PLN 93.1 billion, and by the end of 2014 it may exceed
PLN 100 billion. According to the forecasts of SEZ management board members the
number of jobs within special economic zones will exceed 287 thousand by the end
of this year. It is important to remember that those fgures do not include indirect
effects that fall beyond offcial statistics.
The importance of SEZs is indicated by many factors, including the second
extension of their period of operation which took place last year. This time,
the extension was by 6 years. Undoubtedly, this will attract more entrepreneurs
wishing to take advantage of the preferential terms of business offered by special
economic zones in Poland.
This guide has been prepared for companies which consider investing in a SEZ.
Apart from a description of available incentives and reliefs it contains essential
information on each of the 14 zones operating in Poland. Moreover, this guide
presents the results of a survey conducted among investors operating within SEZs.
Survey participants provided a general assessment of their respective zones and
rated specifc aspects such as accessibility of workforce, the quality of infrastructure
as well as assistance and extra services offered to investors by the management of
the SEZs.
We do hope that the information contained in this guide will help investors to select
those zones which will provide optimal conditions for their investments.
We extend our thanks to the Polish Ministry of Economy, the Polish Information and
Foreign Investment Agency, the boards of all the 14 SEZ and investors who took part
in our survey.
Paweł Barański Kiejstut Żagun
Director Director
KPMG in Poland KPMG in Poland
© 2014 KPMG Sp. z o.o. is a Polish limited liability company and a member frm of the KPMG network of independent
member frms affliated with International Cooperative (‘KPMG International’), a Swiss entity. All rights reserved.
8 | 20 Years of Special Economic Zones in Poland
A Guide to SEZs
© 2014 KPMG Sp. z o.o. is a Polish limited liability company and a member frm of the KPMG network of independent
member frms affliated with International Cooperative (‘KPMG International’), a Swiss entity. All rights reserved.
20 Years of Special Economic Zones in Poland | 9
A Guide to SEZs
3 Poland as an
investment destination
3.1 Why Poland?
Poland continues to be one of the most
attractive investment destinations in Another advantage of Poland is its
Europe. Dynamic economic growth, central location in Europe, at the cross-
a well-educated workforce, numerous roads of transcontinental transport
investment incentives and its routes. The proximity of the largest
location in the heart of Europe attract EU economies (notably Germany)
companies from around the world and easy access to markets located
and turn Poland into a country which beyond the eastern borders of the EU
is perceived as a worthwhile business are particularly important for investors
destination. who open their production facilities
with exports in mind. They can take
advantage of an increasingly modern
infrastructure of roads, railways, airports
and harbours, dynamically expanding in
Poland’s population of over 38 million recent years.
people represents an attractive market,
still not saturated in many segments of
products and services. Fast growth of
purchasing power and, consequently,
of household consumption, offers Investors from around the world are also
excellent prospects to many industries. attracted by Poland’s young and well-
Importantly, recent years have proven educated workforce and competitive
that the success of Poland’s economy labour costs. Each year, the number
is based on stable and sustainable of university graduates reaches nearly
foundations. Poland is the only EU half a million. Young Poles outperform
member state which showed economic their peers from many other European
growth year after year during the most countries in terms of foreign language
recent international economic crisis. skills. The high competences of Polish
Forecasts for the coming years are also workforce are demonstrated, for
optimistic. According to the European instance, by the fact that international
Commission, GDP growth in Poland will companies have gone beyond opening
reach 3.0% in 2014 and 2.8% in 2015, manufacturing plants and increasingly
which will be one of the best results locate their R&D centres and shared
across the entire EU. services centres here.
© 2014 KPMG Sp. z o.o. is a Polish limited liability company and a member frm of the KPMG network of independent
member frms affliated with International Cooperative (‘KPMG International’), a Swiss entity. All rights reserved.
10 | 20 Years of Special Economic Zones in Poland
A Guide to SEZs
Political stability and full integration with Poland has a number of specialised Poland’s appeal is also confrmed by
the EU ensure safe operating conditions government agencies which provide rankings that present the best business
for investors. Another factor that boosts active support to investors at all stages and investment destinations. According
Poland’s appeal is the availability of of the investment process. For instance, to the UNCTAD report entitled ‘World
European funding and other investment they help to establish contacts with Investment Prospect Survey (2013-
incentives under which entrepreneurs potential business partners, advise when 2015)’ Poland is the third choice in the
may, for instance, receive grants for choosing the best location for a new EU and the frst choice in Central and
the creation of new jobs or for research investment and provide legal advice Eastern Europe (CEE) for multinational
and development activities. The friendly or information about available sources corporations choosing their investment
investment climate also stems from of state aid. Agencies responsible for destinations. In Bloomberg’s ‘Best
government policies focused on creating comprehensive investor services include Countries for Business 2014’ ranking,
conducive conditions for business and the Ministry of Economy, the Polish Poland holds the frst position among
promoting foreign investors as important Information and Foreign Investment CEE countries and takes the 26th
partners on the path towards a modern Agency (PAIiIZ), the network of position worldwide.
economy. The central government Regional Investor Assistance Centres,
as well as local governments actively the National Centre for Research and
collaborate with investors in order to Development (NCBR), the Polish Agency
modernise and expand various sectors of for Enterprise Development (PARP)
the economy, notably the manufacturing and numerous other institutions at
industry (incl. high tech), transport, IT the central and local level. Support for
and environment-related sectors. investors also comes through a wide
network of industry and trade chambers
which represent enterprises from
specifc industries or – in the case of
bilateral chambers – countries.
© 2014 KPMG Sp. z o.o. is a Polish limited liability company and a member frm of the KPMG network of independent
member frms affliated with International Cooperative (‘KPMG International’), a Swiss entity. All rights reserved.