Datafrom the Central Statistical Office (GUS) indicatesthat in2014the value ofPolishexports increasedby 5.2%, althoughdomestic companiescontinue to import morethan they export. Accordingto surveyscommissioned byThe Citi Handlowy Leopold Kronenberg Foundationat Citi Handlowy, this situation couldchange in the coming years.39% ofcompaniesalready operatingabroadplanto enter newforeign marketsby 2016.
GUS data showsthat Polish entrepreneursare increasingly turningto exports of goodsand servicesabroad. As surveys by theKronenberg Foundation indicate, Polish entrepreneursoperateon averageinsevenEU countries.65%oflarge companies export products, compared to 47% ofmedium-sized companies and 25%ofsmall ones.
"No less than97%of companies positively evaluatetheir decision to startinternational operations,and 39%planto expandthe scopeof their operationswithinthe next two years.Interestingly, it is small firmsemployinga maximum of 49people that moreoftenplan toenter newforeign markets(40%) by the end of 2016than medium-sized ones(35 percent.)," says KrzysztofKaczmar, President of theKronenberg Foundationat Citi Handlowy.
In order to launchoperations in newmarkets, nearly everyfourth company(22%) obtainedexternal financing.Most oftenthese wereloans, lines of credit, and leasing. A smaller proportion ofcompaniesreceivednationalgrants(18 percent.) enablingexpansion oftheirscopeof operations.
Newprograms tohelp companiesare geared to thekeyconditions for successfulexpansion as identified by entrepreneurs.A survey conductedby The Citi Handlowy Leopold Kronenberg Foundation found that themain key to successin new markets, according to entrepreneurs, is knowledge ofa givensector(54%). The top priority formost companies beforeexpanding isinformation aboutnewmarkets.This is obtainedin a variety of ways, e.g. throughbusiness partnersorpublicly availablematerialsonthe economic situationof a given country.Another key to success,according to47% ofsurveyedcompanies,is havingqualified, experienced staff andthe right partners.
At the same time,entrepreneurs point to macroeconomic factorssuch as exchange rates(20%) and foreign competition(18%) as the biggestbarriers todevelopinginternational operations. It is precisely inthis area thatcompanies seethe benefits of cooperatingwith banks-more than halfof them (57%) believethatthose institutionsare important forsupportingthe development ofoperationsoutside the country's borders.
