Partners - Poland

Updated 10/2010

Legal requirements

The Ministry of Regional Development oversees searches for partners and business cooperation. The Polish Agency for Enterprise Development (PARP) provides financial assistance.

Regulation of the Minister of Regional Development on granting financial assistance by the Polish Agency for Enterprise Development under the Operational Programme Innovative Economy 2007-2013 [386 KB]

Types of cooperation

Agency agreement

Under an agency agreement, the party accepting orders (agent) agrees to provide on-going intermediary services for the conclusion of agreements with customers or to sign agreements with customers on behalf of the client in exchange for remuneration

Partnership

Partners agree to work together to achieve common business goals.

Entrepreneurs from the European Union can set up any company from those listed in the Commercial Companies Code independently; they can also set up a company with a partner from Poland.

Franchise

In Poland this is an unspecified agreement, meaning that it is not regulated by any legal act. However, the general regulations of Polish contractual law set out in the Civil Code should be adhered to.

New types of European business structure

The conducting of international business is regulated by the Act on the European Economic Interest Grouping and the European Company. The Act introduces the provisions of the following into the Polish legal system:

Act on the European Economic Interest Grouping and the European Company
Council Regulation on the Statute for a European company [220 KB]
Council Regulation on the European Economic Interest Grouping
the EEIG and
European companies subject to registration with the National Court Register

Other options for expanding your business are taking over an existing one, merging with another company or opening a branch in another EU country.

Resources

The Warsaw centre of the Enterprise Europe Network, which operates by the Polish Agency for Enterprise Development (PARP), offers free training under the joint name "European Enterprise".

Each month, the EEN centre publishes a Euro Info Bulletin for small and medium-sized enterprises.

The EEN centre maintains an electronic database containing offers from Polish and foreign businesses that are looking for business partners and for technology partners.

Warsaw centre of the Enterprise Europe Network

The Business Partner section on the business services catalogue page of the Polish Chamber of Commerce website contains details of partner-matching services. The Foreign Markets section offers advice on taking part in trade fairs, economic missions and exhibitions, which open new business possibilities.

Catalogue of business services
Business Partner
Foreign markets

Programmes

Measure 6.1. Passport to Exporting of the Operational Programme Innovative Economy aims to strengthen the Polish economy by promoting Poland as an attractive economic partner and a place to make valuable business contacts. It also aims to increase Polish export and the number of businesses involved in export. The measure is addressed at SMEs that are starting to export or potential exporters that have their registered office in Poland, in the case of natural persons, who are resident in Poland.

Projects implemented in two separate stages can be co-financed under Measure 6.1 "Passport to Exporting".

Stage I. Preparation of the Export Development Plan

Under Stage 1 of Measure 6.1, financing is envisaged for the implementation of projects aimed at the preparation of an Export Development Plan through the purchase of external advisory services.

The assistance cannot exceed 80% of the maximum amount of the eligible expenditure.

The assistance cannot exceed PLN 10 000.

Stage II. Implementation of the Export Development Plan

Creation of the Export Development Plan during Stage I is a pre-condition for applying for assistance for the implementation of the Export Development Plan during Stage II.

Under Stage II of Measure 6.1., financial assistance is envisaged for projects aimed at the implementation of the Export Development Plan using at least two of the following measures indicated in the Export Development Plan, including at least one of the measures specified in (c) to (e):

participation in fairs and exhibitions abroad as an exhibitor,
organisation and participation in economic missions abroad,
searches and selection of partners in target markets,
obtaining necessary documents, giving authorisation to place the company’s products or services on selected target markets,
consultancy regarding strategies for financing export ventures and operations,
consultancy regarding the preparation of a proposal for the company’s image in selected target markets.

The assistance cannot exceed 50% of the maximum amount of the eligible expenditure.

The amount of assistance cannot exceed PLN 200 000.

Operational Programme Innovative Economy (Measure 6.1) [218 KB]

Under Measure 6.5. of the Operational Programme Innovative Economy, the Ministry of Economy implements the project "Promotion of the Polish economy on international markets".

The main aim of the project is to strengthen economic competitiveness by improving the image of the Polish economy among international partners, and by improving access to information about Poland as well as providing the possibility of making business contacts.

The project supports promotional campaigns in selected sectors and product groups that have high export potential. The project envisages direct support for companies as well as indirect support in the form of advisory services to businesses.

Check also the legislation on this topic in:

Partners - Poland