Poland is the third biggest country in Central & Eastern Europe in terms of population (around 40 million) and the second largest in terms of GDP (US 189.3 billion at the end of 2002). Key plastic markets are expanding: around 360,000 new cars were sold in 2003 and in January-March 2004 a total of 27,695 homes were completed. The use of packaging is around 50 of that found in the old EU states, and is expanding with a current estimated value of US 3 billion.

This conference was designed for companies wanting to do business with Poland. Papers at this event discussed the legal aspects, markets, culture and local funding and provided a discussion forum for potential investors, importers and exporters, together with Polish industry representatives and market experts.

List of Papers
SESSION 1: DOING BUSINESS
Paper 1 - Economic overview/EU Accession
Adrian Grycuk, Polish Information & Foreign Investment Agency, Poland
Paper 2 - Business culture
Martin Oxley, British Polish Chamber of Commerce, Poland
Paper 3 - External funding
Malgorzata Swiderska, Ministry of Economy and Labour, Poland
Paper 4 - Outsourcing/representation
Colin Marson, Lisergy Consulting, UK
Paper 5 - Mergers and acquisitions (market entry strategies)
Marcin Krakowiak & Piotr Andrzejczak, DZP (Warsaw), Poland
Paper 6 - Legal considerations/labour law
Boguslaw Kaplon, DZP (Warsaw), Poland
Paper 7 - Typical tax issues at mergers & acquisitions, and investments
Anna Strzelecka & Katarzyna Knapik, Ernst & Young (Krakow), Poland

SESSION 2: PLASTICS INDUSTRY OVERVIEWS
Paper 8 - The Polish pharmaceutical and medical device market
Richard Lucas, PMR Limited, Poland
Paper 9 - Plastics processing in Poland
Dr Tadeusz Nowicki, Ergis Group/ Polish Plastics Process Association, Poland
Paper 10 - Extrusion
Dr inz. Joachin Stasiek, Institute for Plastics Processing - Metalchem, Poland
Paper 11 - Tooling and injection moulding
Prof Marek Szostak & Dr inz. Przemyslaw Postawa, Czestochowa University of Technology, Poland
Paper 12 - Polymer research and development in Poland - Current status and perspectives
Prof Krzysztof Piellchowski, University of Cracow, Poland
Paper 13 - Polymer materials and additives in Poland
Dr Tomasz Zielnski, Industrial Chemistry Research Institute, Poland & Janusz Zielinski, Warsaw University of Technology, Poland

SESSION 3: MAIN MARKET SECTORS
Paper 14 - Investment opportunities for plastics converters in Poland
Wido Waelput, Basell Orlen Polyolefins, Poland & Adrian Grycuk, Polish Information and Foreign Investment Agency, Poland
Paper 15 - Automotive
Mgr inz. Jozef Jasnosz, Zakady Azotowe W Tarnowie-Mocicach SA, Poland
Paper 16 - Electrical
Jakub Sieminski, Telefonika Kable, Poland