Krakow is currently inhabited by approximately 760 thousand permanent residents, but every year it is also becomes a home to several thousand or more people that live here temporarily, mainly students. Krakow is the second largest city in Poland. It is not only an administrative center of the Małopolskie Voivodship, but also an intra-regional scientific and economic center - a valuable partner for its investors. The city is the corporate seat of international banks, associations supporting business activities and chambers of commerce (among others the British-Polish Chamber of Commerce, the American Chamber of Commerce, the Krakow Merchant Congregation.) Its position is confirmed by its high credit credibility ratings.
The economic significance of Krakow is reinforced by the demographic potential of the region - approximately 8 million people live within a 100 km radius of the city. This constitutes an accessible potential market. An additional advantage is the fact that 60% of the inhabitants of our city are people under age 45.
Krakow in the heart of Europe
An unquestionable advantage of Krakow is its convenient geographic location, on the crossroads of important transportation routes. Transportation accessibility of the city is being constantly improved by the executed infrastructural investments. Fast, convenient train connections with Warsaw (2.5 hours with the express train) and other major and minor cities and an international airport with numerous domestic, European, and Pan-European connections are all very significant to the efficient conducting of business. It takes approximately 25 minutes to get to the airport by car, and thanks to the recently activated train connection, it is possible to get there in just around 12 minutes.
The geographic proximity of the developing markets of the Ukraine or Russia creates a range of options connected with the export and import of goods to these markets and vice versa - from the East to all European countries, as well as countries outside Europe.
People are our potential
Krakow is a resilient scientific center. The number of universities, students, and the diversity of studies constitute an important measure of its scientific potential. The intellectual potential of Krakow is created by 25 universities, nearly 20 thousand academic lecturers (including approximately 1 800 professors) and 210 thousand students. Krakow has a plentiful group of highly skilled personnel in all modern sectors of the economy and it attracts investors that represent various industries. Krakow is the seat of two of the largest Internet portals - ONET and INTERIA, as well as providers of many network services. The most dynamic Polish IT company - COMARCH SA. was established right here in Krakow.
Our students not only have versatile educational background, but they also have a good command of foreign languages. Among others, the European College operates in Krakow. It consists of: the International Private Primary School, Private Secondary School (with a license offer classes that prepare one for the international matriculation exam - the International Baccalaureate) and the European Private Junior High School. Moreover, high schools have classes with two languages, where the education of selected subjects is conducted in a foreign language.
Besides the numerous language schools in Krakow, there are also organizations aiming at the promotion of the culture of other countries, learning the language or promotion of their cultural heritage (for instance the Spanish, Italian, Austrian institutes or the Manggha Center of Japanese Art and Technology.) Good relations of the Municipal Office with these organizations can facilitate the recruitment of people for investors, who among others, speak languages of the countries of Central and Eastern Europe.
City of a modern economy
Numerous scientific and research facilities operating for the purpose of meeting the needs of the modern industry, as well as implemented investments and qualified man-power, are all advantages thanks to which Krakow is perceived as an appropriate place to conduct investment and economic activity. The city's development strategy favors cooperation from the widest spectrum of entities, institutions and environments revolved around local (on the city, neighboring communes and region level) pro-investment initiatives, including promotional efforts. The special economic zone operating in our city which offers a range of investment incentives is one of the significant determinants of Krakow's investment attractiveness (www.sse.krakow.pl)
Additional conference facilities are constantly being developed, allowing the organization of all types of meetings, congresses, and symposiums. A special congress office was established, with the main objective of promoting the city as an interesting place for business meetings, congresses and conferences, as well as motivational events.
Krakow after hours
The magic of the city is created by a unique combination of architecture, art and culture (over 25% of Polish works of art are collected in Krakow.) Thanks to this heritage, in 2000 the city was honored with the title of the European Capital of Culture. Today, Krakow - a former capital city of Poland - is one of the most important cultural and tourist centers of the country. It is a seat of many cultural institutions, theatres, cinemas, museums, and philharmonics, which make the cultural life of the inhabitants and about 7 millions of tourists, visiting our city every year even more pleasant. Nowhere in Poland is there such a rich offer of cultural and artistic events - there are over 40 festivals taking place in Krakow every year, among others the Jewish Culture Festival, Tirennale of Graphics, the Sacrum Profanum Festival and the International Short Films Festival. Annually, there are over 2500 performances and concerts taking place here. Krakow is an exceptional place, which like a magnet, attracts people dealing with culture and art, drawing their inspiration from the atmosphere and rich past of the city; among others the poet and Nobel prize winner Wisława Szymborska, the composer - Krzysztof Penderecki, the director - Andrzej Wajda, the painter, graphic artist and stage designer - Jerzy Nowosielski calls Krakow home, together with many more famous and appreciated artists.
There are many green areas in Krakow used for recreation and sports, including the Botanical Garden of the Jagiellonian University or the Zoo in Lasek Wolski - a forest complex which is a traditional refuge for its residents.
An extensive and constantly expanded recreational base (skating rinks, swimming pools, including the Aqua Park, tennis courts, and a systematically expanded network of bicycle paths) and other facilities encourage going out for sports and spending free time in the open air.
Welcome to Krakow
Today, in the age of a free flow of capital, Krakow became an attractive place to locate numerous investments. Attractive land, extensive real estate offers, complete with the developed business services sector and scientific and research background, are just some of the arguments in favor of Krakow as a place to invest.
Welcome to Krakow - a city where tradition harmoniously blends with modernity. Where care for age-old heritage is accompanied by the development of modern technologies and creative invention of the inhabitants and people that work here, and the extensive offer of spending free time and genius loci of Krakow make it a fine city to live and work in.
Others are already here. See why they chose Krakow.
We became convinced that Krakow is thee location mainly because of its attractive location, scientific potential and well-prepared and qualified staff. The support granted to us by the City of Krakow on the individual stages of our project was also very important.
Vittorio Cavirani, co-shareholder and Operational Director of Elettric 80
Source: Official press release issued by the company, June 2007
In the case of the Krakow-based Delphi center, except the many important criteria which the investor usually takes into consideration when making key decisions, the main criterion was the recruitment of top personnel. Today, we no longer have to prove that it was worth relocating our research and development works to Poland.
Marek Adamiak, President of Delphi in Poland
Source: www.paiz.pl
Exemplary cooperation with the local authorities, access to qualified employees and constantly improving infrastructure convinced us that Poland is an attractive partner in the implementation of large projects.
Hans Straberg, General Director of Electrolux AB
Source: PAIiIZ, August 2006
The scope of operations performed by the financial and accounting centers of Shell requires a positioning in environments that are resourceful as far as education, knowledge of foreign languages and mobile personnel is concerned. Investing in Krakow implies an implementation of these assumptions.
Pierre-Yves Fargeas, President of Shell Polska
Source: PAIiIZ, 13th of April 2006
We see an objective in opening similar centers in places where there is an opportunity to employ top specialists in their fields. Krakow is such location.
Artur Waliszewski, Director of Google Polska, about the opening of the research and development center in Krakow
Source: Gazeta Wyborcza, 23rd of November 2006
We chose Krakow because of the multiplicity of talents and resourcefulness of knowledge, which the city can offer.
Kristof Kloeckner, Vice-President of IBM Software Group
At the ceremony inaugurating the operations of their company in Krakow (7th of December 2005)
Establishment of the Central European accounting system is an interesting employment opportunity for ambitious young, well-educated people who are not afraid of challenges, which there are plenty of in a city like Krakow.
Dariusz Procyk, Director of Ahold Back Office Services
Source: Rzeczpospolita, 6th of July 2005
