Katowicka Specjalna Strefa Ekonomiczna S.A. is considered to be the leader among the Polish special economic zones which is confirmed by its first place in Europe and the second globally according to the FDI Business Financial Times 2019 ranking! The latest edition of The Best & More programme was held in Katowice Special Economic Zone or, more specifically, in the Strefart Conference and Exhibition Center in Tychy for socially-responsible companies and institutions which can boast of the best-quality products and services.
Katowice Special Economic Zone (KSEZ) is, first and foremost, a strong business partner in the industrial transformation era”, President Janusz dr Michałek emphasizes. It was created by the Regulation of the Council of Minister of 18 June 1996. It was created to support and hasten reorganization processes and to create new workplaces in the region. KSSE covers the Voivodeship of Silesia and 6 poviat districts of the Voivodeship of Opole. It comprises four sub-zones: Gliwice, Jastrzębie-Żorsy, Sosnowiec-Dąbrowa and Tychy. The headquarters of the KSEZ is located in Katowice at 42 Wojewódzka Street. The companies operating in Katowice Special Economic Zone include e.g.: Opel Manufacturing Poland, FCA Poland, NGK Ceramics Polska, Brembo Poland, Isuzu Motors Polska, Guardian Częstochowa, ZF TRW Poland, Electrolux, Roca or Streria. Apart from the Polish companies, the investors represent different European countries (France – 20%, Italy – 17%, Germany – 11%) and also countries from other parts of the world (e.g. U.S. – 11% or Japan – 10%). It is worth adding KSSE still has more than 2.7 thousand ha free plots awaiting investors.
The major objectives of KSSE include the support and hastening of reorganization processes and creation of new workplaces in the region. Besides its core activities, KSSE offers also additional services, offering e.g. the membership in the Silesia Automotive & Advanced Manufacturing cluster (support zone and state aid in the Polish Investment Zone, dedicated projects related to the education and competence centers (including e.g. projects Chcę u Ciebie pracować, Śląskie Zawodowcy), active participation in real property sales near the zone (e.g. the creation of new modern workplaces, with a large logistic and warehousing shed being constructed in Częstochowa, a flagship project of „Akcelerator biznesowy KSSENON” — construction of a creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship center in Żory, the Marshal’s Office of the Voivodeship of Silesia selected the project, offering close to PLN 41 million funds to it).
What is more, the zone offers consulting services, training on the operation of special economic zones, running a database of prospective service providers for the investments in Katowice Special Economic Zone or the “one-stop-shop” (i.e. a comprehensive service of the investor).
Katowicka SSE S.A. is also the owner of Strefart Conference and Exhibition Center and a Gallery, getting involved in the development of culture and art in the region for years. The idea behind the operations of that venue, and the entire KSSE S.A., is to popularize young Silesian art, initiating broadly-taken culture, establishing a dialog and, consequently, cooperation between the world of culture and business. “We support, partner with and sponsor cultural, charity and sports events held in the region and elsewhere. The gallery holds individual and collective exhibitions presenting general overview of young artists’ profiles and thematic exhibitions depicting the output of experienced and renowned artists”, dr Janusz Michałek, Management Board President of Katowicka Specjalna Strefa Ekonomiczna S.A. informs.
On 26 November 2020 the Strefart Conference and Exhibition Center held the International Hybrid Conference The Best & More 2020. The two-floor gallery turned out a perfect venue for such an event. The topics covered during the meeting included “Business with a Human Face in the Times of Challenge and Changes — Health, Innovations, CSR Quality, Changes and Challenges in Economy, Looking for Solutions”.
Srefart is a modern industrial space suited to conferences, training sessions and exhibitions. The conference was accompanied by a vernissage of paintings by renowned artists, including Elżbieta Murawska, Maggie Piu, Iwona Wołańska-Stachurska and Jerzy Pałac. The following musicians played for the discussion panel participants, those gathered in Strefart and those participating in this exceptional event online: Magdalena Suruło – a saxophone and Hanna Derej – a grand piano.
Strefart Conference and Exhibition Center, thanks to its architecture and convenient location, is a prestigious proposal for the business world. Equipped with the cutting-edge multimedia, hi-fi, lighting equipment and mobile auditorium, it is a high-quality space which can be rented also for online or hybrid events. •
Beata Sekuła
