Kaisa Leiwo and Jari Rastas: Poland Provides Cooperation Opportunities for Companies in Southwest Finland

From the perspective of Southwest Finland, Poland is an interesting and dynamic economic region located on the southern side of the Baltic Sea, within easy reach thanks to good transport connections. Poland is a significant trade partner for Finland, ranking among the top ten countries in both exports and imports. The country has announced its ambition to become one of Finland’s top five foreign trade partners. Poland’s new ambassador, Tomasz Chlon, has pledged to actively promote commercial relations between the two countries.

Wizz Air has operated flights from Turku to Gdańsk since 2008, and from there, connections to other parts of Poland are excellent. Travel between the regions is therefore easy and convenient – it is faster to reach Gdańsk from Turku than to reach Helsinki. A project to open a direct sea freight connection between Turku and Gdynia is also well underway.

Currently, an estimated 300 Finnish companies operate in the Polish market. Of these, just under a hundred have production in Poland, and in total, more than 200 companies have a physical presence in the country. The number is growing, and interest from both sides is active.

Poland’s growing economy opens new opportunities for commercial cooperation with Southwest Finland. The GDP growth forecast of 3.4% is among the highest in the EU. Poland offers companies a central location within the EU internal market, flexible labor markets, and a well-educated workforce. Like other European countries, Poland aims to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels, which creates opportunities for Finnish companies leading the green transition. Business opportunities also exist in digitalization, industrial manufacturing, medical production and research, logistics, and the maritime sector – an area in which cooperation with Finland has long traditions. Poland ranks among the global leaders in many technical fields.

Poland Invests in Defense

Poland is a military power and a key NATO member that invests significantly in defense. Its defense spending already exceeds 4% of GDP. This opens new markets for companies in Southwest Finland. Poland’s armed forces are one of the largest in Europe. Poland is also a major customer and partner of Patria. Going forward, Poland has announced plans to triple the size of its armed forces, acquire a massive amount of new equipment, and strengthen and expand defense cooperation with Finland.

The country has also announced the construction of a 700–800 km long East Shield fortification line along the borders with Russian-controlled Kaliningrad and Belarus. The Suwałki Gap between Poland and Lithuania is considered one of NATO’s weakest points, as it is bordered by Belarus and Kaliningrad. In addition to fortifications, the border will be equipped with electronic surveillance systems such as listening devices, thermal cameras, signals intelligence, bridges, airports, and roads. This project also offers cooperation opportunities for companies in Southwest Finland, and related ongoing projects are worth following.

Rich Natural Resources Form the Basis of Manufacturing

Poland’s industrial foundation is built on rich natural resources: coal and natural gas for energy production, and sulfur, copper, silver, and lead as raw materials. More unique and abundant resources include salt and amber. The most significant industrial sectors are food, automotive, chemical, and machinery and equipment industries, along with state-of-the-art automation and information technology related to these sectors. The steel industry also holds a strong position. Coal production is slowly being phased out in a controlled manner in line with green transition goals.

Poland has a long tradition in manufacturing, and several Finnish companies – such as Patria – have relocated production there. Poland offers companies lower labor costs than Finland, especially in manufacturing, but also a well-educated workforce, a central location in Europe, modern infrastructure, and access to various subsidies and tax incentives. When planning operations in the Polish market, these factors should be considered, and it should be recognized that Poland is a large, competitive, and developed market. Due to its location, Poland also serves as a good hub for the Central European market.

Poland has a strong foundation in technical education and a young, internationally oriented workforce. This also offers opportunities for educational cooperation, internships, and joint training projects.

Agile Cooperation in a Rapidly Changing World

The world is changing rapidly, and companies must be able to respond flexibly. Finnish-Polish cooperation offers an opportunity to combine expertise, resources, and markets in a way that benefits both parties. There is also strong political will to support this.