The Eastern Economic Congress: 18-19 September 2014 in Białystok

Białystok/Katowice, 21 July 2014 – Issues of the utmost importance to the economy of Eastern Poland; the role and potential of the region in the relations between the East and the West of Europe; two days of debates; a thousand guests, both from Poland and from abroad; business representatives, politicians and experts – the Eastern Economic Congress in Białystok will take place in two months.

– Development opportunities today are conditioned by openness in economic cooperation, a sense of modernisation and willingness to overcome limitations. It is worth investing your ideas, initiative and dreams in Eastern Poland and Eastern Europe. The East and the West need each other – said Wojciech Kuśpik, Chairman of the Board of PTWP Group and Initiator of the Eastern Economic Congress.

The Eastern Economic Congress will take place between 18-19 September 2014 in Białystok. Its aim is to provide an opportunity to show the economic potential of Eastern Poland and present the eastern regions as intermediaries in the relations between the East and the West of Europe. We will invite partners from Belarus, Lithuania, Latvia, Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova, as well as guests from other countries.

– Eastern Poland means dynamic industries, the export power of the agriculture and food sector, constantly upgraded infrastructure and new energy. The east of Poland, in the same way as the east of Europe, offers a huge potential, which has been only partially realised so far. This region needs a broad debate on how to take advantage of these opportunities – added Wojciech Kuśpik.

By creating a platform for debate on what concerns a large part of Poland and a considerable part of Europe, the Eastern Economic Congress will fill a serious gap in the public discourse. About 30 thematic sessions have been planned for the two September days. They are to be attended by over 100 speakers. The organisers expect about a thousand guests, both from Poland and from Europe – politicians, business representatives and experts.

The subject matter of the Eastern Economic Congress will cover both a new deal in the European policy and the future of Europe in its relations with the East and the development issues of Eastern Poland, which are related to this background – from large infrastructure investments, to the prospects for renewable energy industry, to detailed market analyses – including the agriculture and food market, the medical services market and the hotel property market.

The major subject areas of the two days of debates to be held during the Congress will include: economic cooperation and trade between the EU and its eastern neighbours; transport and energy infrastructure in the EU policy; export and expansion of Polish enterprises in the area of countries of Eastern Europe and in the border area between Europe and Asia, as well as expansion to distant markets; the investment potential of Eastern Poland; self-government versus economic cooperation within the EU and the Eastern Partnership; and the situation in the labour market in the voivodeships of Eastern Poland.

Issues concerning the energy industry will also be discussed at length, including: infrastructure investments in the energy and fuel sector; renewable energy sources (RES) in Europe and Poland; renewable energy industry in poorly urbanised areas; municipal waste as a source of renewable energy; wind in the energy balance; and photovoltaics and the prosumer energy industry.

The organisation and content-related shape of the event is being overseen by the Patronage Council of the Eastern Economic Congress, which is composed of the following persons: Jarosław Dworzański – Marshal of the Podlaskie Voivodeship, Witold Karczewski – Chairman of the Board, Chamber of Industry and Commerce in Białystok, Wojciech Kuśpik – Chairman of the Board, PTWP Group, Initiator of the Eastern Economic Congress, Andrzej Parafiniuk – Chairman of the Board, Podlaska Regional Development Foundation, Tadeusz Truskolaski – Mayor of Białystok, Adam Walicki – Chairman of the Board, Stowarzyszenie Resursa Podlaska and Maciej Żywno – Voivode of Podlasie.

An event accompanying the Eastern Economic Congress will be the conferring of awards in the contest entitled TOP Municipal Investments of Eastern Poland. The task of this popularity contest is to indicate municipal investments that have contributed the most to the development of the economy, region and inhabitants of Eastern Poland in the last ten years.

The intention of the organisers of the TOP Municipal Investments of Eastern Poland contest – the Editorial Office of the Portalsamorzadowy.pl service and PTWP Group – is to indicate best investment practice implemented by self-government units, municipal companies or other entities under the factual authority of self-government, as well as recognise those who have achieved investment success owing to some brave and pro-development decisions.

The Initiator of the Eastern Economic Congress (Białystok, 18-19 September 2014, Podlasie Opera and Philharmonic – European Art Centre in Białystok) is PTWP Group, one of the most experienced organisers of business events in Poland – with the European Economic Congress in Katowice at the forefront.

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The Eastern Economic Congress (EEC) in Białystok is a two-day series of debates, meetings and accompanying events with the participation of about a thousand guests, both from Poland and from Europe.

The organiser of the Eastern Economic Congress is PTWP Group SA, the initiator and organiser of the European Economic Congress in Katowice – the largest business conference in Central Europe, which has been organised since 2009 and deemed one of the most representative debates on the future of Europe.

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For further information on the Eastern Economic Congress, please visit – www.wschodnikongres.eu/pl/.

Accreditation: https://www.ptwp.pl/wkg/pl/media.html

For further information on the organiser – PTWP Group SA – please visit www.ptwp.pl

Additional information for the media can be obtained from:

Marta Stach, Imago Public Relations

+ 48 609 808 119, E. m.stach@imagopr.pl