The Polish Prime Minister, Mateusz Morawiecki was the main guest at the second day of the annual economic 590 congress which promotes Polish economic patriotism and a “Poland First” attitude. In his speech, he underlined that Poland currently has the fastest growing economy in Europe and that this is due to a large degree on the fact that the level of quality of Polish products have caught up with the West.
The 590 Congress took place in Jasionka, near the city of Rzeszów. The congress touched on subjects like safety and the situation of the small companies. The most awaited moment of the second day of the Congress was Polish Prime Minister, Mateusz Morawiecki, who gave a speech in which he used the words from the Congress motto, that we finally use our economy’s potential. He also stressed that the Polish economy is headed in the right direction which is made visible by the fact the country has the most rapidly developing economy in Europe.
“The Polish economy rises its head. It’s getting more and more visible. I’m sure that the Elders remember the Polish People’s Republic period when foreign goods meant something superior, better quality. And today we’re starting to be happy with our own products. And we know that our own products mean better quality.” -Mateusz Morawiecki
Almost six thousand business people gathered for the congress which had 94 panel debates were scheduled. They topics discussed centered around new technologies, investments, energy and environmental policies as well as trade and export issues.
The third edition of the 590 Congress was opened by Polish president Andrzej Duda, who gave a speech and handed out awards to the best companies.
In his speech, the Polish President underlined that Polish business owners had a good year behind them in which they managed to increase their number of employees as well as the income of their companies. President Duda also stressed that Poland has a number of interesting megaprojects in the pipeline which will help to improve the economy over the coming years.
Many of them are being pursued under the auspice of the Three Seas Inititiative such as the vast freeway projects Via Carpatia (binding together Central Eastern Europe from Poland in the North to Greece in the south), Via Baltica (which will lead from Warsaw to Northern Estonia), the shipping channel through the Vistula Spit. Among the most important projects is the construction of the Central Communication Port, an airport in the vicinity of Warsaw which is intended to serve as a regional airport with capacity for 100 million passengers per year. It’s planned to become operational by 2027.
The President also spoke about the importance of expanding the gas pipeline network in Central Eastern Europe, making it possible to break free of the monopoly on energy supplies Russia currently holds over the region. Poland plans to expand the capacity of its liquified natural gas terminal in Świnoujście from 5 billion cubic metres per year 7.5 billion. A gas corridor will be created leading from Świnoujście to the island of Krk in Croatia where a liquified natural gas terminal is to be finished in the early 2020s.
The final point touched upon by the President in speech concerned special character of the Congress because of the occasion of the 100th anniversary of Polish independence.
According to Eurostat, the Polish economy is currently growing with a speed of 5,7% of GDP. The forecasts for 2019 and 2020 are well above 3%, ensuring that the business owners gathered at the 590 Congress have good reasons for remaining optimistic about the future of their companies.