Lower Silesian business is moving into the world. Million-dollar contracts are underway and more are announced

Almost PLN 28 million in signed contracts and open doors to the most important markets in the world. The local government of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship proves that local business can play in a global league. The next edition of the “Going Global” program is just starting, thanks to which small and medium-sized companies will appear at events that have previously been unavailable to them.

Global expansion is still a logistical and financial challenge for many Polish entrepreneurs. A trip to a prestigious fair on the other side of the world, organizing a stand and establishing relationships with foreign partners are costs that can effectively block development. The answer to this problem is the economy of scale, which has been successfully used by the local government of Lower Silesia for nine years; collecting and then taking Lower Silesian business to global business salons.

Economies of scale in practice: from trust to million-dollar contracts

The Bankier.pl editorial team had the opportunity to observe this process closely. We were with Polish entrepreneurs, including: at the giant COMPUTEX technology fair in Taipei. As Cyryl Kozaczewski, director of the Polish Office in Taiwan, noted in a conversation with us, foreign giants are increasingly looking for innovations from creative, smaller players from Europe.

– Polish companies are increasingly perceived as a source of innovative solutions that interest not only partners from Taiwan, but also from the USA and other parts of the world – emphasized Kozaczewski, adding that in Asian culture – and in global business in general – it is crucial to build trust during direct meetings at large industry events.

The Lower Silesian program provides exactly such a platform for building trust. As the local government points out, this is not just about a one-off promotion.

– Our goal is not only to present Lower Silesian products internationally. First of all, we want to build a safe ecosystem for the development of the regional economy, develop new supply chains and strengthen existing ones – explains Michał Rado, deputy marshal of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship.

The triQube Business Incubator in Wrocław summarized the fourth edition of this project and immediately announced the next one, and the previous numbers already say a lot:

• 28 international economic missions organized in less than two years.

• 134 companies from Lower Silesia (over 290 participants) that presented themselves, among others: in Tokyo, Osaka, Dubai, San Francisco and Madrid.

• 201 signed contracts with a total value of nearly PLN 28 million.

• The prospect of further contracts is estimated at over PLN 113 million (nearly 70 percent of participants declare advanced negotiations with partners).

Michał Rado: We have nothing to be ashamed of

The region's authorities do not hide the fact that they treat support for the internationalization of local businesses as an investment with a high rate of return for the entire regional economy.

– Lower Silesian companies really have nothing to be ashamed of. Our entrepreneurs are creative, brave and full of innovative ideas, with which they increasingly boldly enter global markets – emphasizes Michał Rado, deputy marshal of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship.

– As a local government, we want to create the best possible conditions for their safe and dynamic development. One of such forms of support is the Going Global program, thanks to which entrepreneurs can participate in international industry fairs, present their products, establish new business contacts and, as a result, sign new contracts. We are already starting the next edition of the project – we are opening new directions of cooperation and simplifying procedures so that entrepreneurs can focus on what is most important: building the international success of Lower Silesian companies. Because their success also means the development and strong future of our entire region.

Going Global 5.0, i.e. New York, Shanghai, Dubai

Less than three months after the end of the previous edition, the local government announces the launch of Going Global 5.0. In the new version of the program, support will be provided to 157 local entrepreneurs.

– We listen to the voice of entrepreneurs and respond to their needs. We are not slowing down – emphasizes Paweł Gancarz, Marshal of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship.

In the new version, 157 local entrepreneurs are to receive support. The plan includes 13 foreign economic missions. Entrepreneurs from Lower Silesia will present their innovations and products on markets including: In:

• North America: New York, Miami, Vancouver, Toronto;

• Asia: Shanghai, Dubai, Taipei, Bangkok;

• Europe: Paris, Bologna, Berlin, Lisbon, London.

Marshal Paweł Gancarz announced that in addition to already proven markets, the region is opening up to completely new directions, and the recruitment procedures themselves will be simplified as much as possible. The project is financed from European Funds and from the own funds of the Lower Silesian local government, and any entrepreneur who is ready to “go out into the world” can apply to participate in the next edition.

As our reports from Taiwan have shown, Polish entrepreneurs have technology and know-how. When the local government takes on the logistics and organizational costs, the entry barrier disappears and “Made in Poland” has a chance to become a desirable brand on global markets.

Alexander Ogrodnik

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