Matthias Hoffmann

🌟 The results of our AHK Business Survey 2024 are finally here! 🌟   The AHK has been conducting this survey since 2006 in order to record the situation and expectations of companies in middle and eastern Europe.   Here are some of the key results: ➡ Estonia and Lithuania are the most attractive locations in middle and eastern Europe, Latvia is in 6th place ➡ The vast majority of companies in the Baltic states would choose these countries again for their investments ➡ The lack of an educated labor force is a major challenge in all three Baltic countries. One solution to this would be the introduction of the dual vocational training system.   🔎 For more results, click the link in the comments! 🔍

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Poland in the TOP 3️⃣  of the highest-rated investment locations in Central and Eastern Europe – this is the result of a survey 📊📈📉 that AHK Polska, together with other chambers affiliated with the IGCC, conducted in the first quarter of 2024 among foreign investors . It assessed 2️⃣5️⃣ factors influencing the country’s investment attractiveness, grouped into five areas: 📌Economic and administrative policy, 📌Taxes, 📌Economic environment, 📌Labour market 📌Infrastructure 🎯 Invariably for years, membership of the European Union has been cited as having the greatest impact on Poland’s attractiveness as a business location. 🎯 Good communication, both in the form of the quality of communication networks and services, as well as transport and logistics, is also mentioned as one of the next most important advantages. 🎯 Thus, infrastructural factors were recognised in this year’s survey, whereas last year the quality and availability of sub-suppliers and employees were emphasised above all. In our survey, we also ask respondents about the economic mood and outlook. Here this year’s key facts: 👉98% of respondents say they would choose Poland again as an investment location 👉87% of respondents assess the condition of the Polish economy as good or satisfying 👉80% of respondents expect the turnover to grow or to stay at the same level as a year ago same year 👉Over 50% of respondents consider their economic situation as good 👉30% of respondents anticipate an increase in employment and investment spending "The results of the survey indicate a recovery of the economy after a prolonged phase of economic downturn observed throughout Europe, and are an expression of positive business sentiment regarding economic developments in the coming months’" – Dr Lars Gutheil, General Managing Director of the German-Polish Chamber of Industry and Commerce (AHK Poland), commented on this year’s survey. More about the results of the survey can be found in the link in comments and IGCC website: https://lnkd.in/dStDXGzg

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We would like to introduce the new Deputy Director of the #Oxoplast Business Unit for Commercial Affairs. The function previously held by Anna Gruszczynska has been assumed by Waldemar Pawelczyk, effective June 19, 2024. Waldemar Pawelczyk has extensive knowledge in foreign trade, market analysis and marketing. Over the past nearly ten years, he has gained experience in managing positions in Grupa Azoty ZAK S.A. and Grupa Azoty S.A. On behalf of Grupa Azoty Oxoplast™, he was responsible, for coordinating sales in European and American markets. He also worked in the corporate Market Analysis Department, responsible, among other things, for petrochemical markets. The new #CommercialDirector relies on stable partnerships and flexibility in business. - The European chemical industry is at a crossroads, facing difficult choices in an environment that is more volatile than ever. Awareness of limited economic growth, rationalisation of consumption on the one hand, and high production costs, disrupted supply chains and regulatory uncertainty on the other, is the current picture of the industry. What's needed now are stable but flexible partners who can respond quickly to short-term needs throughout the supply chain. Partners who facilitate and simplify decision-making, who listen to and understand dynamically changing needs. This is probably not the only thing that will ensure success, but in turbulent times it will be the foundation on which I want to build relationships with customers, suppliers and business partners of the Oxoplast Business Unit - stresses Waldemar Pawelczyk. ℹ https://lnkd.in/dCPZQRCM #TeamOxoplast 🟠

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Yesterday in Ost-Ausschuss der Deutschen Wirtschaft and  #ServiceDeskUkraine we were honored to organize an online event After-URC Exchange: Insights, Results, and Next Steps 🌍 A month has passed since the Ukraine Recovery Conference. There is still some uncertainty about the implementation of Ukraine projects and improving the overall framework. To address these issues, we invited the URC participants, business stakeholders interested in Ukraine, and our colleagues to a virtual exchange. This event offered companies the opportunity to share brief updates on their project statuses and ongoing challenges. By doing so, we aimed to highlight solutions for other projects and define the work agenda for the coming months leading up to the German-Ukrainian Economic Forum which will be held in December. Key topics discussed: ✍ Business Advisory Council: goals, challenges and next steps ✍ Ukraine Project Insurance Instruments ✍ Lighthouse Projects: Practical Experiences Post-URC ✍ Contract Signings and MoUs ✍ Skills Alliance Ukraine Issues for further development:  Short-term relief for immediate needs Plan for medium- and long-term recovery Working groups/round tables with ministries and umbrella organizations. Deepen understanding of insurance instruments and the role of export credit. Exchange views on business opportunities, challenges and bottlenecks in Ukraine. Thank to all participants for a productive exchange. The collaborative spirit and forward-thinking ideas shared are vital for our continued success in Ukraine. Let's keep the momentum going! The detailed article about this event in German: https://lnkd.in/edfYNPz6 Alena Akulich #ServiceDeskUkraine #DeutscheWirtschaft in #Ukraine #Osteuropa #GermanBusiness #SDU2024 #UkraineReconstruction #Innovation #Collaboration #URC #BusinessGrowth #UkraineProjects #Innovation #StrategicPlanning #FutureSteps

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The AHK Ukraine - German-Ukrainian Chamber of Industry and Commerce & KPMG Deutschland conducted a survey among German companies in #Ukraine in spring 2024. Security is the main bottleneck, but stakeholders looking rather positive to the future: more than 40% plan new investments in the upcoming twelve months. 🗝 Key messages: 👉 Key conditions for expanding business activities are political and economic stability (61% and 51% respectively) as well as the availability of public funding and guarantees (28%). 👉 Business expectations: 42% of respondents expect the economic situation in Ukraine to improve over the next twelve months; 48% expect no change; 10% expect the situation to deteriorate. 👉 Intentions regarding investments: 43% of companies are planning new investments in Ukraine; only 8% intend to withdraw investments. 👉 Opportunities: For 48% of respondents the biggest opportunity is the market access, for 39% the availability of qualified workers and for 36% participation in reconstruction programs to rebuild Ukraine. 👉 Market entry: More than half of respondents cite access to local business networks (59%) and access to market information (54%) as key business requirements. 👉 Challenges: For 53%, the ongoing war is the biggest hurdle, for 38% it is security risks for their employees and for 31% it is local corruption. The new mobilization law that has come into force, will limit the availability of labor further. 👉 Utilizing available funds: Germany and the EU have set up funding programs worth billions of Euros. But 35% of German companies believe that the funds are unsuitable for their purposes; and 20% are yet unaware of these programs. Learn more about the survey: https://lnkd.in/ek6NE_CM) Nicolai Kiskalt Reiner Perau Yulia Svyrydenko Dr. Yulia Rybak

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The results of the survey conducted with the AHK Slowakei (German-Slovak Chamber of Commerce) on the economic assessment by Austrian, German and other European companies in Slovakia are in and were presented at a joint press conference today! 𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙤𝙢𝙞𝙘 𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚? ☁ Investors have subdued confidence in the current economic climate and expect little improvement in the near future. Their assessment is similar to the one during the challenges of 2020. 📉 Falling demand and the ongoing shortage of skilled labour are seen as particularly critical factors and a risk for corporate activity and investment strategies. ☀ Despite these hurdles, there is one encouraging fact: three out of four companies would invest in Slovakia again, which highlights the country's potential. Together with 🇩🇪, 🇳🇱 and 🇨🇿, Austria 🇦🇹 is one of the most important countries of origin for investments and is also strongly involved in the area of dual education in Slovakia. Together we will continue to work on good solutions for the challenges facing the economy!  Contact us for further information on the survey an the activities of ADVANTAGE AUSTRIA Slovakia! Thank you to Markus Halt, Hana Chmelarova Markova, Jana Homolová from AHK Slowakei (German-Slovak Chamber of Commerce) and Mária Berithová/Slovak-Austrian Chamber of Commerce #worldclasspartners

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🇦🇹🇺🇦 Austria, through the export credit agency OeKB CSD GmbH, has allocated 500 million euros for the insurance of #Austrian exporters and investments in Ukraine. This is reported on the website of the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Austria. 🔘 The money is distributed over a five-year period - 100 million euros per year. For the most part, they will cover the risks of Austrian companies participating in the reconstruction of Ukraine. 🔘 The total amount of insurance can be increased to 1 billion euros with the funds of international financial institutions. The Austrian Ministry of Finance emphasizes that through OeKB they are already facilitating export deals worth 3-5 million euros in Ukraine. "We are opening up opportunities for investments that are vital for Ukraine," Austrian Finance Minister Magnus Brunner commented. According to him, Austria plans investments in the restoration of Ukrainian roads, bridges, railway infrastructure, in the supply of drinking water and heat, as well as in repair workshops. 🔘 OeKB will start accepting applications from Austrian companies for investment insurance from mid-May.

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BorTec Deutschland will invest a total of $3.1 million and create 35 new jobs in Washington County through the project, which establishes a heat treatment plant in Johnson City. “BorTec chose Tennessee as the location for its new facility due to several key factors. The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (TNECD) provided valuable assistance and resources to support the company’s expansion plans. Tennessee offers a highly favorable business environment, with low tax burdens, reasonable operating costs and an abundant skilled workforce. The state’s excellent transportation infrastructure enables efficient distribution of BorTec’s products across the U.S. Additionally, Tennessee’s low energy prices, including some of the nation’s lowest electricity rates, translate to significant cost savings for BorTec’s energy-intensive operations. These combined advantages make Tennessee an ideal location for BorTec’s new facility,” said BorTec USA CEO Ralph Hunger.

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While 1 May is a public holiday in many countries, today is also an important day for #Poland for another reason: it marks the 20th anniversary of its membership in the #EU. Many will be debating what joining the EU has brought for Poland over the coming days, so I want to share an interesting study that our EBRD economists have just published on Poland's - and other EU accession countries where the EBRD invests - experience over the past 20 years in the bloc. They find that Poland and its neighbors have experienced rapid growth of per capita incomes thanks to the EU accession, benefitting from the so-called “EU accession bonus”, when compared with countries at similar levels of development that did not join the EU. I invite you to check out this fascinating study: https://lnkd.in/dfDmEQJf And if you are interested in exploring what the next twenty years hold for Poland, join me in #Yerevan at our #EBRD Annual Meeting in just two weeks, where we will have a dedicated Poland Investment Outlook Session, to discuss Poland’s investment opportunities and its experience in the EU: https://lnkd.in/dGJXMPn3 Congratulations to all! Beata Javorcik, Jurgen Rigterink, Matteo Patrone, Charlotte Ruhe, Jean-Marc Peterschmitt, Nandita Parshad, Francis Malige, Alexander Plekhanov, Ralph De Haas, Stela Melnic, Nigina Mirbabaeva, Ksenia Yakustidi #euaccession, #deliveringimpacttogether, #poland, #EU

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Great discussion at Chemonics International with the #Ukrainian delegation in Washington, DC that was supported by USAID USAID Competitive Economy Program in Ukraine (USAID CEP) to represent Ukraine in SelectUSA Investment Summit. There message is: Ukraine is open for #investment now! Many delegations from American states and other countries were introduced to innovations that the 16 tech startups brought and showed the world the innovations created in #Ukraine can be used in industries such as agriculture, manufacturing, computer technology and business management. #kyiv #exports #trade #innovation #development #URC2024

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ReBuild Ukraine Conference: Health & Rehabilitation This week about 20 companies from the healthcare sector participated in the Dutch business mission to the Rebuild Ukraine conference in Warsaw. The conference was organized for the third time in Warsaw and this edition focused specifically on the healthcare sector. Since the beginning of the war, nearly 1,500 medical facilities, such as hospitals and clinics, have been damaged and nearly 200 facilities completely destroyed. The war is also taking a heavy toll on the health of the Ukrainian population. 'For more than two years, the population has been living in difficult conditions,' says Victoria Tarasenko, Senior Policy Officer at the Netherlands embassy in Kyiv. 'The population is suffering from shelling and rocket impacts. People have been injured, traumatized and lost loved ones.' The conference is part of a broader approach to help Ukraine rebuild its health care system. Companies offering solutions in rehabilitation, mental health and e-health were present. But there were also companies looking at how we can improve the entire hospital system in Ukraine together with Ukrainian parties. Read the entire article here: https://lnkd.in/ejC9GbCr Learn more about the UA-NL Healthcare Recovery Platform: https://lnkd.in/e6UCEiX7 Pieter van Beers | Task Force Health Care (TFHC) Sven Walraven ; Hanneke Bogaerts ; Simone Ho | Netherlands Enterprise Agency Monique Zonneveld | Ministerie van Buitenlandse Zaken Huub von Frijtag Drabbe

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#PORTevent Register now: The Hamburg Chamber of Commerce and the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia invite you to the "Latvia Hamburg Business Forum" at the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce on the occasion of the visit of the Latvian Minister of Transport Kaspars Briškens.   When? 08 May 2024, 09.30-13.30 Where? Handelskammer Hamburg The event will be held in English.   Register now: https://lnkd.in/evNifpih   💡 Good to know: #Latvia has become one of the most important innovation hubs in Europe in recent years. The country has a dynamic start-up scene, an ever-growing R&D infrastructure with active knowledge transfer to industry. In an ever-changing geopolitical environment, Latvia is increasingly establishing itself as a strategic and secure investment destination with a high level of expertise in the field of digitalization. Major infrastructure projects, particularly the development of rail links through RB Rail AS | Rail Baltica, with Riga as its central hub, are transforming the Baltic States into the bridgehead for Northern and Central Europe that they have historically been. These developments offer a wide range of opportunities for #Hamburg companies.   The Latvia Hamburg Business Forum will provide impulses and exciting panel discussions on topics such as smart solutions for the shipping industry and #AI-driven digital transformation. #portofhamburg #hafenhamburg

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Three dynamic days saw the Ministry of Finance team actively participating in the Ukraine Recovery Conference #URC2024 in Berlin. Here are the key results, outcomes, and impressions: •⁠ ⁠The message among our partners has shifted from a commitment to supporting Ukraine "as long as it takes" to pledging support "until Ukraine wins." Throughout the conference, we received assurances of backing at the highest levels, also affirming Ukraine's unwavering European trajectory. •⁠ ⁠The Government of Ukraine's implemented reforms earned recognition from our partners. Notably, the recently unveiled Reforms Matrix enhances transparency for both the public and international allies. •⁠ ⁠The tenth meeting of the Steering Committee of the Multi-agency Donor Coordination Platform for Ukraine marked a milestone, being the first held at the ministerial level. This gathering shaped our ongoing collaboration with partners, focusing on the priorities of Ukraine that will have the greatest impact on economic growth. •⁠ ⁠Under the URC2024 framework, in conjunction with our international partners, we signed five agreements totaling $340 million, with 30% as grants. These funds are earmarked for vital initiatives such as energy sector restoration, housing reconstruction post-russia's damage, school and hospital modernization, and heating equipment procurement. Gratitude is extended to our partners from KfW, the EIB, the World Bank, and the Council of Europe Development Bank. •⁠ ⁠About 20 meetings convened with heads of financial institutions, finance ministers, and government officials from partner countries. We actualized Ukraine's financing and recovery needs both in the short term and for the future. Collective efforts are now underway to translate these discussions into action. As we return to Ukraine, anticipation mounts for significant developments and updates from the upcoming G7 summit commencing tomorrow in Italy. Photo credits: Photothek.de

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Over the past few years, Tashkent has been working hard to solve the problem of transport deadlock through the diversification of foreign trade routes. One of the priorities is the southern direction, where the importance of Afghan transit can hardly be overestimated. The presence of a common border and railway connection with Afghanistan makes it possible for Uzbekistan to profitably participate in the development of trans-Afghan communications. Against the background of the smoldering Ukrainian crisis, under Western sanctions pressure, Russia and Belarus are reorienting cargo flows to the South, which increases their interest in the transit potential of Uzbekistan, Iran and Afghanistan. China is no less active in this regard, having launched the global initiative of the New Silk Road in order to create a modern network of transcontinental land routes. India, Iran, Pakistan, and the monarchies of the Persian Gulf are also not averse to acquiring reliable channels for the delivery of goods to Central Asia and Afghanistan or through their territories to larger markets. All of them are interested in reducing the delivery time and cost as much as possible. In this regard, the future Termez–Mazar-I–Sharif–Kabul-Peshawar railway, better known as the Trans-Afghan Highway, has a high chance of success. https://lnkd.in/dyGmaA7x

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Kazakhstan's interests in the development of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation: creating strong ties and indivisibility of security in Eurasia Kazakhstan's interests in the development of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) revolve around creating strong ties and ensuring the indivisibility of security in Eurasia. This concept, emphasized by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, underscores that ensuring one's own security should not come at the expense of others. It reflects Kazakhstan's broader strategy to support regional stability and security. The upcoming SCO summit serves as a crucial platform for Kazakhstan to advance these strategic interests. In light of various conflicts among SCO members, the organisation provides a forum for addressing and resolving key issues. Ensuring the security of states along major transport routes has become particularly urgent due to disruptions in maritime trade. The blockage of the Red Sea has highlighted the need to diversify transport routes, making land corridors in Eurasia vital for economic development. Kazakhstan prioritizes the safe operation of these transport corridors, which are essential for connecting China and Russia with other parts of Eurasia. This is especially relevant given the strained relations with the Atlantic bloc and new tariffs and duties imposed by the US on Chinese products. Consequently, strengthening ties with Eurasian countries becomes crucial for China, aligning with Kazakhstan's goal of facilitating secure transport links. Kazakhstan's other strategic interests within the SCO include: 1. Economic Cooperation and Transport Routes: As the current chair of the SCO, Kazakhstan focuses on improving transport corridors like the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route. 2. Free Trade Zone and Financial Cooperation: The establishment of a free trade zone and the use of national currencies in settlements aim to strengthen economic ties and reduce reliance on foreign currencies. Kazakhstan can be also interested in exploring alternative international payment systems to mitigate the impact of Western sanctions. 3. Energy Security: Kazakhstan advocates for coordinated efforts towards energy transition and decarbonisation. It has proposed an SCO energy strategy to emphasize sustainable energy development in the region. 4. Cultural and Humanitarian Cooperation: Under Kazakhstan's chairmanship, Almaty was declared the cultural and tourist capital of the SCO. Various cultural and scientific events have been held to foster deeper ties among member states.

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