European Destination - Gdansk

Gdansk has been consequently implementing the strategy of sustainable development in which the main role is played by knowledge economy. According to the independent world ranking made by advisory company KPMG "Exploring Global Frontiers - The New Emerging Destinations", Gdansk is one of the best alternative location for IT investors. The IT companies look for alternatives for development. KPMG listed 31 possible locations on all continents. Gdansk was the only city from Poland. Pawel Adamowicz, Mayor of Gdansk, believes this recommendation will have a huge impact on potential investors form all over the world. "I am delighted that Gdansk was indicated as the most attractive new location for offshore IT investments. Our region has constantly been opening for this sector and I hope that in the future more companies will locate their businesses in one-million inhabitant metropolis of Gdansk, Gdynia and Sopot".

According to KPMG report, the key drivers for the city to emerge as a favorable IT -BPO destination were: availability of high professionals in IT sector, infrastructure, quality of life, security, investors support.

Present economic crisis will make more and more international corporations, as a result of cost reductions, take advantage of IT share service centers or BPO services. "Increasing a number of investments in infrastructure should encourage investors. A1 North - South motorway, can indirectly help Port of Gdansk to become the biggest hub on the Baltic Sea - suggests Zbigniew Libera, from KPMG. -Deepwater Container Terminal (DCT) in Gdanskand planned logistic centers (Pomeranian Logistic Centre and Maszynowa Industrial Park) can also help to achieve it".

Top place in the world rank is an evidence that the city takes care of the development of infrastructure and business surrounding, realizing not only rules of sustainable growth but also the key issues of Lisbon strategy. Infrastructural investments made by local government and financed with the EU funds can help to achieve strategic goals. The city is implementing Long-term Investment Plan for the Years 2009-2012. Most of the investments, worth 5.56 billion PLN, are co-financed by EU (2.5 billion PLN). Most important projects for sustainable development are: Gdansk Water and Wastewater Project (880 million PLN, 91 mln PLN from EU), Gdansk Municipal Transport Project (720.36 mln PLN, 290.37 PLN from EU), Water Protection In the Bay of Gdansk-construction and modernization of storm water drainage system 197 mln PLN (123 mln PLN from EU), Regeneration of Inland Waterways in Gdansk 36.8 mln PLN (21.8 from EU).