FERM 2024 | Message from the Director of the Regional Development Department in the Governor’s Office of the Podkarpackie Region, Pawel WAIS
100 economic opportunities for the development of the Moldova Region on the A7 Highway route
Panel “INVESTMENTS”
Module III – Mapping Investment Opportunities in Suceava County, the 18th Edition of the Moldova Regional Economic Forum, Vatra Dornei, 2024
SPEAKER – Paweł Wais, Director of the Regional Development Department at the Marshal’s Office of the Podkarpackie Region
TOPIC: “Investment and Economic Potential of the Podkarpackie Region and the Carpathian Strategy”
Strategic Position and Developed Infrastructure
Paweł Wais began his speech by highlighting the importance of regional economic cooperation and macro-regional strategies, emphasizing the advantageous geographical position of the Podkarpackie region, located in southeastern Poland, at the border with Ukraine and Slovakia.
“The capital of the Podkarpackie region is Rzeszów. We have 2 million inhabitants and 210,000 registered businesses. Our location is good because we have excellent connections with the East and West, thanks to the A4 motorway and a northern motorway project in Rzeszów”.
Another essential aspect for the Podkarpackie region is the development of airport infrastructure. “Our airport serves 1 million passengers and is continuously growing. It is a major opportunity for us”, Wais stated, highlighting the potential for economic growth and international connectivity.
Innovation-based economy and industry
The economy of the Podkarpackie region is based on four main areas: aerospace industry, automotive industry, information and communications technology (ICT), and chemical industry. “Our economy is industry-based. We have a strong position in this type of economy. We have four specializations: the first is aviation, the second is the automotive industry, the third is information and communications technology, and the fourth is the chemical industry”, Wais explained.
A notable aspect is the industrial cluster developed in Podkarpackie. “We have two major automotive clusters and approximately 20,000 companies operating in these sectors. The ICT industry also plays a crucial role, with a focus on aircraft construction, sustainable tourism, medical services, and green energy”.
The Carpathian Strategy: A macro-regional vision
The Carpathian Strategy is a key project for the Podkarpackie region, aiming to create a macro-regional strategy for the development and cooperation of Carpathian regions. “This project is dedicated to creating a macro-regional cooperation strategy for the Carpathian regions. It is an opportunity for us to have a stronger position in the European Union”, stated the Director of the Regional Development Department at the Marshal’s Office of the Podkarpackie Region.
The Carpathian Strategy focuses on three main components: entrepreneurial economic development, resource diversification and environmental conservation, and infrastructure and digital communication development. “The Carpathian Strategy must be dedicated to the entrepreneurial economy, diversification of resources and reserves, and infrastructure development, including digital communication”, Wais emphasized.
Conclusions and perspectives
In conclusion, Paweł Wais highlighted the importance of international cooperation and regional support for the success of the Carpathian Strategy. “We hope to receive support from the regions in Romania, such as Suceava, Maramureș, and Brașov. I believe this concept will succeed and we can support it together”.
The Regional Economic Forum Moldova 2024 was thus an essential platform for presenting the economic potential of the Podkarpackie region and promoting the Carpathian Strategy, emphasizing the importance of cooperation and regional economic development in a European context.
