Category: I’m a resident

The Pomeranian Regional Chamber of Commerce has its seat in the Olivia CONNECT area of the Olivia Business Centre and has been supporting domestic firms in their operations, development and execution of international projects for years. The Olivia Business Centre is, again, a patron of the event the Transport Week Conference whose eighth edition focused on projects involving development of the port infrastructure in Europe and opportunities offered by the New Silk Route. As a part of the conference we talk to Bogdan Ołdakowski, a member of the Management Board of RIGP and President of Actia Forum sp. z o.o., the organizer of the Transport Week. Some of the keynote topics of the “Olivia’s interview” include the foreign expansion of Pomeranian firms, a vision of development of Pomerania and the role of the developing TSL industry in that process (transport, shipping, logistics).

CHALLENGES FOR FIRMS IN POMERANIA

Monika Bogdanowicz (Communication Expert, Olivia Business Centre): Do Pomeranian entrepreneurs have any reason to be satisfied? What is the main challenge for firms in 2018 according to the Pomeranian Regional Chamber of Commerce?

Bogdan Ołdakowski, President of the Management Board of Actia Forum Sp. z o.o., organizer of the Transport Week conference, a member of the Management Board of the Pomeranian Regional Chamber of Commerce (RIGP).: Yes. Last year was good for the economy in Poland. Positive effects of the fast economic growth can also be observed in Pomerania; corporate revenues are on the increase and the exports are growing as well, even though the growth rate is not as fast as in previous years. There is no doubt that finding workers is a challenge this year. Problems on the labour market can be seen almost everywhere. Obviously, this fact, apart from labour shortages, translates into an increased value of salaries, which increases costs of business operations.

INTERNATIONAL EXPANSION OF POMERANIAN FIRMS

M.B.: What is your general opinion about the potential of Pomeranian firms and their preparation for international expansion? How is the TSL industry coping in this race?

B.O. The region of Pomerania is very open to the cooperation with international markets. This is the effect of many factors such as the characteristic coastal location of the region that has always encouraged people to travel, to search for markets overseas. I have a high opinion about the preparation of Pomeranian firms for presence on international markets. One can obviously always notice some problems, e.g. the collapse of the offshore market (extraction of oil and natural gas from the sea worldwide) that many firms took advantage of. The international TSL industry is also in good condition. This industry, by its very nature, operates on international markets but Pomerania is the core activity of many firms representing that industry because market is growing very rapidly here.

RIGP SUPPORT

M.B.: How is the Pomeranian Regional Chamber of Commerce really helping their members to develop and promote themselves abroad? What benefits do RIGP members get and why is it worthwhile to be an active participant in meetings and training courses organized, among other things, in conference areas of Olivia?

B.O. Many firms belong to the RIGP and it is mainly thanks to their services that other entrepreneurs have an opportunity to take advantage of professional help. RIGP also implements projects to help firms on international markets, for example the project titled the Pomeranian Export Broker where it is one of the partners. From the perspective of a firm interested in a specific market, it is just worthwhile to come to seminars or training courses to learn about the details of business operations, e.g. in Norway or Iran. We offer professional consulting to those who want more help. The Pomeranian Export Broker project can also co-finance costs of travel to fairs, conferences, etc. Let us not forget that the Chamber can suggest specific aid in the funding of business operations. I invite everyone to become a part of the Chamber.

THE ROLE OF GRAŃSK IN THE INDUSTRY

M.B.: Let’s talk about the Transport Week conference prepared by Actia Forum for the 8^th time, which is one of the most popular events devoted to the TSL industry. What is the role of Gdańsk and the entire Pomerania on the international market today? What I have in mind is the cooperation of our enterprises with firms from the Baltic area, Europe and the world?

B.O. The role of Gdańsk and Gdynia increased significantly in the last few years, mainly thanks to the development of ports in Gdańsk and Gdynia. Poland’s accession to the EU, i.e. the year 2004 was the cut-off date. Rapidly growing reloading operations in ports reflected the rapid economic development or the country and its trade. Additionally, there were large investments in the transport infrastructure, also thanks to EU funds, which strengthened the position of ports even further. The transport industry which, to put it simply, deals with the trade and cargo service is also growing along with the increase in the quantity of cargos. It is an industry that generates a lot of jobs, mainly related to ports. The role of Pomerania in the Baltic region is the role of the leader and, from the European perspective, ports in Gdańsk and Gdynia are one of the most rapidly growing medium-sized port centres in Europe.

POMERANIA 2030

M.B.: What if we wanted to describe daringly a vision of Pomerania in 2030 from the perspective of logistics and the transport industry? What shall we have then, what we do not have now and what still requires a lot of effort and energy today?

B.O. If I were to try and describe a vision of Pomerania 2030, I would say that the scale of the port, business, and the TSL industry would be much greater. Larger shops will arrive here, ports will have a larger and more modern infrastructure. The road and railway infrastructure is one of the key issues to be settled, both as regard the access to ports and further, i.e. as support centres. Therefore, if we talk about effort it shall be directed both towards the development of ports and the development of the land infrastructure. And development is not only expansion but also the intelligent management of such expansion and traffic.

NEW SILK ROUTE

M.B.: A discussion about the development of the New Silk Route will be one of the conference topics. What do you think about the chance for further development of the Baltic and European logistic sector?

B.O. This topic is discussed at many meetings and conferences. The policy of the government of China related to the New Silk Route mainly consists of the strengthening of China’s presence as regards investments worldwide, including Europe. Chinese investments are also made in ports, e.g. in Greece and Portugal. One has to remember that the transport route between Europe and Asia, especially China offers the largest scale of trade in Europe. Therefore, we can say that Chinese investments in European ports are a natural direction to attain the goals of the Silk Route. However, the scale of investments is still minor in Europe. Time will show whether the Chinese capital will be invested in ports to a greater degree.

INNOVATIONS IN BUSINESS

M.B.: You have been observing the development of the TSL industry for many years; Do you believe that there is space for the creation of demand for innovations, new types of services and development of forms such as start-ups there?

B.O. Of course there is. The port sector or, more generally, the TSL is a fast growing industry and, at the same time, considered rather conservative. The simultaneous development of the industry and its technological advancement creates opportunities for the realization of many innovative projects or start-ups. In general, we have been observing the process of digitalization of that industry for a few years that, as a consequence, is supposed to help improve the effectiveness of logistic solutions for the transport of goods.

TRANSPORT WEEK GALA IN OLIVIA

M.B.: You have also planned a special meeting for all guests as a part of the agenda of the 3-day event at the Transport Week 2018 which was held in a unique place: Olivia Sky Club from where one can see the panorama of the entire Gdańsk Bay. It is from there that one can also see sea transport routes. Please tell us, what the guests experienced during that special evening?

B.O. In particular, guests had an opportunity to have a good time in the Olivia Business Centre with a view of the Bay. Such meetings offer an opportunity for non-formal conversations, initiation of business contacts. In general, guests who visit Gdańsk or Gdynia once in a few years are surprised with the development rate and with places such as Olivia. On behalf of the organisers of the Transport Week, I want to thank you for hosting us that evening. It is worth mentioning that the Baltic Transport Journal handed out awards to firms for special achievements in the transport industry in the Baltic area at the meeting. Winners included firms from Pomerania: DCT Gdańsk and the Management of the Gdańsk Seaport.

POMERANIA – WINDOW TO THE WORLD

M.B: When I listened to you talking about your experience presenting the development of Pomeranian firms and their connections to the world, I observed the intense growth of transport-related industries focused on Gdańsk – we can safely say that our window to the world is open increasingly wider!

B.O. Oh yes! Windows of Pomerania and Gdańsk have always been and still are wide open to the world.

–/–

^{Bogdan Ołdakowski, President of the Management Board and founder of Actia Forum Sp. Ltd. He has been performing the function of the Secretary of the General Organisation of Baltic Ports since 2006. He is also the President of the Management Board of the Baltic Press Sp. z o.o. publishing house and the Motus Foundation. In 1996-2003, connected to the Management Board of the Morski Port Gdansk S.A. occupying various positions. In the same period, he participated in the work of the Baltic Ports Organisation, European Sea Port Organisation and other international organisations. Worked as an advisor at the Gdansk Airport. Lech Wałęsa Sp. of o. about. in 2000-2003. In 1994-1998, a team member in GEOMOR with which it finished his cooperation on the position of a Management Board Member and the Managing Director. He participates in the work of industry and economic organisations, is a member of groups of experts and advisory groups, among other things, a Management Board member at the Pomeranian Regional Chamber of Commerce, a member of the European Sustainable Shipping Forum and the European Ports Forum, consulting groups at the European Commission. A participant in many consulting projects related to sea sectors, ports, infrastructure, transport, energy and environmental protection. An organizer, lecturer and speaker at conferences and international forums. Graduated from the Faculty of Biology, Geography and Coastal Science at the Gdańsk University. A scholar of the Tempus Program during the studies. A scholar of the Government of the Kingdom of Denmark after graduation. He graduated from the Law and Management Postgraduate Studies at the Management and Economics Department of the Gdańsk University of Technology and a managerial course: Port Management and Organization organized by the Ports of Stockholm. He also completed the Baltic Leadership Programme organized by the Swedish Institute. He practices sports: tennis, football, skiing. He is interested in jazz, literature and contemporary painting.}

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^{About Olivia CONNECT. The CONNECT Project was established to stimulate and facilitate the cooperation between all residents of the Olivia Business Centre. Its priority is to create the environment promoting business development and to initiate projects whose joint realization helps expand the region of Pomerania. Numerous non-governmental organisations have their offices in Olivia CONNECT, e.g. associations, foundations and business support organisations. Residents of Olivia CONNECT include: the infoShare Foundation, Marek Kamiński Foundation, Marek Kamiński Institute and the Inspiring Examples Foundation as well as the Regional Chamber of Commerce of Pomerania, Pomeranian Union of Entrepreneurs Lewiatan, GUP Job Office, ICT Interizon Cluster and the BPO Education Centre – Sopot High School.}

GALA TRANSPORT WEEK 2018 IN OLIVIA

OLIVIA – A TRANSPORT WEEK 2018 PARTNER

READ MORE INTERVIEWS IN OLIVIA

From 6 to 8 of March there will be held the 8^th Transport Week conference, which is one of the most respected events connected with transport and logistic services industry in Central Europe. This year’s meeting of the representatives of transport and logistic sector will be devoted to the analysis of current and upcoming projects of port infrastructure development in Poland and Europe, as well as opportunities offered by the New Silk Route.

Olivia Business Centre, the biggest business centre in northern Poland, will be the partner of Transport Week 2018. Already on March 7, the centre will host top European representatives of transport and logistic companies. This day, in Olivia Sky Club, there will be held “Baltic Trendsetters Club Certificates” award ceremony. The certificates are awarded by the editorial staff of “Baltic Transport Journal”. The winners of these awards are the companies, which drive the development of the Baltic Sea Region, while implementing unique and daring undertakings, which have a lasting impact on logistic and transport industries.

 

CONFERENCE

Before talking about the subject of international logistic industry, the participants of Transport Week will have a chance to take a closer look at the issues connected with the development of transport infrastructure in the region. During the debate entitled “Infrastructure and transport and logistic services industry – Pomerania 2030”, which will be held on the first day of the conference, there will be presented a general picture of the current state of regional projects connected with logistic sector. On the second day, there will be, for example, the summary of the situation in the port market. Among panellists and speakers there will be the representatives of the biggest Polish sea ports – Gdańsk, Gdynia, Szczecin-Świnoujście – as well as guests from Rotterdam, Stockholm, Helsinki and Wilhelmshaven. There will be a discussion about, among other issues, the financing of the development of port infrastructure, spatial planning, coexistence of ports and cities, as well the influence of automation on the development of ports and terminals. Participants will pay special attention to the New Silk Route and Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) – these initiatives will be the main subject of the third day of the conference. Legal regulations, using the potential offered by the Silk Route, the role of Poland as railway gates leading to the Middle East, intercontinental services from the point of view of road and railway operators, as well as Digital Silk Route – these are just some of the subjects, which will be touched upon on that day.

Every year, during Transport Week conference, there meet key representatives of the European transport sector, the biggest market players, investors, experts. Among the participants there are the owners of shipping and container lines, Ro-Ro operators, port and terminal authorities, railway operators, as well as the representatives of administrative bodies in Poland and abroad or the representatives of European transport and logistic organisations.

PATRONS OF THE EVENT

The honorary patronage over the event was taken, for example, by the Ministry of Infrastructure, the Ministry of Maritime Economy and Inland Navigation, the Marshall of Pomerania Voivodship, the mayor of Gdańsk and key European institutions – for example The Baltic Ports Organization (BPO), European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) and Polish Platform LNG.

The conference will take place in the Congress Centre of the Polish Baltic Frédéric Chopin Philharmonic.

Actia Forum is the organiser of the event.

More information can be found on the official website of the conference

Watch the coverage of Transport Week Gala 2017

2nd Metropolitan Debate in Olivia is behind us. The representatives of the government, local governments and experts were talking in Olivia about mobility in Pomerania.

On Friday, March 2, politicians and experts met in Olivia to talk about the future of transport in Pomerania. Metropolis is, most of all, a hope of the residents of the whole region for the improvement of transport. Smooth transport was the theme of the discussion in Olivia. The following persons participated in the 2^nd Metropolitan Debate in Olivia:

• Kazimierz Smoliński, Deputy Minister of Infrastructure
• Ryszard Świlski, member of the Management Board of the Pomeranian Voivodship
• Edyta Damszel-Turek, director of Gdańsk Development Office
• Magdalena Kołodziejczak, Pruszcz Gdański commune head
• Krzysztof Rudziński, CEO of InnoBaltica company
• Marcin Wołek, councillor in Gdynia, transport specialist

The debate was opened by Olivia Business Centre CEO, Maciej Grabski, and the organiser and originator of the series, editor-in-chief of “Dziennik Bałtycki” – Mariusz Szmidka. – Where there’s a will there’s a way, that is why our ambition is to create a strong metropolis in Pomerania – he emphasised.

The discussion, moderated by Jarosław Zalesiński, ed., started with the most important, according to participants, issue, namely the priorities for the Pomeranian metropolis in the area of transport. Minister Smoliński emphasised that the basic problem, present in the whole Poland, is the unfavourable transport structure. – Even 40 years ago, 80% goods were transported by rail, nowadays road transport of goods dominates to a similar degree. If we don’t change it, we won’t catch up with Western Europe. We need to develop rail and water transport. People are getting richer, there are more and more cars, the development of road infrastructure will never keep pace with it. Statistics show that we go by rail more and more willingly, but there are still many white spots on the maps of connections, also in Pomerania. In recent years, many public connections in Kashubia have been cancelled – he explained.

During the meeting, there was a discussion about the meaning of the future act on the metropolis in Pomerania. There was also a talk about the role and effects of current cooperation between communes. A lot of emotions were stirred by: the issue of joint ticket platform for the Pomeranian region, on which InnoBaltica company is working, pilot metropolitan act for Silesia and spatial planning, which doesn’t aid – especially in the communes, which border with Tri-City – the active usage of urban transport.

MORE INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND ON THE METROPOLITAN DEBATES WEBSITE

COVERAGE OF THE DEBATE ON DZIENNIK BAŁTYCKI WEBSITE

FULL VIDEO COVERAGE OF THE METROPOLITAN DEBATE

On 6-8 March, the eighth Transport Week conference will be held, one of the most recognized events in Central Europe dedicated to the TSL industry. This year’s meeting of representatives of the transport and logistics sector will be devoted to the analysis of current and upcoming port infrastructure development projects in Poland and Europe, as well as the opportunities offered by the New Silk Road.

The partner of Transport Week 2018 is the largest business centre in northern Poland, Olivia Business Centre, which will host top European representatives of transport and logistics companies on 7 March . On that day, the “Baltic Trendsetters Club Certificates” award ceremony will be held at the Olivia Sky Club, awarded by the editors of the “Baltic Transport Journal”. The winners of the award are companies that drive the development of the Baltic Sea Region by implementing unique and bold projects that have a lasting impact on the logistics and transport industry.

CONFERENCE

Before devoting themselves to the issues of the international logistics industry, the participants of Transport Week will have the opportunity to take a closer look at the issues related to the development of transport infrastructure in the region. During the debate entitled “Infrastructure and TSL industry – Pomerania 2030”, taking place on the first day of the conference, a picture of the current state of regional projects related to the logistics sector will be outlined. Day two is m.in. Summary of the situation on the port market. Among the panelists and speakers, there will be representatives of the largest Polish seaports – Gdansk, Gdynia, Szczecin-Świnoujście – as well as guests from Rotterdam, Stockholm, Helsinki and Wilhelmshaven. m.in will be discussed. issues related to the financing of the development of port infrastructure, spatial planning, coexistence of ports and cities, and the impact of automation on the development of ports and terminals. Particular attention will be paid to the New Silk Road and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) – these initiatives will be the main topic of the third day of the conference. Polish legal regulations, the use of the potential offered by the Silk Road, the role of Poland as a railway gateway leading to the Middle East, intercontinental services from the point of view of road and rail operators, as well as the Digital Silk Road – these are just some of the topics discussed on that day.

Every year, the Transport Week conference brings together key representatives of the European transport sector, the largest industry market players, investors and experts. Among the participants of the event are owners of shipping and container lines, Ro-Ro operators, port and terminal authorities, railway operators, as well as representatives of administrative offices in Poland and abroad or representatives of European transport and logistics organizations.

PATRONS OF THE EVENT

The honorary patronage over the event was taken by: among others. The Ministry of Infrastructure, the Ministry of Maritime Economy and Inland Navigation, the Marshal of the Pomeranian Voivodeship, the Mayor of the City of Gdansk and key European institutions – the City of Gdansk. among others. The Baltic Ports Organization (BPO), the European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) and the Polish LNG Platform.

The conference will be held at the Congress Centre of the Polish Baltic Philharmonic.

The organizer of the event is Actia Forum.

More on the official website of the conference

See the report from the Transport Week 2017 Gala

 

Olivia Business Centre is the first business centre in the Tricity that established the cooperation with Traficar – a company which offers car rental paid per minute. Thanks to the signed agreement, a parking zone for Traficars was created in Olivia. It is a new implementation in OBC in line with the principles of the sharing economy. Car sharing is one of its examples as it makes it possible to limit the number of cars moving around the city and actively promote ecology and pro-social attitudes. The research shows that one car-sharing car can replace even 19 private cars*.

Olivia Business Centre has been betting on non-standard transporting solutions for years. There is a carpooling platform in the business centre – shared use of cars on the way to and from work is only one of the suggestions Olivia offers with regard to ecology and savings – there is also a special OBC bus service and charging points for electric cars. Additionally, tenants have hundreds of parking places for bikes at their disposal along with lockers and showers for cyclists and bike repair stations. From now on, thanks to the cooperation between Olivia and Traficar, the possibility for individuals as well as for business purposes to use cars paid per minute complements the comprehensive offer.

Traficar has been operating in the Tricity since autumn last year. You can now rent a car and drive it directly to the Olivia Business Centre. The Centre has prepared three parking places dedicated to the Traficar fleet in front of the Olivia Gate B.

How can you use the service? It is simple:

• download the Traficar application;
• find the nearest car available and book it;
• having reached the car (you have fifteen minutes to do so), check its side number and scan the QR code to open the door;
• the car is in running order as of that moment.

The Traficar service covers most popular districts of Gdańsk (including Śródmieście, Oliwa, Wrzeszcz, Żabianka, Przymorze, Brzeźno, Osowa, Siedlce) and Gdynia (among others, Gdynia Glowna, Obłuże, Chylonia, Redłowo, Karwiny, Dąbrowa, Orłowo and Mały Kack). Traficar is also present in Sopot. The current corporate fleet consists of 300 cars in the Tricity. The service is based on the open parking model (free-floating), which means that a car can be rented and returned at any place within the zone.

Find Olivia in the Traficar application. Find Traficar in Olivia 🙂

Read more about how each of 100 Traficars can replace even 19 ordinary cars. We can recommend the article in mojafirma.infor.pl

Olivia Business Centre, as the first business centre in the Tri-City, has started cooperation with Traficar, a company providing car rental services for minutes. Thanks to the signed agreement, a parking zone for Traficar’s cars was created in Olivia. This is yet another implementation of OBC carried out in accordance with the principles of the sharing economy. One of its examples is carsharing, which allows you to reduce the number of vehicles moving around the city and actively work for the environment, while promoting pro-social attitudes. Studies show that one carsharing vehicle can replace up to 19 private cars*.

Olivia Business Centre has been focusing on non-standard transport solutions for years. There is already a carpooling platform in the business centre – sharing a car on the way to and from work is just one of Olivia’s proposals in terms of ecology and savings – there is a special OBC bus running here, and there are charging points for electric cars. Tenants also have at their disposal hundreds of parking spaces for bicycles, lockers, showers for cyclists and bicycle repair stations. From now on, as part of Olivia’s cooperation with Traficar, the offer is complemented by the possibility of using cars for minutes, both by private individuals and for business purposes.

Traficar has been operating in the Tri-City since autumn last year. From now on, you can rent a car and end the course with a rented vehicle directly at Olivia Business Centre. The centre has prepared three parking spaces dedicated to the Traficar fleet opposite the Olivia Gate B building.

How to use the service? It’s simple. You need to download the Traficar app; Find the nearest available car and book it; when you are at the car (you have a quarter of an hour to get there) check its side number and scan the QR code to open the door. From now on, the car is ready to drive.

^{Source: traficar.pl}

The Traficar service covers the most popular districts of Gdańsk (including Śródmieście, Oliwa, Wrzeszcz, Żabianka, Przymorze, Brzeźno, Osowa, Siedlce) and Gdynia (m.in. Gdynia Glowna, Obłuże, Chylonia, Redłowo, Karwiny, Dąbrowa, Orłowo and Mały Kack). Traficar was also present in Sopot. Today, the company’s fleet in the Tri-City consists of 300 vehicles. The service operates on the basis of an open parking model (free-floating), which means that the car can be rented and returned anywhere within the zone.

Search for Olivia in the Traficar app. Look for Traficar in Olivia:)

^{*from: “How can drivers fight smog?”, infor.pl, 17 January 2017}

Read more about the fact that each of the 100 Traficars can replace up to 19 regular cars. We recommend the article in mojafirma.infor.pl

 

Our Resident, PwC, is the largest tax advisory firm and the best audit firm of 2017! Congratulations!

PwC took first place in two prestigious rankings, the results of which were announced on 16 April. In the Ranking of Tax Firms and Advisors of Dziennik Gazeta Prawna, the highest position was awarded to PwC in the category “The Largest Tax Advisory Firm 2017”, and in the Ranking of Auditors of “Rzeczpospolita” and “Gazeta Giełdy Parkiet” in the category “The Best Audit Firm in Poland 2017”.

The largest tax advisory firm

In the latest edition of the Dziennik Gazeta Prawna ranking, PwC has been ranked highest on the podium for another year in a row. The company was awarded in the category “The Largest Tax Advisory Firm 2017”.

In addition, Agata Oktawiec and Andrzej Zubik received an individual distinction in the category of tax disputes for their project for a foreign pension fund concerning an application for payment of interest by the tax authorities for withholding tax in violation of EU law. PwC also received recognition from the jury for two projects: the first security opinion on the market and support for tax security with technologies.

“In recent years, taxes have become one of the most important areas of companies’ operations, shaping their image, influencing their reputation or even market valuation. This trend will continue to strengthen in the future. The first place in the ranking of Dziennik Gazeta Prawna is a confirmation of our market position and the trust of our clients. says Tomasz Barańczyk, Managing Partner of PwC’s Legal and Tax Department.

Best Audit Firm

PwC was also ranked first in the category “Best Audit Firm in Poland 2017” (ex aequo) in the ranking of auditors organized annually by “Rzeczpospolita” and “Gazeta Giełdy Parkiet”. In addition, the company received a distinction in the “Pro-Social Audit Company” category.

In addition to auditing financial statements, the auditor more and more often provides management and supervisory boards of companies with assurance that the company is aware of the challenges and threats in the implementation of the strategy, and that the company’s processes operate in such a way as to prevent these risks. In the context of the growing responsibility of management and supervisory boards resulting from the current regulations, this type of assurance in both the financial and non-financial areas is becoming particularly important. The dynamically changing economic reality also causes a growing need for such information on the part of investors – said Krzysztof Szułdrzyński, Managing Partner of the Audit Department at PwC.

PwC has been present in Poland for over 27 years. It has 8 regional offices – in Warsaw, Łódź, Gdańsk, Poznań, Wrocław, Katowice, Kraków and Rzeszów , as well as a Competence Centre in Gdańsk and two Shared Services Centres in Katowice and Opole. PwC companies in Poland employ over 4,500 people.

CONGRATULATIONS!

Family is strength. Enthusiastic spring Camerata at Olivia Star!

When warmer days come, we look out the window in search of new impressions and emotions that will put us in a positive mood and show us a new face of the world. However, before it really turns green, you have to look forward to the sun’s rays and the opportunity to spend time outdoors in complete comfort. But when spring really shows its potential—lots of sunshine all over the city—we all transform with it.

By inviting you to a series of 4 concerts from the Olivia Camerata series, we would like to talk about this season’s music… transitions. Music can express unique emotions. In the first edition of the Camerata, we admired the Nowicki family. A diverse programme was presented by: Karolina Piątkowska-Nowicka (violin) and Piotr Nowicki (piano) with her daughter and Magdalena Witczak (soprano) with her son. The spring repertoire is m.in. intricately made works by F.Chopin – Wish, Spring, H.Wieniawski – Obertas op.19 No. 1; Kujawiak op.3 No. 2, Romance from the Second Violin Concerto in D minor , F. Kreisler’s Liebeslied, as well as daring performances by I. Kálman – Silva’s Csárdás , F. Lehar – When the Violin Plays, Who Kisses My Lips, F. Loewe: Dance the Whole No.

Yesin place of the concert – the Olivia Star hall, was filled with incredible energy and joy. The large audience of the concert enthusiastically reacted to the presented pieces and intricate performances of the program. The images and sounds from this unique musical meeting will remain in our memory for a long time!

We invite you to see the full photo gallery on our profile!

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We cordially invite you to the next concert on June 9th! Today we can reveal that we will have a special guest! Magdalena Molendowska, a soprano who graduated from the Academy of Music in Gdańsk but has been conquering concert halls in Europe for several years, will come straight from London!

She graduated from the prestigious Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, obtaining the Gold Medal for the best graduate in the academic year 2012/2013, where she worked under the supervision of Rudolf Piernay. In addition, she also holds a master’s degree in law from the University of Gdańsk.She began her musical education in the singing class of prof. Dariusz Paradowski at the Academy of Music in Gdańsk. In 2008 she also graduated from the Opera Studio Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in Rome, where she studied m.in. at Renata Scotto’s. She is currently under the vocal tutelage of Yvonne Kenny. The soloist’s rich repertoire includes songs, oratorios and cantatas, but her favourite genre is opera. She made her stage debut in 2006 as Atalanta in G. F. Händel’s Xerxes – a performance produced by the Gdańsk Chamber Opera, which was also presented at the Bergedorfer Musiktage and the Summer Chamber Music Festival in Hel. Since 2011 she has been a soloist of the Teatr Wielki – Polish National Opera in Warsaw, where she made her debut in Wolfgang Rihm’s Jakob Lenz , and in the 2012/2013 artistic season she sang the title role of Halka in Stanisław Moniuszko’s opera. She also collaborates with the Wrocław Opera, the Krakow Opera, the Glyndebourne Festival and the Clonter Opera, and for many years she was associated with the Gdańsk Chamber Opera.

The artist has performed many Mozart roles, such as. Donna Elvira (Don Giovanni), Fiordiligi (Così fan tutte), Countess (The Marriage of Figaro), Vitellia (The Clemency of Titus), Arminda (La Finta Giardiniera). Her repertoire also includes the parts of Micaëla (Bizet’s Carmen ), Mimi (Puccini’s La Bohème ), Tatiana (Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin ), Kurfürstin (Der Vogelhändler by C. Zeller), Rosalinda (Strauss’s Die Fledermaus ) and Mother (Hansel and Gretel by E. Humperdinck). She also performs contemporary music – her achievements include a solo part in Vanity L. Syrus performed at the Glyndebourne Festival.

The artist’s immediate plans include her debut in the premiere performances of Halka at the Grand Theatre in Poznań and in Don Giovanni (Donna Elwira) at the Glyndebourne Festival.

https://opera.poznan.pl/Ca/magdalena-molendowska

During the Third Metropolitan Debate in Olivia, Aleksandra Dulkiewicz, Deputy Mayor of Gdańsk, discussed the competitiveness and strength of the metropolis and how to attract contractors and employees to Pomerania; Katarzyna Gruszecka-Spychała, Deputy Mayor of Gdynia; Prof. Iwona Sagan from the University of Gdansk; Joanna Witkowska , Director of the Provincial Labour Office in Gdańsk and Maciej Grabski, President of Olivia Business Centre.

“In order to maintain the pace of development of our region, we simply need to recruit employees from abroad. There is no other way. But in order for them to want to come to us, we need to provide them with access to schools, culture, offices and, of course, provide them with housing. Without foreign workers, we will only go backwards – says Joanna Witkowska, director of the Provincial Labour Office, one of the speakers during the 3rd Metropolitan Debate in Olivia. It is important to be aware that in a few years’ time employers will have to recruit professionals not only from Ukraine, but also from exotic African countries. That is why state and local government institutions should already be taking social action against discriminatory behaviour and supporting openness. “We can still recruit Ukrainians and Belarusians to work, but this resource will be exhausted sooner or later. Therefore, we have to be prepared for the fact that we will need people from very exotic countries, outside our cultural and, above all, religious circle. So we have a huge educational work ahead of us, which will open our minds to everything that is different. Today we can see that this can be a big challenge – said Aleksandra Dulkiewicz, Deputy Mayor of Gdańsk, during the debate.

The world’s metropolises are characterized by multiculturalism and tolerance. So, if we want to think seriously about creating a metropolis in Pomerania, we must first ensure friendly living conditions for foreigners and their families. – We do not exist alone. Let’s look at Berlin. It is considered to be one of the friendliest cities for the development of creativity. Metropolises are always colourful, multicultural and open to otherness. If we go to one of the world’s metropolises, we will feel at home there. Is this the result of a deliberate state policy? No, these are natural socio-economic processes that require human potential. We must remember that people who come to work here want to settle here. So we need to create a friendly place for their whole families. There needs to be some kind of public service offer for them. These are the people who are also customers, consumers and who will drive the economy – believes Prof. Iwona Sagan from the University of Gdansk.

^{Fig. Piotr Hukało}

On the other hand, Maciej Grabski, President of Olivia Business Centre, noted that the acquisition of employees from distant countries will take place only in a few years. He stated that it is worth taking advantage of the human resources potential that is still in Poland. There is no shortage of regions in the country whose inhabitants would like to move to Pomerania. – First, let’s use what we have in the country, and then let’s reach for employees from exotic countries. There are workers in other regions who would be willing to live with us, but we need to provide them with the right conditions. Let’s remember that employing Poles from other areas is a cheaper solution for employers than employing foreigners. said Maciej Grabski, President of the Management Board. He also pointed out that ensuring the availability of housing is an element conducive to the recruitment of employees and influencing the development of the region. And it’s not just about making it easier to buy a place.

President Grabski also believes that Pomerania should fight for some pro-development impulse, financed from central funds. – A large programme would be useful, it could be aimed at improving the quality of education at universities, or maybe it would be of a university-military nature? To this end, it would be worthwhile to apply for a government grant – adds Maciej Grabski.

^{source: “The third metropolitan debate at Olivia Business Centre. Metropolises are always multicultural, colourful and open to otherness”, Dziennik Bałtycki, author: Agnieszka Kamińska}

More about the Third Debate, including video materials, on the website of Dziennik Bałtycki

 

 

The Pomeranian Regional Chamber of Commerce has its headquarters in Olivia Business Centre, in the Olivia CONNECT space, and for years has been supporting domestic companies in conducting business activities, in the development and implementation of international projects. As part of the Transport Week conference, the eighth edition of which was devoted to port infrastructure development projects in Europe and the opportunities offered by the New Silk Road – the event is once again held under the patronage of Olivia Business Centre – we talk to Bogdan Ołdakowski, member of the board of RIGP and president of Actia Forum sp. z o.o., the organizer of Transport Week. The main themes of “Olivia’s Conversation” are m.in. foreign expansion of Pomeranian companies, the vision of Pomerania’s development and the role of the developing TSL industry (transport, forwarding, logistics) in this process.

ABOUT THE CHALLENGES OF COMPANIES IN POMERANIA

Monika Bogdanowicz (Olivia Business Centre Communication Expert): Do Pomeranian entrepreneurs have reasons to be satisfied? According to the Pomeranian Regional Chamber of Commerce, what are the main challenges facing companies in 2018?

Bogdan Ołdakowski, President of the Management Board of Actia Forum Sp. z o.o. organizer of the Transport Week conference, member of the board of the Regional Chamber of Commerce (RIGP).:Yes. Last year was a good year for the economy in Poland. The positive effects of rapid economic growth can also be seen in Pomerania, the revenues of companies are growing, and exports are also growing, although the growth rate is not as fast as in previous years. Undoubtedly, the challenge this year is to find people to work. Problems in the labour market can be seen almost everywhere. This, of course, in addition to the shortage of manpower, translates into an increase in pressure on wages, which increases the costs of economic activity.

INTERNATIONAL EXPANSION OF POMERANIAN COMPANIES

M.B.: How do you generally assess the potential of Pomeranian companies and their preparation for international expansion? How does the TSL industry fare in these professions?

B.O. The Pomeranian region is characterized by a great openness to cooperation with international markets. This is due to many factors, including the characteristic coastal location of the region, which has always encouraged people to travel, to look for markets “overseas”. I rate the preparation of Pomeranian companies for their presence on international markets highly. Of course, you can always point to some problems, such as the collapse of the off-shore market (the extraction of oil and gas from the sea in the world), which has benefited many companies. The TSL industry is also doing well internationally. By its very nature, this industry operates on international markets, but the domain of activity of many companies in this industry is Pomerania, because here we are dealing with a very fast-growing market.

RIGP SUPPORT

M.B.: How does the Pomeranian Regional Chamber of Commerce really help its members in development and promotion abroad? What benefits do RIGP members receive and why is it worth being an active participant in meetings and trainings organized m.in? in Olivia’s conference spaces?

B.O. There are many companies in RIGP and it is mainly thanks to their services that other entrepreneurs have a chance to take advantage of professional help. RIGP also implements projects aimed at helping companies on international markets, such as the Pomeranian Export Broker project, in which it is one of the partners. From the point of view of a company interested in a specific market, it is worth simply attending seminars or trainings to learn about the details of running a business, e.g. in Norway or Iran. For those who want further help, we offer professional advice. The Pomeranian Export Broker project can also co-finance the costs of trips to fairs, conferences, etc. Let us not forget that the Chamber can offer specific assistance in financing business activities. I would like to invite you to the Chamber.

THE ROLE OF GDAŃSK IN THE INDUSTRY

M.B.: Moving on to the Forum prepared by Actia for the 8th time. Transport Week conference, one of the most popular events dedicated to the TSL industry. What is the role of Gdańsk and the entire Pomerania region on the international market today? I mean the cooperation of our companies with companies from the Baltic Sea region, Europe and the world?

B.O. The role of Gdansk and Gdynia has increased significantly in recent years, mainly due to the development of the ports of Gdansk and Gdynia. Such a cut-off date was 2004, i.e. Polish’s accession to the EU. The rapid economic development of the country and trade exchange was reflected in the rapidly growing transshipments in ports. At the same time, also thanks to EU funds, there have been major investments in transport infrastructure, which has further strengthened the position of ports. Along with the increase in the amount of cargo in ports, so does the transport industry, which – to put it simply – handles trade and cargo. It is an industry that creates a lot of jobs, mainly in the vicinity of ports. On the scale of the Baltic Sea, the role of Pomerania is a leading role, and on a European scale, the ports of Gdansk and Gdynia are one of the fastest growing medium-sized port centres in Europe.

POMERANIA 2030

M.B.: And if we wanted to boldly describe what the vision of Pomerania in 2030 will look like in the logistics and transport industry? What will we have then, what do we not have today, and what do we still need to spend a lot of effort and energy on today?

B.O. If I were to try to come up with a vision of Pomerania 2030, the scale of the port business and the TSL industry will probably be much larger. Larger ships will enter here, ports will have a larger, more modern infrastructure. One of the key issues to be resolved is the road and rail infrastructure, both in direct access to ports and further on the so-called “roads”. Hinterland. So if we are talking about an effort, it should be directed towards both the development of ports and the development of land infrastructure. At the same time, the development is not only expansion, but also intelligent management of it and traffic.

THE NEW SILK ROAD

M.B. One of the topics of the conference will be a discussion on the development of the New Silk Road. How do you assess the opportunities for further development for the Baltic and European logistics sector?

B.O. This topic is present at many meetings and conferences. The policy of the Chinese government within the framework of the so-called The New Silk Road is mainly about strengthening China’s investment presence in the world, including Europe. Chinese investments are also carried out in ports, e.g. in Greece or Portugal. It should be remembered that the transport route between Europe and Asia, in particular China, is the largest scale of trade in the world. Therefore, it can be said that Chinese investments in European ports are a natural direction for achieving the goals of the Silk Road. However, the scale of investment in Europe is still small. It remains to be seen whether Chinese capital will be invested in ports to a greater extent.

INNOVATION IN BUSINESS

M.B.: Having been observing the development of the TSL sector for many years, do you think that there is room for creating demand for innovations and new types of services and the development of start-up forms?

B.O. Absolutely. The port industry, or more broadly TSL, is a fast-growing industry and at the same time considered to be quite conservative. The simultaneous development of the industry and its state of technological advancement creates opportunities for the implementation of many innovative projects or the so-called start-ups. In general, we have been observing the process of the so-called digitization or digitization of this industry, which in consequence is to increase the efficiency of logistics solutions for the transport of goods.

TRANSPORT WEEK GALA IN OLIVIA

M.B.: As part of the program of the 3-day Transport Week 2018 event, you have also planned a special meeting for all guests, which took place in a unique place – Olivia Sky Club, from which you can watch the panorama of the entire Bay of Gdańsk. It is from this place that you can also see the sea transport routes. Could you tell us what the guests experienced on this special evening?

B.O. First of all, the guests had the opportunity to have a good time in the Olivia Business Centre, with a view of the Bay. Such meetings provide an opportunity for informal talks and initiating business contacts. Generally, guests who visit Gdańsk or Gdynia once every few years are amazed by the pace of development and places like Olivia. On behalf of the organisers of Transport Week, I would like to thank you for your hospitality this evening. It is worth noting that during the meeting, the “Baltic Transport Journal” presented awards to companies for their special achievements in the transport industry in the Baltic Sea. Among the winners were m.in. companies from Pomerania: DCT Gdansk and the Port of Gdansk Authority.

POMERANIA – A WINDOW TO THE WORLD

M.B.: Listening to your experiences presenting the development of Pomeranian companies and their connections with the world, as well as observing the intensive growth of transport-related industries – focused in Gdańsk – it is safe to say that our window to the world is more and more open!

B.O. Oh yes! Pomerania and Gdansk, the windows to the world have always been wide open.

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^{Bogdan Ołdakowski, CEO and founder of Actia Forum Sp. Ltd. Since 2006, he has also been the Secretary General of the Baltic Ports Organization. Also the President of the Management Board of the Baltic Press Sp. z o.o. and the Motus Foundation. From 1996 to 2003, he worked for the Port of Gdansk Authority SA in various positions. During this period, he participated in the work of the Baltic Ports Organization (BPO), the European Seaports Organization (ESPO) and other international organizations. In the years 2000-2003 he worked as an advisor at the Gdansk Airport. Lech Wałęsa Sp. In the years 1994-1998 he was associated with the consulting company GEOMOR, where he ended his cooperation as a member of the management board and managing director. He participates in the work of industry and economic organizations, member of expert and advisory groups, m.in. Member of the Board of the Pomeranian Regional Chamber of Commerce, member of the European Sustainable Shipping Forum and the European Ports Forum – advisory groups to the European Commission. Participant of many consulting projects in the field of maritime sectors, ports, infrastructure, transport, energy, environmental protection. Organizer, speaker and host of international conferences and forums. A graduate of the University of Gdańsk, Faculty of Biology, Geography and Oceanology. During his studies, he received a scholarship from the Tempus Program. After graduating, he received a scholarship from the Government of the Kingdom of Denmark. He completed Postgraduate Legal and Management Studies at the Faculty of Management and Economics of the Gdańsk University of Technology and managerial courses: Port Management and Organization organized by Ports of Stockholm. He also completed the Baltic Leadership Programme organised by the Swedish Institute. He is active in sports: tennis, football, skiing. He is interested in jazz, literature and contemporary painting.}

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^{About Olivia CONNECT. The CONNECT project was created to stimulate and facilitate cooperation between all residents of Olivia Business Centre. Its overarching goal is to create an environment conducive to business development and to initiate projects whose joint implementation is conducive to the expansion of the Pomeranian region. Numerous non-governmental organizations, m.in. associations and foundations, as well as business support institutions, have their headquarters in Olivia CONNECT. Among the residents of Olivia CONNECT are, m.in: infoShare Foundation, Marek Kamiński Foundation, Marek Kamiński Institute and Inspiring Examples Foundation, as well as the Pomeranian Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Pomeranian Association of Entrepreneurs Lewiatan, GUP Job Office, the Interizon ICT Cluster and the BPO Education Centre – Sopot University of Applied Sciences.}

TRANSPORT WEEK GALA 2018 IN OLIVIA

OLIVIA IS A PARTNER OF TRANSPORT WEEK 2018

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