The developing economic potential of Kraków allows the city to be perceived not only through its historical features and rich architecture, but also as an attractive business partner. The year 2016 confirms this trend.
Present-day Kraków is a flourishing scientific, cultural, sports, and business centre. As for the last, the city is strongly coming into play by strengthening its economic position. Today, Kraków boasts the second, after Wielkopolska, lowest unemployment rate (4.1%) in the country and has a growing market with high economic and technological potential.
The Cracovian style of business
The capital city of Małopolska has achieved a great business position thanks to its location and resources. Today, Kraków is home for approx. 760 000 people and is well connected with Silesian agglomeration, the Czech Republic and Germany. One of undoubted advantages of this city is the fact that the biggest airport in Poland, Kraków-Balice airport, is located there. In 2016, Kraków’s potential was summarized during the 13th Science-Business-Residents-Local Government Forum. One of the main topics was the developing IT/ SSC/BPO sector and
the role it plays in the capital city of Małopolska, together with High-Tech, automotive and tourism sectors. According to the data provided by ASPIRE association, a co-organizer of the Forum, this sector notes a 20% increase every year, with Kraków boasting the highest development in Poland.Within 100 km from the city, there live approx. 8 million people, 60% of which are under 45 years old. Additionally, every year, over 50 000 students of Kraków universities’ humanities, arts, and technical faculty graduates enter the labour market.
Polish outsourcing centre
Such a dynamic growth of IT/SSC/BPO sector in Kraków makes it especially attractive for foreign investors. Every year more and more foreign companies open or expand their business centres. According to the Association of Business Service Leaders in Poland (ABSL),
Kraków is the number one city in Poland in terms of the number of people employed in this sector. This is reflected in the Tholons 2016 “Top 100 Outsourcing Destinations 2016” ranking, where Kraków is listed as number 9 on the list of 100 best outsourcing destinations in the world, and is the European leader.
Investment friendly city
For many years, Kraków has been actively attracting investors, both from the country and abroad. It is where Kraków Technology Park, a company managing Kraków special economic zone that covers 866 hectares, operates. This zone consists of 32 subzones located in 30 municipalities in: Małopolska, Podkarpackie and Świętokrzyskie voivodships. Only by the end of 2016, the entrepreneurs belonging to KTP recorded investments that amount to PLN 4.5 billion, whereas SEZ in Kraków employs 23 000 people
Apart from investments in special economic zone, Kraków is also a perfect place for startups. According to the data presented by Startup Poland foundation, Kraków is the second city in Poland, after Warszawa, with such a big number of startup companies. In the capital city of Małopolska, start-ups constitute 11% of 2700 local companies, which amounts to about 300 startups. They focus mainly on IT sector and develop state-of-the-art software, websites, and mobile applications. Some of the most famous startups in Kraków are: Estimote, Brainly and Duckie Deck.
Further development plans
Further business development of the capital city of Małopolska is supported by, among others, The Business in Małopolska Centre (CeBiM). As a partner of the Polish Information and Foreign Investment Agency, its role is to support investment growth by improving investor and exporter’s services, as well as conducting economic promotion of the region. Małopolska has been successfully attracting foreign investors by taking the 4th place in the “European Cities and Regions of the Future 2016/2017”
ranking created by FDI Intelligence. Moreover, the economic potential of Kraków is also visible in the number of companies that have found their employees there. These are, among others, Capgemini, Shell, ABB or Sweedish Assa Abloy. Last year showed the strong position Kraków has on the business map of Poland and Europe. Moreover, the forecasts of ASPIRE association show that this trend is expected to be continued and that the IT/SSC/BPO industry will employ almost 55 000 people
