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Kish
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Tourist
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Shopping Centers
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Kish Industry
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Investment
in Kish
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Training
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Foreign Trade Zones/Free Ports
The operation of foreign trade zones (FTZ) in Poland is
regulated by the 1997 Customs Law and FTZ regulations updated in March
2001. Business activities within FTZs are based on the same principles
as those applied in EU member countries. Foreign-owned firms have the
same investment opportunities as do Polish firms to benefit from foreign
trade zones, free ports, and special economic zones.
In 2000 there were six free customs areas: Gliwice
(southern border), Malaszewicze/Terespol (eastern border),
Warszawa-Okecie International Airport (duty-free retail trade within the
airport), Szczecin, Swinoujscie, and Gdansk (all Baltic ports). In May
2001, a new FTZ opened in Mszczonow near Warsaw (central Poland). There
are also 5 bonded warehouses: Gdynia (sea port), Krakow (airport),
Wroclaw (airport), Katowice (airport) and Gdansk (airport).
Most activity in the free trade zones involves storage, packaging and
repackaging. Bonded warehouses and customs and storage facilities are
available, although it can be difficult for a company to obtain
permission to build or buy its own facilities.
In November 2000, GOP amended the October 1994 Law on Special Economic
Zones (SEZ). These regulations are consistent with those in force in the
EU and with the new Law on Public Assistance. Under the new rules
investors can receive exemption from income tax and/or other incentives
totaling no more than 50% of the outlays spent on investments or
creating new work places. The ceiling for small- and medium-sized
companies is 65%. These limits are lower (40% and 55%) for investors in
the Krakow SEZ, located in a relatively prosperous area. Investors that
had received approval of incentives prior to January 2001 will continue
to benefit from these provisions. Investors may also negotiate with
local authorities to receive property tax exemptions.
Since 1994, seventeen SEZs have been established in Poland (fourteen are
operating, two have been closed, and two--Zarnow and Tczew--merged in
July 2001 to form the Pomorska SEZ). In response to EU concerns about
unfair competition stemming from the SEZs the Polish government has
agreed to stop opening new zones or expanding existing ones.
The Polish government has been working on an alternative set of
financial instruments to support regional development. Local governments
are being encouraged to create their own instruments to attract
investors, e.g. public-private partnership. The government is also
trying to decentralize the implementation of regional development
assistance, giving provincial and local authorities greater flexibility
to implement programs.
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