Chinese Investment in Poland: Still Just Wishful Thinking

According to the NBP, investments from Hong Kong amount to $350 million, but the statistics do not show which part of this amount is ultimately made by Chinese investors - only using Hong Kong as a channel - and which belongs to genuine Hong Kong investors or is made by companies from other countries via Hong Kong. Matching the values of investments provided in multiple media reports, company statements, local government press releases, and so on with the lists of Chinese investments presented by various institutions - the Polish Investment and Trade Agency (PAIH), the Polish Institute of International Affairs (PISM), or the most recent and extended list included in the report of the Asia Research Center (OBA) - leads to the conclusion that the amount reported by Rhodium Group and MERICS roughly reflects the amount of gross inflows. Polish hopes for a massive inflow of Chinese investors establishing new factories and creating huge numbers of workplaces have not yet materialized. [...]the value of the desired greenfield investments is many times smaller than acquisitions. While the Polish authorities have expressed hopes for Chinese investments in greenfield projects that would create new jobs and require technology transfer, Polish government agencies have organized cooperation forums inviting Chinese construction companies, infrastructure developers, and equipment suppliers interested in operating as contractors rather than direct investors.