ABOUT THE CONGRESS

Previous editions of the Eastern Economic Congress have demonstrated the great importance of, and need for, this multifaceted, topical and wide-ranging debate on the future of Eastern Poland.

The event, which brings together a prestigious group of guests from the worlds of business and politics, has already won acclaim in wide economic and local government circles. The Congress has received broad media coverage and become a permanent fixture of the public debate about the prospects faced by the eastern regions of Poland.

The fifth edition will take place in Białystok on 3-4 October 2018 under the slogan "Where East Meets West" to emphasize the main goal of the organizers and their partners, who aim to create a platform for open debate, where different positions can be confronted and renegotiated in order to arrive at a creative common ground that contributes to growth.

New factors shaping the economic situation in Poland and Europe, dynamic changes in the region, emerging growth factors, new opportunities, challenges and problems are all issues that will give the panellists a lot to talk about.

The agenda of the Congress (see attachment) will cover a broad spectrum of themes, ranging from the difficult relations between the EU and the eastern flanks of Europe, issues of international cooperation, exports and economic expansion, all the way up to changes brought about by the digitization process.

The theme of how new technologies affect our life and economy, creating huge opportunities and unexpected threats, will also come up in many panel discussions during the two days of the Congress.

We will discuss new transformations in the energy sector, with an emphasis on their social and environmental context, including renewable sources, clean technologies, waste management and air quality.

Other themes of key importance for the eastern macro-region of Poland will include investments (and their funding), residential construction, the hard realities of the job market, human resources and education for the economy.

Attention will be paid to the food and agriculture sector, medical services, trade and tourism, as well as interesting insights into urban development, wood-based construction and succession issues in family-owned companies.

The Congress will be rounded out by bilateral meetings with representatives from Lithuania and Belarus, two important and promising economic partners of Poland.

We will be awarding the TOP Communal Investments and TOP Employers of Eastern Poland to promote the best existing enterprises and standards. We will also address the issues of young, innovative business and once again select the leading start-ups of the region.

Apart from its interesting agenda, the Congress owes its importance to the participation of many competent figures engaged in the project, including politicians, economic leaders, business people, experts and academics.

Brace yourself for two days of debates, discussions and accompanying events. The attendance of more than one thousand guests from the worlds of business, politics, local administration and science shows that the Eastern Economic Congress is not just the largest but also the most interesting event of its kind in Eastern Poland.

Join us!