Wielkopolska - a place for conducting business, enjoying one's time and resting

Wielkopolska - Greater Poland. The historical name of the region, first recorded in the mid 13th century, is the best and the most relevant promotional slogan of the area. It consists of two words: a modifier - "Greater", and the name of the country - "Poland". It was here that over a thousand years ago the Polish statehood was being forged drawing on strong centres in Gniezno and Poznań.

An area of nearly 30 thousand square km (equivalent to that of today's Belgium) is inhabited by 3.34 million people (i.e. approximately the population of Ireland or Lithuania). It was here that important cultural, industrial and trade centres were developed ensuring a stable standard of living for the inhabitants. An average rate of unemployment in the Wielkopolska province equals 10.7% and is over 2% lower that in the rest of the country. Poznań, the capital of the province, boasts one of the lowest unemployment rates in Poland. No wonder, many investors are eager to locate their capital just there. Consequently, alongside large industrial plants, many small and medium-sized private companies (with up to 250 employees) have been recently established, taking advantage of the activity, entrepreneurship and traditional solidarity of Wielkopolanians. Rich natural resources in the east of the province, including a large lignite-based centre of energy production, constitute a solid basis for the economy of the region. Agriculture and food industry prevail in the central and southern parts of Wielkopolska (i.e. the Kalisz and Leszno subregions). Extensive wooded areas in the Piła subregion have led to the development of wood processing industry in the north of the province. Wielkopolska's favourable location and the related ease of communication and transportation are amongst important assets of the region which enable broad contacts and facilitate decision making processes for investors. The "Ławica" airport in Poznań services numerous domestic as well as international air connections, the latter being with Dűsseldorf, Hannover, Nuremberg and Frankfurt in Germany as well as Copenhagen in Denmark. Moreover, Euro-City trains provide convenient train connections, e.g. it takes only 3 hours to travel from Berlin to Poznań.

The location and a unique character of the region attract business people. At present approximately 3500 companies with considerable foreign capital are registered in Wielkopolska and their number increases rapidly thanks to positive experiences of investors. Over 200 firms, including many renowned international companies, located their capital in the order of USD 4000 million in Wielkopolska. The province boasts a high level of institutions that constitute the so-called "business environment". Its infrastructure is formed by such entities as trade fairs, exchanges, banks (a total of 49 with 191 branches, 100 of which are located in Poznań, including branches and representative offices of 12 foreign banks), leasing institutions, consulting firms, self-governing economic organisations, associations and foundations, whose statutory aim is the economic development of the Wielkopolska region. Thanks to a 75-year-long tradition of the Poznań International Fair, the city is an unquestioned trade capital of Poland. The image of a commercial city is completed with the largest Polish agricultural produce exchange and the Wielkopolska Fruit and Vegetable Market.

Wielkopolska is also as one of the most important academic regions hosting 22 institutions of higher learning, 2 vocational schools of higher education as well as 28 institutes, research centres and branches of the Polish Academy of Sciences.

Artists associated with numerous artistic institutions of the province rank high in the realm of arts. There are 9 theatres operating in Wielkopolska, the most acclaimed being the Stanisław Moniuszko Grand Theatre in Poznań, the Dance Theatre - Poznań Ballet, the Animation Theatre for children as well as the theatres in Kalisz (one of the oldest Polish towns) and Gniezno. The Malta International Theatre Festival in Poznań is an annual event enjoying wide recognition. Music plays a very important role in the cultural life of the region, which abounds in international competitions and festivals. Plastic arts are centred around numerous art galleries and museums, particularly noteworthy being the National Museum in Poznań.

The beauty and diversity of the Wielkopolska countryside with its prevailing wooded plains and moraine hills is conducive to tourism and relaxation. Pine woods create perfect conditions for the treatment of the respiratory system diseases. In the holiday season the region offers a wealth of activities for hunters and anglers. Moreover, numerous centres of equestrian sports offer horse-riding holidays. Furthermore, there are many farm tourism associations, which provide holiday makers with an opportunity to take a rest and relax close to nature in exemplary farms. Together with the Marshal Office of the Wielkopolska Province and the affiliated Wielkopolska Promotion Centre we would like to invite you most cordially to visit our beautiful region with its wealth of unforgettable attractions.

Editorial staff: of Welcome to Poznań and Wielkopolska
The article was written drawing on the materials of the Department of the Strategy Development and Promotion of the Province at the Marshal Office in Poznań.