Dozens of Taiwanese entrepreneurs and about 200 representatives of Polish companies attended the "Bridge to Taiwan" conference, organized by the Polish-Taiwanese Chamber of Industry and Commerce.
Jerzy Kwieciński, first vice president of the Polish Chamber of Commerce (KIG), said Poland should take advantage of what he described as a unique moment as Taiwan looks to diversify its economy.
"Taiwan wants to open up economically and diversify. We should seize this moment, especially in areas where they are strongest," he said, adding that attracting a major semiconductor investor would be a significant achievement for both Poland and the EU.
Taiwan dominates global semiconductor production, and 70 percent of the world’s output is concentrated there, according to reports.
Kwieciński said Taiwan is also a leader in green technologies and artificial intelligence, sectors backed by the European Union, and argued that Łódź has "a tremendous opportunity" to attract investment in these fields.
"Łódź is one of the best locations not only in Poland but in the entire European Union for industrial investment," he said.
He added that Asian capital is increasingly important as the “center of gravity” of the global economy shifts from the United States and Europe toward Asia, with fast-growing markets such as Indonesia, Vietnam and India, as well as dynamic economies including Singapore, Taiwan and South Korea.
Conference organizers said Europe still lacks sufficient high-tech investment from Asia, and that the "Bridge to Taiwan" initiative is aimed at drawing more Taiwanese capital into Poland.
Tomasz Sadzyński, head of the Łódź Special Economic Zone, said he hopes for strong cooperation with Taiwan, given its strategic position in global semiconductor supply chains.
The forum featured five thematic tracks focused on potential areas of cooperation: smart cities; IT/ICT including AI, cybersecurity, cloud and digital transformation; electronics and semiconductors; green energy; and smart manufacturing, including robotics and automation, Polish state news agency PAP reported.
The conference also included a meeting of the Polish-Taiwanese Joint Business Council with participation from government officials, academics and industry leaders.
Taiwan’s development agenda underscores the importance of closer ties, organizers said.
After semiconductors, drones are expected to become the nation's next major strategic industry.
Taiwan plans to scale up annual drone production to 180,000 units by 2028, from the current 8,000 to 10,000. More than half of Taiwan’s drone exports now go to Poland, according to the Taiwan External Trade Development Council.
For Taiwanese companies, Poland offers not only a growing market but also a strategic base for reaching Ukraine, where drones have become a key element of the war, the PAP news agency reported.
(gs)
Source: PAP