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Poland, Australia focus on mining collaboration
15 Jul 2013
Chief executives from Poland’s largest mining companies accompanied Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski on a recent trade mission to Australia, which centred around the Polish-Australian Business Forum and Mining Seminar.
During Mr Sikorski’s official visit to Australia, he met with Foreign Minister Bob Carr. The two agreed that trade and investment between Australia and Poland had room for further growth.
“Poland is among the few countries in Europe and in the world which managed to sustain economic growth throughout the deep recession in the last years, showing a respectable expansion since then,” Mr Sikorski told the Poland-Australia Business Forum and Mining Seminar
“Poland and Australia are the only two OECD countries that maintained economic growth during the darkest days of the global financial crisis,” he said.
Senator Carr said he hoped the forum will pave the way for increased two-way investment and commercial opportunities, particularly in energy and mining.
During the forum, EY’s chief economist, Marek Rozkrut , delivered an economic brief (PDF, 1.41MB) on Poland, which includes opportunities for Australian companies in infrastructure investment, public-private partnerships and high-tech manufacturing.
The forum was also an opportunity to present case studies on successful investment in both countries. Polish company KOPEX showcased its investments in the Hunter Valley and Macquarie Group unveiled the significant development of a new container terminal at Gdansk.
The delegation visited two underground coalmines in the Hunter Valley and met with Hunternet, which promotes the Hunter Valley’s small and medium-sized enterprises, and key industry contacts in Newcastle to discuss collaboration across the mining supply chain.
Meanwhile, Austrade Warsaw is in talks with the Polish Government and mission participants on a return mission in which Australian company executives could travel to Poland to explore mining industry connections there. For example, Poland’s coal sector needs efficiency and safety expertise, which Australian companies could provide.