Backer Obr, Ikea Industry and Scanrad are only some examples from a long list of Swedish companies which decided to invest in West Pomerania. After almost a year, in Szczecin, an honorary consulate of Sweden reopened, and the new honorary consul, attorney at law Marek Czernis announced his intention
to attract more Swedish companies to the region as one of his goals.
The opening ceremony attracted H.E. Inga Eriksson Fogh, the Ambassador
of the Kingdom of Sweden to Poland and Olgierd Geblewicz, the Marshal
of the Westpomeranian Region.
Sweden is one of countries closely monitored by businesses from our region.
For them, our northern neighbour is one of major directions for export. I believe
that the Honorary Consul Marek Czernis, and the new post, will bring our region even closer to Sweden, said Olgierd Geblewicz.
H.E. Inga Eriksson Fogh emphasised that West Pomerania and Szczecin are well known in Sweden. The reopening of the consulate was intended to support Swedes living in the region and assist Swedish entrepreneurs looking for opportunities
to invest in Poland. The Swedish population in the region is almost 200 and Szczecin is one of the most popular cities in the world among Swedish students of medicine who want to study abroad. Nearly a hundred Swedish students study medicine
at the Pomeranian Medical University. Additionally, West Pomerania has a lot to offer for tourists and business people alike, said H.E. Inga Eriksson Fogh.
It is estimated that in the Westpomeranian Region already 90 Swedish companies invested their capital (6% of total FDI in region) employing over 5 thousand people, whereas export to Sweden accounts for nearly 6.6% of the total export
from the region. Swedes are the third largest group of tourists visiting our region. In 2016, over 17.5 thousand Swedish tourists visited West Pomerania.
Marek Czernis declared his will to attract more Swedish companies
to West Pomerania, in particular from such sectors as electronics and heavy industry, as well as lobby for establishing an air service between Szczecin and Stockholm
and the building of the Swedish House in Szczecin. It is going to be the centre
of Swedish culture, habits and customs, as well as a place where Polish traditions are promoted among Swedes, said the consul.
The Szczecin based consulate of the Kingdom of Sweden is the fifth post of this type in Poland. Marek Czernis is an attorney at law, member of the Maritime Law Committee at the Polish Academy of Sciences and the Maritime Law Codification Committee.
