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Business
Business Profile
| Traditionally, Cracow has been a busy trading city at the hub of north–south and east–west trade routes, but this suffered under the Communist regime. The enduring economic legacy of Communism remains in the state factories of the Nowa Huta (New Town) suburb to the east of the city. Although once meant to be model examples of the socialist industrial ideal, nowadays they are notoriously inefficient and the pollution that visibly belches out is a constant reminder of this, as well as a major concern.
The main industries in Cracow are metallurgy, tobacco and pharmaceutics but Cracow is only the fourth most important industrial city in Poland. In many ways, its saving grace has been the emergence of mass tourism, which now dominates much of the city’s economy and tourist-related service industries employ many of its workers. The dictates of tourism have also led to curbs on industrial pollution and a successful attempt to clean up much of the Old Town. Thousands of local people are employed either directly or indirectly in tourism – and many employed in this sector earn a lot more than the average Polish monthly wage, which is around US$50 in 2002. Other up-and-coming sectors include the financial and high-tech industries, helped no doubt by the city’s impressive brain trust – there are 15 universities and colleges here, with over 100,000 students.
Running at 18% (January 2002), unemployment is currently a major problem in Poland, as the global slowdown and austerity measures designed to ease Poland’s entry into the European Union have combined to put pressure on the embryonic capitalist economy. As long as tourism holds up, the city looks well placed to weather the storm. One massive project currently at the planning stage is a US$800 million development of a ‘New Town’ in the land around the Central Station, the first stage of which may be completed as early as 2005.
While most major business is done in Warsaw, global players with a presence in Cracow include PricewaterhouseCoopers, McDonalds and Hertz. The Cracow Chamber of Commerce and Industry, ulica Florianska 3 (tel: (012) 422 8907), can provide information on a range of business matters. Lingua Expert, Wszystkich Swietych 10/11 (tel: (012) 422 6038), is a reputable firm of translators who reputedly helped director Steven Spielberg when he was working in the area.
Business Etiquette
Letters of introduction are extremely useful for establishing contact with businesses in Poland, where practices are still quite formal. Meetings should be by appointment. Presentations should be thoroughly prepared and, at a minimum, the executive summary should be translated into Polish. Decisions are often by committee, so negotiations may be protracted and a deal cannot be confirmed until all parties have signed.
Until familiarity has been established, a person’s title and surname should be used in addressing them. Handshaking is customary and business cards (preferably translated) should be exchanged with all participants at a meeting. To make a good impression, the wearing of conservative business suits is recommended.
Breakfast meetings are rare, despite the fact that the business day begins early, but business lunches and dinners are popular (Poles love to stay up late, talking and drinking). The person who issues the invitation is generally the one who pays the bill. It is important for visitors to make sure that if giving a gift of flowers, there should always be an odd number.
Government offices are open 0830-1630. Traditionally, offices in major industries were open 0700-1500, but many are now adapting to more Western business hours (even 0830-1700). Some businesses may open on Saturday morning as well.
Business Services
Business Contacts: Izba Przemyslowo-Handlowa
(Chamber of Commerce and Industry)
ulica Florianska 3, 31-019 Cracow
Tel: (012) 422 1866. Fax: (012) 422 9138 or 5567.
E-mail: biuro@iph.krakow.pl
Website: www.iph.krakow.pl
British-Polish Chamber of Commerce (UK)
148 Leadenhall St, London EC3V 4QT
Tel: (020) 7591 0057. Fax: (020) 7645 8271.
Website: www.bpcc.org.pl
Polish-American Chamber of Commerce of the Southeast United States
Suite 3700, 1201 West Peachtree Street, Atlanta, GA 30309
Tel: (404) 870 4635. Fax: (404) 872 5547.
E-mail: pacc-atl@mindspring.com
Note: There is no national organisation, but the PACC will assist businesses from other US regions.
Trade Commissioner’s Office of the Republic of Poland in Canada
3501 Avenue du Musée, Montréal, Québec H4G 2C8
Tel: (514) 282 1732. Fax: (514) 282 1784.
E-mail: tradeoffice@poland-canada.org
Website: www.poland-canada.org
Polish Chamber Of Commerce (Australia)
198 Greenhill Road, Eastwood, Adelaide, SA 5063
Tel: (08) 8406 1669. Fax: (08) 8373 5793.
E-mail: citcsa@webmedia.com.au
Convention and meeting planners
Congress and Meetings Department, Orbis Travel
Rynek Glowny 41, 31-013 Cracow
Tel: (012) 422 4035. Fax: (012) 422 2885.
E-mail: incoming@orbis.travel.krakow.pl
Website: www.orbis.travel.krakow.pl
Congress Bureau Dexter
ulica Wroclawska 37a, 30-011 Cracow
Tel: (012) 634 0808 or 633 2656. Fax: (012) 633 6313.
E-mail: kongresy@dexter.com.pl
Website: www.dexter.com.pl
Symposium Cracoviensis
ulica Krupnicza 3, 31-123 Cracow
Tel: (012) 422 7600. Fax: (012) 421 3857.
E-mail: symposium@symposium.pl
Website: www.symposium.pl
Convention and meeting venues
Targi w Krakowie SA
ulica Gabrieli Zapolskiej 38, 30-126 Cracow
Tel: (012) 637 1601. Fax: (012) 638 6151.
E-mail: biuro@targi-w-krakowie.com.pl
Website: www.targi-w-krakowie.com.pl
Centrum Targowe – Chemobudowa-Krakow SA
(Chemobudowa-Cracow Trade Fair Centre)
ulica Klimeckiego 14, 30-706 Cracow
Tel: (012) 652 7800. Fax: (012) 652 7803.
E-mail: biuro@centrumtargowe.com.pl
Website: www.centrumtargowe.com.pl
Centrum Wystawowo-Konferencyjne, Zamek Krolewski na Wawelu
(Exhibition and Conference Centre at Wawel Royal Castle)
Wawel 9, 31-001 Cracow
Tel/Fax: (012) 421 7326.
E-mail: zamek@wawel.krakow.pl
Website: www.wawel.krakow.pl/cwk.htm
Four conference halls with audiovisual, business and catering services, situated in a prestigious late-nineteenth-century venue.
Translation service
Biuro Ttumarcy Profesionalnych Lingua Expert
plac Wszystlich Swiztych 10-11, 31-004 Cracow
Tel: (012) 421 0663. Fax: (021) 422 6038.
E-mail: alekptak@ceti.com.pl
Website: www.linguaexpert.pl
Unusual conference venue
Royal Salt Mine
Danilowicza 10, 32-020 Wieliczka
Tel: (012) 278 7312. Fax: (012) 278 7333 (reservations) or 7313 (marketing).
E-mail: turystyka@kopalnia.pl
Website: www.kopalnia.pl
Parts of the salt mine may be hired for receptions.
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