The Polish-Georgian Chamber of Commerce and Industry
The Polish-Georgian Chamber of Commerce and Industry was established out of Poles’ passion for Georgia and operates to facilitate mutual economic and cultural relations between Poland and Georgia. The Chamber belongs to the leading business organisations in Poland. It represents and protects the interest of a great number of entrepreneurs, bringing together business organisations of various sectors. Expert knowledge and experience of the team, combined with a professional and individual approach to business partners, make our activity in projects on the cultural and economic cooperation of Poland and Georgia optimal and effective.
We closely cooperate with the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Tbilisi and the Embassy of Georgia in Warsaw. The portfolio of our partners includes institutions supporting business, government agencies and NGOs.
What conditions the effectiveness and dynamism of our activity is our permanent offices operating in Poland and in Georgia.
The Chamber's operation philosophy
The security of our partners and their investments
Professionalism in the services provided
Solid knowledge and experience of the Chamber employees and partners
Using modern information and technological platforms that optimise the project activity
Excellent knowledge of the business culture and the investment climate in Georgia and in Poland
What distinguishes the Chamber
Permanent offices in Poland and in Georgia guarantee the effectiveness and dynamism of our activity both on the local markets as well as on the global market.
Our staff are specially trained high-class professionals. Expert knowledge, combined with long years of experience, guarantee lasting professionalism of the services provided. We will communicate with anyone. Our staff speak 5 languages.
We present a monthly list of attractive tenders in Georgia to our member companies. Access to a monthly newsletter that presents the latest news on the Georgian business world.
Bodies of the Polish-Georgian Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Board of Directors
The Board of Directors manages ongoing operations of the Chamber in Poland and in Georgia. Its competencies include all matters not reserved for other authorities of the Chamber.
Competencies of the Board of Directors:
- implement resolutions of the General Meeting;
- accept, remove and delete members;
- manage ongoing operations of the Chamber;
- appoint and dismiss the Chamber Office Director; the operations of the Office are supervised by the President of the Board of Directors;
- handle motions and complaints regarding the operation of the Chamber;
- pass resolutions regarding appointment, suspension and liquidation of offices and branches as referred to in Article 7.2 and supervise their operation;
- pass resolutions regarding the incorporation or joining an organization referred to in Article 2.3 of the By-Laws;
- determine principles of funding of the Chamber’s operation, establishing ring-fenced funds and their usage rules;
- determine draft budgets of the Chamber and present these to the General Meeting;
- amending the budgets during the financial year if necessary;
- submit the motion referred to in Article 19.5 in fine;
- submit the motion referred to in Article 16.19;
- resolve on all matters entrusted to the Board of Directors as per the By-Laws or not reserved for the General Meeting.
General Meeting
The General Meeting of Members is the supreme authority of the Chamber competent to:
- accept the agenda and determine the rules of the General Meeting of Members;
- accept the Chamber’s operational programs;
- analyze Board of Directors’ reports on the activities of the Chamber, resolve on matters presented by the Board and accept its operational rules;
- appoint members of the audit committee upon completion of its office term or if vacancies occur; dismiss the committee members;
- suspend the Board of Directors members;
- appoint the President of the Board in cases determined in the second sentence of Article 19.7;
- approve the By-Laws sand amendments thereto;
- determine the organizational structure of the Chamber and other regulations regarding its operation and amendments thereto;
- if motioned by the Board of Directors, approve the Chamber’s budget for a given calendar year;
- decide on liquidation of the Chamber;
- decide on the manner of covering operating expenses of the Chamber if they exceed its income;
- decide on business operations carried out by the Chamber;
- determine the amount of the membership premium if motioned by the Board of Directors;
- decide on other issues reserved for the General Meeting as per the By-Laws.
Audit Committee
The Audit Committee is the supervisory body of the Chamber, competent to:
- carry out ongoing and annual audit of Chamber’s activities with special focus on finance;
- present the General Meeting with observations and conclusions regarding ongoing operations of the Chamber;
- present the General Meeting with reports on the activities of the Audit Committee and conclusions regarding a discharge for the members of the Board;
- appoint its Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson from among its members;
- decide on all matters entrusted with the Audit Committee.
Board of Directors of the Polish-Georgian Chamber of Industry and Commerce:
President:
Stanisław Raźniewski
s.razniewski@pol-ge.com
Key areas of activity
Supporting Polish business initiatives
The Chamber represents and protects interests of its members; monitors activities of various level authorities on a continuous basis; represents all its members before any administrative bodies in order to obtain decisions regarding members’ problems.
International cooperation
The Chamber cooperates with governmental agencies, such as Polish Investment and Trade Agency (PAIH), Polish Agency for Enterprise Development (PARP), Lower Silesian Agency for Business Cooperation (DAWG), Enterprise Georgia, carrying out international projects and other initiatives of its members.
It closely cooperates with the Polish Embassy in Tbilisi and with the Georgian Embassy in Warsaw. Our partners’ portfolios include business support institutions, government agencies and NGO.
Active cooperation with Polish organizations in Georgia and support for social and cultural initiatives of the local Poles are embedded in the operations of the newly established Chamber.
Polish-Georgian events
In 2017 the Chamber sponsored the 5th edition of FDI Poland Investor Award Gala, one of the key business events. In November it participated in the Vysehrad Group (V4) meeting in Tbilisi, and in December joined the Third Industry Forum in Karpacz and Tbilisi Belt and Road Forum, a new Silk Road initiative.
Supporting Polish export
Organizing expansion of Polish businesses to Georgian markets and promoting Polish products abroad, including Georgia, is among the governing objectives of the Chamber.
Further, the Chamber provides a range of services that comprise obtaining of external funding, development of business plans, presentation of businesses on international fairs, legal, tax and administrative support.
Corporate social responsibility (CSR)
The Chamber promotes the CSR concept that includes social interests and protection of various stakeholder groups.
According to the Chamber, the key idea underlying CSR is to improve the image of Poland and provide Poles living abroad with cultural support. Polish companies increase their social impact on the international level, therefore we promote them as reliable business partners.
In March 2018, in cooperation with the Polish Embassy in Tbilisi and Chamber members, the project of supplying a bell to a Catholic church in Tbilisi will be completed. The event will include the blessing of the bell, a memorial plaque will be unveiled, followed with a Mass.
Georgia
Since regaining its independence in the 1990’s, Georgia has been the most successful example of reforms in the region, owing to the enhancement of its democratic institutions, economic growth and increased social awareness. With its pro-European orientation, it seems to be a regional business center and an attractive international business hub.
Georgia is the a leader of liberal business reforms among ex-Soviet states, offering attractive business terms confirmed by high places in international rankings, such as Doing Business. Well-directed reforms have allowed almost complete liquidation of small-scale corruption.
Placed between Europe and Asia, Georgia marks the shortest route joining the regions. Being well-connected to Europe, the Caspian region, Middle East and Central and Eastern Asia adds to its attractiveness.
Georgia is much more than just a market of 4 million inhabitants and no customs duties, it has concluded free trade agreements with the Commonwealth of Independent States (Moldavia, Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kirgizstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan), as well as with its neighbors, Azarbaijan, Armenia and Turkey.
In 2014 it concluded and ratified DCFTA with the European Union. Since 2000, it has been a WTO member.
In February 2016 official negotiations between Georgia and China regarding free trade commenced. In light of the importance of the New Silk Road Project, a relevant agreement is expected to be concluded soon.
Poland
Since 1990’s Poland has been a stable and rapidly growing economy. Its current macroeconomic standing is well-founded. It has been among the few residents of economic crises in the EU.
Its business environment is highly attractive owing to a number of factors.
Its economy is differentiated. Many businesses operate in the industrial, service and agricultural sector. Partners for cooperation in food or automotive industry, as well as in construction, aircraft or finance are easy to find.
Poles are hard-working and well-educated. Polish workers are professional, ambitious and involved, with creativity and pro-active attitude being their key characteristics. Poland is the sixth biggest EU member state with nearly 40 million people, the largest one in Central and Eastern Europe.
Poles are proud of their stable economy, as Poland has been one of the few EU member states not impacted by recession and demonstrating positive economic indicators. According to Polish Central Statistical Office, in 2010 its economic growth rate reached 3.9%, being one of the highest in Europe. Please note that the public financing terms exceed those of the EU.
Poland is an example of effective management and transformation, having implemented a series of deep post-communist reforms, which has contributed to improved business attractiveness and infrastructure: roads, railroads and the power supply infrastructure.
Having accessed the EU in 2004, Poland has become the door to the entire common market: apart of its own 40 million consumers, to the nearly 500 million of the EU ones. For Poland, this may only mean the commencement of pan-European business development.
Competitive prices bring additional substantial value to the Polish market and the entire economy. Polish product are famous for high quality and competitive prices.
In terms of foreign investments, in 2003-2014 the number of greenfield initiatives reached 3,379 and provided 822,000 new jobs.
Poland is ranked 20th in the global GDP ranking and is classified as a high-income economy by the World Bank. Services account for the largest sector of its economy.