Membership Benefits

MESSAGE FROM THE IRISH AMBASSADOR TO POLAND

Dear friends

Welcome to the Irish Chamber of Commerce in Poland.

As Ambassador of Ireland, it is a privilege for me to be honorary patron of this Chamber. From my own previous experience of working with Irish business people in Europe, Asia and the USA, I have found that Irish enterprises abroad have much to gain from members of business support structures such as the ICC.

In 2010, Poland is growing more and more to be a land of opportunity for Irish business. Some predict it is on the cusp of a boom. Certainly, it is a consistently growing country, and is making a significant investment in modernising infrastructure throughout the country. Indeed, Premier Tusk has described the country as the largest building site in Europe. Irish businesses have started to achieve success in these activities, with a number of significant contracts secured in 2010. Moreover, Poland has a population nine times the size of Ireland, and income levels are rising steadily, making it a tempting market for companies with competitively priced niche products and services. Merchandise trade has grown radically, particularly since Poland joined the EU in May 2004. Foreign direct investment from Irish businesses since the early 1990s has made Ireland the 14th largest foreign investor in Poland, according to the Polish foreign investment agency. Finally, Ireland's open labour market for Polish workers has profoundly changed the relationship between our states and our populations, and Polish people returning to their homeland can be a real asset to Irish companies active in Poland.

Poland offers opportunities for Irish business to succeed abroad. The Irish Chamber of Commerce was formed to help people achieve that success. It is an independent, non-profit organization that promotes and develops Irish-Polish trade and investment with a mission to promote the development of Irish-Polish business relations. The Chamber's members have in many cases accumulated years of local experience and can assist each other, and newcomers, with informal or other advice and guidance about the market. The Chamber works closely with the Embassy and with Enterprise Ireland to achieve the shared mission of assisting Irish companies active on the Polish market. The Chamber organises regular social and business networking events.

Any Irish, Polish or international company or individual is welcome to join. If you would like to find out more about the Chamber or join us, let us know.

I encourage all Irish businesses either already in Poland or interested in Poland, to join the Chamber. Likewise, I extend an invitation to Polish companies interested in doing business with Irish companies and Ireland to join us.

I look forward to meeting you in person soon at an ICC event.

Yours sincerely

Ambassador to Poland
Eugene Hutchinson