Maciej Wyczesany, CEO of Apator, warns that despite the new local content code of good practices introduced by the Ministry of State Assets, Polish companies still face unfair competition from Asian intermediaries who can meet all formal criteria while selling Chinese-made equipment. He calls for further changes, especially in public procurement law, to truly strengthen domestic industry.
The code of good practices, signed by Prime Minister Donald Tusk and developed by the Ministry of State Assets, aims to promote Polish companies in public investment tenders. Wyczesany considers it a significant success and an unprecedented process that can boost Poland’s manufacturing and innovation capabilities through public sector investments. However, he stresses that full implementation requires additional steps.
In an interview during the EEC Members conference in Warsaw, Wyczesany pointed out that the Public Procurement Law still treats price as the sole recommended criterion. This makes it difficult to achieve genuine local content, especially in high-tech areas.
Price remains the only criterion in public procurement
– Nothing has changed in the Public Procurement Law, and price is still the only recommended selection criterion – said Wyczesany. He noted that raising local content levels is much easier for materials like concrete or steel than for technological components. Without clear and transparent rules, a Polish construction company can easily report 100% local content by buying local materials and employing local workers, even if the core technology comes from abroad.
This issue becomes particularly 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 in technology and nuclear energy competencies, I think we lack them. Small and medium enterprises have no chance of entering that supply chain – added the Apator CEO.
The risk of losing technological sovereignty
Wyczesany emphasized that buying technology from outside is a direct path to technological dependence. The current market trend favors purchasing foreign technology, which endangers Polish technological independence. He called for clearer guidelines from the Ministry of State Assets regarding a company’s actual presence and activity in Poland.
– Imagine we have an intermediary of Asian companies registered in Poland. He pays taxes in Poland. He meets all the MAP criteria, but delivers equipment manufactured in China or Taiwan – said Wyczesany. He stressed that Polish firms need a policy of „leveling the playing field” against competitors from outside the EU, who benefit from enormous state subsidies. – They prefer, in some cases, manufacturing in Asia and selling in Poland, rather than producing in Poland and selling in Poland or the EU – concluded the Apator CEO.
Źródło: WNP.PL, Fot. WNP.PL
