Monday, October 30, 2017, 11:00AM
Yonkers City Hall, 40 S Broadway, Yonkers, NY 10701
Polish side guests:
Anna Maria Anders, Secretary of State of the Republic of Poland for International Dialoque; Anna Obrycki; Katarzyna Kostro, Trade and Investment Mission of the Republic of Poland in New York; Jola Burnett, Market Research Strategist; Jerzy Lesniak, Architect, President Nowodworski Foundation.
Yonkers side guests:
Liam J. McLaughlin, Yonkers City Council President; John Liszewski, Finance Commissioner, City of Yonkers; Wilson Kimball, Esq, Commissioner, Department of Planning and Development; Euthimios Theotokatos , Director of the Mayor’s Office of Constituent Services; Christopher St. Lawrence – Assistant Director of Waterfront Development /Planning and Development Department; Katherine Spencer, Chief of Staff to Liam McLaughlin; Kevin Cacace, President Yonkers Chambers of Commerce; Jeanne Martinelli, Director of Marketing, Yonkers Chambers of Commerce
Welcome and entry words
Liam McLaughlin, Anna Maria Anders
Introduction of participants
Poland – open to business, opportunities and know-how. Presentation by Anna Obrycki and Katarzyna Kostro, Trade and Investment Mission of the Republic of Poland in New York
Overview of market development in Poland at current stage. Emphasized positive assessment of economy by Ernst & Young. Market measures indicate that Poland is the fastest growing economy in Europe at this moment and creates good climate for pursuing successful business. Special economic zones were created with tax breaks and other incentives specific for each zone. Poland uses own currency PLN (polish zloty) and stays away from Euro, what is favorable for bilateral commerce.
Selected areas of business opportunities in Poland are:
- Construction of highways and road networks; government plans to double number of highways
- Information Technology; large number of highly qualified IT professionals; technology incubators
- Manufacturing; low labor costs, hi-qualification skills of labor, easy access to European and Eastern European markets
- Banking, almost all major banks are represented but still it is developing market
- Organic farming; low pollution, restrictions on harmful chemical use in agriculture
Polish business offer is in the following areas:
- Pharmaceutical
- IT technology and apps
- Doors, windows, furniture
- Organic food produce
- Yachts
- Glass products
- Interest in joint-ventures
Information about Yonkers
As the third-largest City in New York State, Yonkers has nearly 200,000 people located on the Hudson
River adjacent to New York City northern border. Five major highways give Yonkers the best north-south and east-west connections in the northern suburbs. Add two commuter train lines with six stations, plus the greatest number of bus lines in the County, and you can see that Yonkers has a transportation network that cannot be matched. Travel time by commuter train from Yonkers to Grand Central Terminal is under a half hour. Whether you are moving goods out, or employees and customers in, Yonkers is the location to meet your needs. (per Yonkers Industrial Development Agency)
Yonkers represents business/investment opportunity in the following areas:
- Housing market; large influx of new residents from New York City creates need for new residential units, schools and services
- Manufacturing; existing industrial era warehouses good for locating new business; skilled workforce
- Excellent location for starting or doing business in NYC and US with good logistic connections, proximity to airports (JFK, LaGuardia, Newark, Newburgh, Westchester County Airport) and hotel base (5 hotels)
Discussion
- Kevin Cacace expressed interest in highway projects in Poland
- Anna Maria Anders and Jerzy Lesniak informed about Nowodworski Foundation plan to sponsor opening of a charter high school as part of renovation of St. Casimir parish buildings; International Academy of Culture, Arts, Science and Technology – CAST, to serve Yonkers students with rigorous curriculum, focused on 100% graduation towards college or achieving professional certificates and connecting students to the world through international exchange program. It was advised by K. Cacace to connect with Dr. Edwin M. Quezada Superintendent of Schools, Rev. Steve López, President of Yonkers Board of Education and Wendy Nadel Executive Director at Yonkers Partners in Education.
Setting channels for future communication
Yonkers side:
- Wilson Kimball, Esq, Commissioner, Department of Planning and Development
- Jeanne Martinelli, Director of Marketing, Yonkers Chambers of Commerce
Poland side:
- Consul Sabina Klimek, Trade and Investment Mission of the Republic of Poland in New York
