Poland can strengthen its industrial base through public investments, but the current rules still allow a situation where a middleman for Asian companies registered in Poland meets all state criteria for local content while delivering equipment made in China or Taiwan. Maciej Wyczesany, CEO of Apator, argues that Polish firms need a level playing field against competitors from outside the EU.
The so-called code of good practice on local content, signed by Prime Minister Donald Tusk and developed by the Ministry of State Assets (MAP), is a step in the right direction – but requires further refinement, according to Wyczesany, who spoke at the EEC Members conference in Warsaw. The document provides guidelines for state-owned companies to promote Polish firms in investment tenders.
Wyczesany described the code as a great success and an unprecedented process initiated by the ministry. However, he stressed that key changes must affect the Public Procurement Law, where price remains the only recommended criterion for selecting contractors.
A step forward, but not enough
The CEO noted that raising the level of local content is much easier for materials like concrete or steel than for technology. In the absence of clear rules and full transparency, a Polish construction company can easily report 100 percent local content by buying local materials – while the actual technology comes from abroad. This will become especially visible in large energy infrastructure projects, such as the construction of a nuclear power plant.
– We are very strong in the construction and execution sector, but when it comes to technology and nuclear energy competences, I think we lack those competences. Certainly, SMEs have no chance of entering that supply chain – said Wyczesany. He added that he would like Polish tech firms to be able to participate, as only this would ensure long-term control over technology and the ability to service it.
The risk of fake local content
According to Wyczesany, the current trend of buying technology from abroad is a direct path to technological dependence. He pointed out that the MAP guidelines need to be specified further, for example regarding where a company’s main operations are located.
– Imagine we have a middleman for Asian companies that is registered in Poland. It pays taxes in Poland. It meets all the MAP criteria, but it supplies equipment manufactured in China or Taiwan – said the Apator CEO. He argued that Polish firms need a policy of equalising opportunities against competitors from outside the EU.
Level playing field needed
– On the other side we have partners who benefit from huge state subsidies. They prefer in some cases to produce in Asia and sell in Poland, rather than produce in Poland and sell in Poland or more broadly in the European Union – concluded Wyczesany. The call for clearer rules and true local content verification is becoming more urgent as Poland embarks on major infrastructure investments.
Źródło: wnp.pl, Fot. wnp.pl
