Development of the tiger

Pruszcz Gdanski with 25 thousand inhabitants has been effectively defending itself from the crisis so far thanks to its favourable location and large economic sector. However, certain indicators prove that also this little economic tiger can feel the effects of worldwide economic slump. But it might happen only next year.

Pruszcz Gdanski is situated 10 km from the centre of Gdansk. Despite the direct nearness of the capital of metropolis, Pruszcz Gdanski has preserved its historical autonomy. The advantage of the town is its location in the fork in the trunk roads (Gdansk - Warsaw and Gdansk - Lódz) just next to the bypass of Gdansk and A-1 freeway. On the area of the town there are over 3000 business entities registered, Baltic Investment Zone is functioning, new housing estates and service premises are coming into being. In the centre modern housing and service development was built, for which the town was granted Honorary Award of Polish Town Planners Society in the nationwide contest for the best developed public space in 2009. An important event for the citizens of Pruszcz was the signing of an agreement in October this year ensuring increased frequency of SKM trains rides between Tricity and Pruszcz. As statistics show, although population is growing all thetime, even if all professionally active citizens were to work in Pruszcz there would still be free working places for visitors. It is the best testimony to economic condition of this youngest, smallest and at the same time the most dynamic town of theTricity metropolis. Such a strong economic position of Pruszcz Gdanski makes the crisis in the town much less noticeable than in other similar towns of Pomeranian Voivodeship.

The crisis is not visible in the register of business activity. From May 2008 to October 2009 509 new firms were registered and 336 were crossed out. The crisis is also not visible through the prism of income from property tax. In period from January to September 2008 income to the budget from this tax was 9 384 000. In the same period this year it was 10 581 000. A small shake in the market is visible only because of a small increase of tax arrears.

The only field influenced by the crisis is the sell of properties. Here the slump in the market is very clear. Selling the plots was one of the most important mechanisms driving investments in Pruszcz. If next year it is still low we will be forced to look for alternative sources of financing for the investments - says Andrzej Szymanski, Deputy Mayor.

Although the interest in the town's plots is lower, Pruszcz Gdanski has still managed to execute this year's investment budget in the way it was planned last year. The situation will probably be the same next year. The crisis can also have its good sides. The sell of properties has decreased but also the prices of service and building materials have fallen and many a time in a drastic way - even by half - says Janusz Wróbel, the Mayor of Pruszcz Gdanski - it is an ideal situation for us. Especially as we are shortly before a historical investment - building the bypassof ourtown.