U.S. Ambassador to Poland Paul Jones opened the 2nd SelectUSA Conference in Warsaw on April 4th, 2018. More than 90 investors already doing business in or looking at opening businesses in the United States attended this conference, which was co-organized by the U.S. Embassy Commercial Section and the Polish Agency for International Trade and Investment.
Experts from U.S. companies spoke on the opportunities available for investment in the United States, the legal and financial aspects of investment in the United States and how the U.S. government at the Federal, State and local levels are ready to assist investors through a variety of services and potential incentives. Key expert partners include: the U.S. law firms Dentons and MillerCanfield, PwC, CitiHandlowy, and the Council of American States in Europe (CASE).
In his opening remarks, the Ambassador noted that President Trump is committed to strengthening public and private sector economic relationships that will stimulate economic growth, provide jobs in the United States and help the economies of both countries grow.
“The United States is the world’s number one destination for foreign direct investment for the fifth year in a row,” he said. “The United States attracts foreign capital because of its large internal consumer market, friendly business environment, rule of law, innovative and productive workforce and local support for business development to help companies grow.”
Many Polish companies recognize that success in the U.S. market can help drive success globally. Polish companies are already succeeding in the United States. Inglot sells its cosmetics in Macy’s department stores throughout the United States and in stand-alone stores in New York, Miami and Washington, DC. Furniture maker Vox, doing business as Voekel in the United States, has opened a business office in Winston- Salem, NC and is in the process of opening retail showrooms in major U.S. cities. Other Polish companies, such as Makrochem, a leading supplier of carbon black to the rubber and tire industry, has followed its customers to the United States, investing $7.5 million in South Carolina. Korona Candles, S.A. has invested more than $17 million in a modern manufacturing facility in Pulaski County, Virginia. The company is a partner in Walmart’s $250 billion commitment to American manufacturing, and supplies its candles to more than 5,000 Walmart stores across the United States.
Like other foreign investors in the United States, they have found the United States to be business-friendly, with a transparent, fair and stable business environment and thriving capital markets to support growing businesses.
The U.S. Embassy’s Commercial Section is ready to support Polish companies seeking to do business in the United States. They can connect Polish companies with investment specialists who can identify reliable information on markets, consumers and available Federal, state and local incentives and resources.
This SelectUSA Investment Conference in Warsaw precedes the larger 2018 SelectUSA Investment Summit that will take place in Washington, DC June 20-22. Last year, eighteen Polish delegates attended this premier event focused on promoting foreign direct investment in the United States. The theme of this year’s summit is “Invest Here. Grow Here. Succeed Here.”, and focuses on building crucial connections between U.S. economic developers and international business investors.
