The sky’s the limit – Irish construction firms building big in Poland

This was abundantly clear during a recent two-day trade mission to Poland led by Dara Calleary TD, the Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation.

Poland this month marks the 20th anniversary of its EU membership, and is now positioned as the largest single market for Enterprise Ireland client companies in Central Eastern Europe.

The mission took in two cities, Wroclaw and Warsaw, and focused in particular on the opportunities for Irish high-tech construction firms.

High-tech construction and engineering have always been key sectors of interest for Irish firms exploring opportunities in Poland. And interest in the sector heightened last year when Intel announced it had chosen a site near Wroclaw, in the west of Poland, for a new semiconductor assembly and test plant.

The company is expected to invest up to $4.6 billion (€4.24bn) in the facility, making it Poland’s largest-ever FDI investment.

This large-scale planned investment is just one example of the many opportunities currently developing in Poland.

During the trade mission, organised by Enterprise Ireland, Minister Calleary and 38 participating companies took part in several networking events, meetings and visits to Irish companies with a presence there.

These included construction firm PM Group, who recently celebrated 25 years in Poland; labelling and materials specialists ID Technology, which set up there 10 years ago; leading engineering solutions company Suretank; and Ventac, which provides high-performance acoustic solutions and sound insulation across the commercial vehicle and industrial noise control sectors. Minister Calleary also made an on-site visit in Wroclaw to see smart city furniture from Louth-based IPL.

The trade mission began with a networking event and panel discussion in Wroclaw, where speakers included representatives from Ryanair Labs, PM Group and RKD, another leading Irish construction firm. Along with the deputy Mayor of Wroclaw Jakub Mazur, and the President of the local development agency ARAW, Magdalena Okulowska.

The visit also showcased the capability of Irish firms to deliver to the exacting standards of global clients. This includes designing and delivering advanced infrastructure across the data, pharma, and energy sectors, pioneering digital innovations, and improving resource efficiencies.

Minister Calleary also met with Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Affairs Krzysztof Gawkowski.

More than 230 Enterprise Ireland-supported Irish companies are now active in Poland, with exports companies reaching €390m in 2022, increasing year on year.

During the trade mission, Irish software partnering company Sonalake announced it was opening a new office in Poznan, where it already employs more than 90 software engineers, while Waterford-based manufacturer, PPI Adhesive Products is also expanding, having secured significant contracts with local customers.

Tonia Spollen Behrens is Enterprise Ireland Country Manager for Poland and the Baltics