“Invest in Bolesławiec. Investment sites, tax exemptions, and investment rules in special economic zones” was the subject of a conference held in Bolesławiec on 15 November. The meeting, organized by the Ministry of Economy, the Mayor of Bolesławiec, Wałbrzych Special Economic Zone “Invest-Park” Sp. z o.o., and the Polish Information and Foreign Investment Agency S.A., was addressed to small and medium-sized entrepreneurs planning investments in areas covered by special economic zone status.
Using the Bolesławiec Subzone of Wałbrzych Special Economic Zone “Invest-Park” as an example, the benefits of investing in a special economic zone were presented, with particular emphasis on the reliefs and exemptions related to conducting business activity in the zone. The conference also presented Bolesławiec’s investment offer and the possibilities of obtaining public aid, including grants and tax exemptions, from national and European Union funds. The effects of changes to the rules for granting public aid, including tax exemptions and grants, after 1 July 2014 were also discussed.
The meeting began with good news for Bolesławiec. It was delivered by Deputy Minister of Economy Ilona Antoniszyn-Klik, who announced the planned construction of a production and warehouse hall with an access road and maneuvering area in the Bolesławiec subzone of WSSE “Invest-Park”. The investment will also include an office building. The hall’s design will allow it to be divided for rental by several business entities. “The construction of such a hall will certainly make it easier for start-up entrepreneurs to begin operations, as building a production hall is too great a financial burden for them,” says Mayor of Bolesławiec Piotr Roman.
The following companies have so far invested in the Bolesławiec Subzone of WSSE: Hoerbiger Automotive Poland, Lesław Sacher – Metal Cutting, SRG Global (Guardian group), Elektros, and Kegger. The declared investment outlay amounts to PLN 220 million, with declared employment of 576 people. In total, the new plants have occupied more than 19 hectares of the Bolesławiec Subzone of WSSE “Invest-Park”.
The zone is an ideal place to invest for both large companies and small family businesses. Those who decide to invest in a special economic zone can count on tax exemptions amounting to 60% of investment outlays for small enterprises, 50% for medium-sized enterprises, and 40% for large plants. The terms of the tax exemption are specified in the permit to conduct business activity in an area covered by special economic zone status, which the investor receives after deciding to invest in the zone.
Investors locating projects in Bolesławiec may benefit from exemptions from local taxes, including property tax. Tax exemptions for entrepreneurs are defined by two resolutions of the Bolesławiec City Council: one concerning de minimis aid and the other concerning regional aid. In the case of de minimis aid, an entrepreneur may obtain a tax exemption after creating just five new jobs. In the case of regional aid, obtaining an exemption from property tax requires investment outlays of at least PLN 500,000 or the creation of at least 20 new jobs. Higher investment outlays or the creation of more jobs extends the tax-exemption period. The maximum period of exemption from property tax is 10 years.
Bolesławiec’s investment offer and exemptions from local taxes for those investing in Bolesławiec were presented by Tomasz Gabrysiak from the Bolesławiec City Office. During his presentation, he emphasized that entrepreneurs wishing to benefit from the higher public-aid limits currently in force had to begin their investment by the end of June 2014. In the case of investment in the Bolesławiec Subzone of WSSE, this meant notifying the Bolesławiec City Office of the intention to use regional aid, obtaining a permit to conduct business activity in the zone, and purchasing the property.
The presentation by Katarzyna Prociak and Iwona Łubkowska from WSSE “Invest-Park” concerned public aid for investors in special economic zones, taking into account changes in the intensity of public aid after 1 July 2014.
The current state of foreign investment in Poland and support for Polish companies investing outside the Republic of Poland were presented by Adam Małecki from the Polish Information and Foreign Investment Agency.
(information: Bolesławiec City Office/ii)