Traditionally, Krakow 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 Krakow 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 Krakow 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.

 

 

 

TAK-Credit Management provide outsourced Credit Control Services and Debt Recovery 

TAK-Credit Management provide outsourced Credit Control and Debt Recovery services to help improve your cashflow.  TAK either assist, or become your credit control department to get your invoices paid more quickly, reduce bad debt, and improve your customer relations.  TAK can work with all sizes of business and have a proven track record of improving cashflow. “TAK has made a huge impact on our ledger and their service proves far less expensive and more reliable than employing new staff.  I wish I’d found them years ago.”  James Metcalfe, Director, Status IT

 

Website: www.tak-outsourcing.com

 

Poland Mortgages

Poland Mortgage Solutions is an independent mortgage broker specializing in helping foreign investors obtain mortgages in Poland, based in Krakow. Poland Mortgage Solutions is regulated by Polish Financial Services Authority.

Poland Mortgage Solutions helps clients in:

• getting a mortgage for an apartment or a house in Poland, without any broker fees, by finding the most suitable mortgage offer and helping you get through the application process.
• finding a more competitive mortgage if they want to refinance your property.
  
• signing mortgage agreements
  
• arranging extracts from the land and mortgage registry.
  

Benefits:

• you don't have to come to Poland to search for mortgage offers
• you receive a quick feedback whether it's possible for you to get a mortgage
  
• you don't have to concern about the mortgage application because they manage it for you
  
• as they are based in Krakow, Poland they have a better insight for mortgage offers
  
• they offer professional customer service in English
  

 

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/

 

148 Leadenhall St, London EC3V 4QT

Tel: (020) 7591 0057. Fax: (020) 7645 8271.

Website: www.bpcc.org.pl/

 

3501 Avenue du Musée, Montréal, Québec H4G 2C8

Tel:                 (514...        . Fax: (514) 282 1784.

E-mail: tradeoffice@poland-canada.org

Website: www.poland-canada.org/

 

198 Greenhill Road, Eastwood, Adelaide, SA 5063

Tel: (08) 8406 1669. Fax: (08) 8373 5793.

E-mail: citcsa@webmedia.com.au

 

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/

 

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/

 

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.

 

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.