Bydgoszcz – a city with a history spanning more than 650 years and which prides itself in its considerable demographic potential, its culture and sports; a city which provides a range of functions of supra-regional and national significance, especially in administration, manufacturing, trade, finance, sports, science and culture. Bydgoszcz is not only the administrative capital of the Kujawsko-Pomorskie Voivodeship, but also the largest city in the region with a population of more than 360,000 inhabitants – the eight largest Polish city in terms of population. The investment attractiveness of Bydgoszcz has been confirmed by a range
of awards and honorable commendations, to mention just a few: Fair Play Gmina
– Certificated Investment Location – a title awarded in a competition organised by the Democracy and Private Enterprise Research Institute; the title of The Best City
of District Status, „HIT” title in 2006 for the high quality service provided to the city residents based on certified management systems. The City Hall of Bydgoszcz
is a holder of the Integrated Management System Certificate confirming to the requirements of the following standards: PN-EN ISO 9001:2001, PN-N-18000:2004, PN-EN ISO 14001:2005, PN-I-07799-2:2005 and BS 15000. Yet another proof of the city’s sound and economical management is its high credit ratings assigned by rating agencies. In 2008, Bydgoszcz was evaluated at BBB, Stable Perspective. The city’s economic potential places Bydgoszcz among significant Polish economic centres. The local economy is founded mainly on the following industries: chemical, industrial and machinery components, electronics, wood and food. Among the largest companies operating in Bydgoszcz are ‘Zachem’ JSC Chemical Works, Alcatel-Lucent Polska Ltd., Jutrzenka JSC, PESA Bydgoszcz JSC, Projprzem JSC, Drozapol-Profil JSC, Neupack Polska Ltd, Bydgoskie Fabryki Mebli JSC,
MAKRUM JSC, Wojskowe Zakłady Lotnicze Nr 2 JSC, Tyco Electronics Poland Ltd. The city is more attractive due to the advanced professional qualifications and quality education of the inhabitants. The proportion of residents with a completed higher education is 13.9%, compared to 9.9% for Poland (data acc. to the National Census (NSP) 2002). Another advantage which investors may find attractive is the high economic activity of Bydgoszcz people. Individual entrepreneurships is best reflected in the number of businesses per 1,000 citizens, which is as high as 123.3.
A factor that considerably influences the city’s economy is the preference
of companies with foreign capital participation (509 entities in September 2008). Next asset of Bydgoszcz is the number of business environment organisations and institutions within the city, which support entrepreneurship and serve as business associations. Here we can mention a well-developed banking sector and the market of finance, insurance, real estate and business services as well as trade fair organisations, chambers of commerce and industry and economic associations. Development of the local economy is also stimulated by thriving local schools
of higher education, attended by almost 44,000 students (the largest ones include: Kazimierz Wielki University – 14,600 students; University of Technology and Life Sciences with 9,300 students; University of Economy with 6,800 students). Local schools of higher education train the human resources necessary for the regional economy: engineers, economists, teachers, doctors and musicians, not to mention many other experts. The city is an important centre on the Polish transport map. Bydgoszcz
is an intersection for four national roads (No. 5, 10, 25 and 80) and three railway routes (Silesia-Gdynia, Warsaw-Szczecin, Wrocław-Gdynia). It is observed a growing importance of Bydgoszcz airport (located approx. 3.5 km from the city centre), which has international airport status (www.plb.pl). The airport handles regular flights
to London, Liverpool, Dublin, Berlin, Vienna, Dusseldorf, Copenhagen, Warsaw, Krakow, Poznan and Lodz and negotiations are underway to start new international air links. Additionally, Bydgoszcz offers a perfect connection with the countrywide inland waterway system via Poland\\\'s unique water junction connecting the Rivers
of the Vistula and Odra and being, at the same time, a central location along the waterway between Berlin and Kaliningrad. The Bydgoszcz Water Junction (BWW) consists of the Vistula and Brda Rivers, Bydgoszcz Canal and the Old Bydgoszcz Canal. An important role in the city economy is played by Bydgoszcz Industrial Park, one
of the youngest, but also one of the biggest in Poland. Located in the heart
of Poland, it offers almost 282 hectares of land ready for investment
in manufacturing and service sectors. The Park can be found in the south-eastem part of the city, close to national roads Nos. 5, 10 and 25 and the airport. Additionally, Bydgoszcz Industrial Park is connected with the rest of the country
via its own railway station "Bydgoszcz-Emilianowo" located on the route Silesia-Porty. Owing to its very good facilities, convenient location in the vicinity of major transport routes, availability of skilled labour and diversified investment opportunities, the Park is on attractive place for business activity. At the moment,
the Park accommodates more than 30 companies of various industries (www.bpp.bydgoszcz.pl). Bydgoszcz focuses on innovation too. At the University of Technology and Life Sciences the Regional lnnovation Centre is currently being established. The centre
is to create a state-of-the-art system for distributing information on innovations
for the entire Kujawy and Pomorze Region as well as provide for networking
and strengthening the bonds between the academic community and the SME sector. Moreover, the city is a seat of two clusters: Bydgoszcz Industrial Cluster (www.klaster.bydgoszcz.pl), where we find, among others, chemical industry companies from the plastic sector and the tool sector, and Kujawy and Pomorze Research and Industry Cluster. |
