Today, Europe is profoundly uneasy. Consensus about our common future has broken down, politics has fragmented and many things we took for granted are being called into question. Public debate often seems mired in the received ideas of yesteryear. Yet business executives making hard-nosed business decisions about where, how and when to invest have continued to opt for Europe. Economic trends and data show that much of Europe has returned to steady, if unspectacular growth. Europe’s expanding markets, and gently falling jobless numbers reassure investors that Europe is working, albeit imperfectly, unevenly and unequally. The outlook is brightening. The European Commission has upgraded its forecast of Eurozone growth this year to 1.7% and is forecasting 1.8% next.
FDI in CEE had a strong momentum in 2016. Poland leaped to fifth place in the national ranking, attracting 256 projects, a hefty 21% increase. The Czech Republic secured 110 projects, up 57% and Hungary and Slovakia also achieved firm gains.
The region attracted nearly half of Europe’s FDI industrial projects. It has become a favorite among European car-makers, which locate assembly plants in countries such as Slovakia where they find committed, skilled and affordable employees. To ensure just-in-time deliveries and win comparable advantages, many component suppliers also locate new plants in Eastern Europe.
Poland and its neighbors, including the Baltic States, are also attracting a third wave of shared service centers (up 83% for CEE in 2016) and other activities supplying services to companies. Investors are moving up the value chain in Central Europe. An operation that began as a call center may now be broadening out into an IT support function, engaging in sophisticated software development, and even adding R&D capabilities. In 2016, the number of R&D projects in CEE surged 36%.
As they look to expand operations, early movers are finding that although high skills and affordable salaries remain strong attractions, tightening labor markets in cities such as Warsaw and Prague push them to expand in second or third-tier cities such as Lodz or Brno. Other investors, chasing their ideal skills and wages combinations, have looked south to non-EU members such as Serbia, while the Baltic States, benefiting from a focus on digital skills together attracted more than 100 projects.
CIJ Europe’s IDEEM 2018 conference has been created from for the sole purpose of introducing the opportunities of industrial production opportunities in Central & Eastern Europe to Scandinavian companies wishing to look at new avenues of production costs and expanding their product distribution.
What is IDEEM 2018?
The event will present case studies, economic presentations and opportunities around CEE & SEE with a focus on the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia to light and heavy industrial manufacturers in Scandinavian.
Why Partner IDEEM 2018?
While a majority of sponsorship goes to venue and material production costs, the promotion of our partner is of utmost importance in driving real ROI business opportunities that out ways its costs that includes VIP branding, advertising, PR, private meetings with manufactures, as well as presenting CEE/SEE with coverage of our partners abroad.
Who will I meet?
You will meet 100+ medium to large scale Scandinavian manufacturers that have expressed an interest in expanding their product line or relocating their production business to CEE/SEE.
Center Boulevard 5
Copenhagen DK-2300
Bridget Remic
Sales & Events Manager
CIJ Europe