The Polish economy, which in the 1990s just emerging from the shadow of communism, it has now reached a trillion dollar value. Years of dynamic development have made domestic enterprises more and more bold to push abroad.
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Record-breaking acquisitions of Polish companies
Bloomberg data shows that last year, Polish companies announced 22 acquisitions in Western Europe, nine of which concerned Germany, which is a record result. Another four transactions are being completed this year
The acquisitions cover sectors such as automotive, IT and food production.
The expansion of Polish companies is the result of the country's growing economic potential, which has attracted billions of euros in foreign investment since joining the European Union in 2004. Germany, the largest investor in Poland, has invested PLN 265 billion over the last two decades.
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However, the difference in living standards between Poland and Germany is systematically decreasing – German GDP per capita is now twice as high as Poland's, while in 2004 it was four times higher.
Poland as an investor
The Polish Economic Institute indicates that Poland is moving from being an emerging market to the role of an active foreign investor.
“As Poland approaches the status of a developed economy, we see a reversal of the trend – from a country attracting investments, we are becoming a country that invests itself,” explains Dominik Kopiński, senior advisor to the institute.
An example of this is InPost, which, after difficult beginnings in Great Britain, changed its strategy and began to take over local logistics operators in Western Europe.
Today, its parcel lockers are present in many countries, and the company is valued at EUR 7.8 billion.
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“Building a company from scratch in new markets is difficult. Taking over local competitors is a much easier way to expand,” admits Rafał Brzoska, president of InPost.
The changing business landscape
The growing number of takeovers is also the result of a change in the approach of Polish entrepreneurs. Companies that previously tried to conquer foreign markets on their own are now focusing on taking over established brands. An example is Adamed Pharma, which recently took over Sanofi plants in Spain, planning to expand into Latin American markets.
However, the dynamic development of the Polish economy brings challenges. The increase in wages and the development of artificial intelligence may affect the competitiveness of the services sector, which has been one of the pillars of Polish economic success for years.
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Additionally, political tensions and the slowdown in foreign investments in Poland may affect further development. The Polish economy, which was recently considered emerging, today successfully competes with the largest players in Europe. Thanks to the determination of entrepreneurs and favorable economic conditions, Poland is increasingly becoming an investor, not just an investment recipient.
