Przemysław Bożek – Photo: WO(lca.pl)

We are moving from words to deeds. As Legnica Special Economic Zone, we have announced some actions. Today I can announce that the office of the Legnica Special Economic Zone in Lviv is already operational. Six economic zones have signed an agreement with us and together we will do great things for Ukraine and Poland. We are in a historic moment. Poles and Ukrainians have never been so close to each other as they are today. History has taught us that when we are together we can change the world, when we are apart or against each other, Moscow benefits – said Przemysław Bożek, Chairman of the Legnica Special Economic Zone.

– Today we want to show how important Lower Silesia is for Poland, why it is so important. We were one of the first to start helping. We have our experience, we are a multicultural society in which Ukrainians have been present for years and the strength of the Polish economy has been built by them for years. I hope that such meetings will bring us even closer – added the President of the LSEZ.

Before war broke out in Ukraine, there were approximately 300,000 Ukrainian citizens in Lower Silesia. According to Yurii Tokar, Consul General of Ukraine, this number has doubled. Women, because they are mostly refugees, are largely educated and highly skilled people. Unfortunately, due to language difficulties and formal problems, many of them had to accept jobs below their level of qualification. This is slowly starting to change.

Youri Tokar – Photo: LS (lca.pl)

– Ukrainian citizens working and doing business in Poland paid about PLN 10 billion in taxes to the state budget. I am very happy that Ukrainian citizens are starting to establish and manage their businesses in Poland. Our citizens understand that they are in a foreign country and adapt to the regulations here – said Yurii Tokar, Consul General of Ukraine in Wrocław.

– Lower Silesia is very popular with our fellow citizens. It’s one of the biggest provinces they come from. They have families, friends and people to visit here. They know you can work, do business and grow here. Each company is one more stone in the construction of Polish-Ukrainian cooperation. I feel the same about today’s conference. I am happy that representatives from Poland and Ukraine are taking part. Such a dialogue is very necessary and useful, says Yurii Tokar.

After the outbreak of full-scale war in Ukraine, Poland opened the door wide to those seeking to flee the Russian invasion. Some of them have returned to the country, others have gone further, and some plan to stay longer in Poland, considering our country as a place to live and do business.

Since February 24, 2022, 9.38 million Ukrainian citizens have crossed the Polish-Ukrainian border. 7.54 million people have returned to the country (border guard data). In Wrocław alone, the number of Ukrainian citizens is about 200 thousand. people. In Poland, there are currently 24.1 thousand companies with Ukrainian capital, ie up to 25%. all companies with foreign capital. The Lower Silesian Voivodeship is the second choice (after Mazowieckie) for Ukrainian refugees regarding the location of their business. There were over 83,000 legally employed Ukrainian citizens in Lower Silesia in 2022 (ZUS data).

City – space for business – Photo: LS(lca.pl)