The city of Gdynia economic brochure

It takes these qualities to make a city well-functioning, comfortable and friendly; where an interesting job, a good school and accommodation are easier to find than anywhere else. Public passenger transport functions well here, services are available and there is a variety of opportunities for attractive recreation, enhanced by the favourable natural conditions - the sea, the beach, the hills, the forest. You really feel an appetite for life in Gdynia!

He who has not yet experienced the rare phenomenon of Gdynia and may be sceptical of the prevailing opinions about it, should come here and check for himself. As a tourist or as a business person.

We suggest this publication as a guidebook. By giving examples and evidence, facts and figures if necessary, we will try to show that the praise Gdynia receives is justified and to remove any possible doubts about it.

It took less than two decades for a fishing village, which Gdynia still was in 1920, to become a city with 100 thousand people in 1939, with modern commercial, fishing and naval ports, shipyards, banks, shipping companies, shipping brokers, forwarders, cinemas, a theatre and extensive artistic life.

A specific blend of characters, talents and professions was formed, as well as of customs and traditions - a cornerstone of a unique community. The people of Gdynia today are the third or even fourth generation of those settlers.

Today, Gdynia and its legend continue to attract people from various parts of Poland. They all have this special gene of romantic entrepreneurship, hard work and good management, which the founders of our city must have had.

People who want their daring plans and dreams to materialise believe this can be achieved here. And they are right.

The genius loci of Gdynia certainly favours such people today, as it did in the past.

Gdynia, owing to the consistent policy of harmonious development, implemented by the local authorities, has sufficient water resources, an advanced waste disposal system, is easily accessible by road, rail and sea, and soon by air, too. It enjoys clean environment, quality education, efficient health service and public transport, as well as ample cultural and recreational opportunities.

According to a large-scale sociological survey Diagnoza Społeczna, which is a kind of portrait of Poland and the Poles, of the 19 largest Polish cities Gdynia provides the highest quality of life. This is good news for business.

Diagnoza Społeczna is the responsibility of the Council for Social Monitoring headed by professor Janusz Czapiński. The results are available at www.diagnoza.com

23.1% of the inhabitants are very satisfied with their city. This makes Gdynia rank first among 19 largest Polish cities
49.5% of the inhabitants see their lives as great or successful
3.16% have symptoms of depression (the lowest rate of the 19 cities)
46.2% of the inhabitants have lived in the same place for years - the lowest rate of 19 - indicative of high mobility
35.8% have changed employment at least once in the last 7 years (the highest rate of 19)
41.4% are entrepreneurial people
61% have access to the Internet at home
26 minutes is the average time spent travelling to work in Gdynia
9.5% planned to work abroad in the last 2 years (the lowest rate except Warsaw, compare with Olsztyn - 27.1%)
3.2% worked abroad between 2005 and 2007 (cf. with the figure for Wrocław - 6.8%)
66% segregate waste
83% declare egalitarian views
19% trust other people (cf. with 22% in Poznań and 5% in Toruń)
38% think democracy is the best form of government
Pathology index: -0.6, with the starting value of 0
3,3% have been victims of a crime (cf. with 21.3% in Katowice)

Gdynia ranks second in Poland for per capita income

Gdynia has for years been ranking high on various lists for good management. The recent example is the "bronze medal" in the ranking of Best Polish Cities (held in July 2008) of a major national daily "Rzeczpospolita." The criteria were the financial standing, investment spending, growth rate, level of debt (too low means not very active in investing, too high - spending money too easily), spending on infrastructure and the environment, and the level of EU funding.

The stable local government, getting record support at the polls, creates good conditions for the local business, by building within the Polish and the EU regulatory framework a system of incentives for investors and by shaping an innovation-friendly environment.

Gdynia has regular liner shipping with Scandinavia, the UK, Germany, the Mediterranean and the two Americas. The line to Karlskrona - a gateway to Scandinavia - is particularly vital and promising. In June 2009 two additional ferry connections were introduced - to Travemunde in Germany and to the Finnish capital Helsinki.

The largest and most important road project implemented by Gdynia with the help of EU funding is the Kwiatkowski Route (Trasa Kwiatkowskiego), made operational in June 2008. It is very picturesque (which is not insignificant) and provides swift connection between container and ferry terminals at the port and the national and international road network. In fact, this is where the A-1 motorway in Poland begins.

The Port of Gdynia Authority is involved in the upgrading of the road network in Gdynia. It co-funded the redevelopment of Janka Wiśniewskiego street - the ring road of the port - completed together with the Kwiatkowski Route and redeveloped Polska street, crucial for business in this part of the city.

Further development of the port and the port operators will be fostered by the Logistic Centre (Centrum Logistyczne) of ca. 175 thousand square metres. To make it attractive to investors, The Port of Gdynia Authority has started cooperation with the Pomeranian Special Economic Zone, to make the site of the Logistic Centre part of the Zone.

This railway line is now undergoing a major redevelopment, as part of the regeneration of the Pan-European transport corridor linking the Baltic with the Adriatic and the Balkans. It takes about 5 hours by train from Gdynia to Warsaw today, which should go down to 2.5 hours when the project is completed.

It also has a railway line, which will soon be the starting point of the metropolitan rail, connecting the airport with the centre of Gdynia and further on, with the Lech Wałęsa Airport and the Baltic Arena stadium - one of the Euro 2012 venues.

Basic reasons behind the idea of an airport in Gdynia, however, are the rising passenger figures on routes to and from Poland and the growing popularity of the so-called general aviation.

According to experts, the Gdynia-Kosakowo airport should play an important role in the airport network policy of the region. Initially, it should be an alternative to general and business traffic at the Lech Wałęsa Airport in Gdańsk. Within a longer time frame, depending on the growth in the volume of traffic in Gdańsk, the Gdynia-Kosakowo Airport can be seen as a second commercial airport in the Gdańsk-Sopot-Gdynia metropolitan area.

The local authorities and the Navy - the sole user of the facility today - are greatly committed to making the Gdynia-Kosakowo Airport a reality. There is also interest from companies in the aviation business in making capital investment in this promising enterprise.

But maritime businesses have changed dramatically since then - introducing new technologies, new systems of management and winning new markets. At the same time they have had to confront previously unknown challenges, resulting from the opening of the borders and market competition. They are no longer monstrous enterprises, but modern companies - be it the port with numerous terminals, forwarders, brokers, logistic companies or shipping agencies. Forty per cent of Gdynia's workforce are employed in the maritime sector.

And this is the sector that is most likely to grow.

A good company looking for highly-skilled people will find them in Gdynia, like Thompson Reuters did, starting their data aggregation centre here, one of six run by them all over the world. It studies the markets of Central and Eastern Europe and of the Middle East and employs young, well-educated economists. The Spanish Geoban has done the same, choosing Gdynia as its first Polish location. The ambitions of the local people are also illustrated by the Pomeranian Science & Technology Park, initiated by the local authorities and significantly co-funded by the European Union. This is a modern complex, perfectly situated, housing laboratories, prototype development sites, office, conference, exhibition, as well as leisure space. All this up to the highest standards, in a post-industrial site. The companies short-listed by the Academic Committee enjoy many bonuses here that assist them at the initial stage of competitive struggle. They can also count on professional support and consultancy.

Young, creative people, who are only start-ups in research and business, find good conditions here to make their daring, sometimes even brilliant ideas become a reality. This applies mostly to biotechnology, the environment, industrial design and IT.

More than seventy companies operate in the Park, and the waiting list is growing. The planned extension seems necessary.

The port of Gdynia is an A-class port, situated in Corridor VI of the TEN-T network. Its development is a priority in the policy documents of both Poland and the European Union.

The volume of the cargo handled in Gdynia has been growing steadily (by an annual average of 10-15% since 2003) for all cargo groups. The growth of ro-ro handling is one of the three priorities in the policy documents of the Port, together with container and ferry traffic. Two million tonnes of cargo are expected to be handled in 2010.

The Port of Gdynia is going through an investment boom. Major projects for the next few years are:
* building ferry-handling infrastructure, including road and rail access facilities;
* redevelopment of the port canal;
* building the infrastructure for the Logistic Centre of the port;
* building more infrastructure for the handling of ro-ro vessels, including road and rail access facilities;
* development of the Nabrzeże Bułgarskie area;
* building the facilities to control gasoline vapour emissions;
* refurbishment of the Nabrzeże Pomorskie, a mooring site for the Dar Młodzieży and a passenger ship berth.

Construction and real estate are strong in Gdynia, represented by developers, design offices, contractors, auxiliary services and estate agencies. The leaders here are, beyond doubt, Allcon, Hossa, Invest Komfort and Mega.

The IT sector is growing fast in Gdynia. Most outstanding, award-winning companies here are VECTOR, IVO SOFTWARE and Asseco (formerly Prokom Software).

Gdynia is a real cradle of telecommunications companies. It is here that operators like Vectra or MULTIMEDIA Polska have emerged and grown, but also RADMOR - manufacturing radio stations and radiotelephones.

One of the best banks in the market, NORDEA Bank Polska has its head office in Gdynia, which adds splendour to both.

These are but a few examples. The full list of actual leaders is much longer.

And one of its seashore districts - Orłowo - with it wooden pier, picturesque cliff, fishing harbour and the summer stage on the beach, atmospheric coffee bars, taverns, boarding houses and stately residences is a resort in the full sense of the word.

Even though Gdynia is so young, it can attract tourists interested in history. It can also attract with its historical monuments - of very stylish and elegant modern architecture.

Recent years have added to Gdynia's attractions, both for the inhabitants and the visitors, enhancing the recreational opportunities of the region. As the accessibility of Gdynia improves, every year sees an increase in the number of incoming tourists. More than a hundred thousand are brought in the summer on board large cruise ships. Another 350 thousand (2007 figure) use the Stena Line ferry service from Karlskrona.

Something virtually magnetic to tourists is the Tall Ships' Races. Gdynia has hosted the event four times already (1974, 1992, 2003 and 2009). The last one attracted more than 2.5 million visitors. It is a very good occasion to promote the city.

The place to do shopping in

The period of transition in Poland was the time of massive expansion of new retail outlets. Owing to rational spatial planning, Gdynia avoided the mistake made by many Polish and European cities, where retail centres were located beyond the city limits, causing the decline of city centres.
In Gdynia, shopping malls are situated not far from the centre, yet in the vicinity of transit roads and housing estates. This helped to avoid travelling problems, especially on access roads in peak hours.

Banking outlets mushrooming in the city centre are indicative of Gdynia's business vitality and attractiveness, but they are also an issue for the local authorities, who would like this part of the city to develop harmoniously and attract shoppers and tourists.

There is no doubt that their efforts to make this "outdoor parlour" of Gdynia look its best do attract business. Świętojańska Street - one of the best known in Poland - has undergone a major renovation and upgrading. It is now the pride of Gdynia residents and a walking route, too. The whole city centre, a unique example of Modern Architecture built in a relatively short time (1926-1939), has been listed as heritage. Noblesse oblige - property owners in this part of the city can obtain grants from the City Hall to have their historical tenements renovated, after years of communist ill-management.

There is more and more A-class office space in Gdynia. The most recent facility is the Łużycka Office Park, offering its users comfortable working environment in its perfectly located five office buildings.

No city in northern Poland can provide more office space than Gdynia.

It has to be said, though, that at present there is no adequate congress facility in Gdynia. Events of this type are held either at the Musical Theatre or on conference premises of Gdynia hotels. However, an investor from the hotel industry in Gdynia is planning to build a multi-purpose hall with a capacity of 1500 people. If this becomes a reality, it will certainly be another factor bringing business tourists to Gdynia.

Educational offer in Gdynia is broad and attractive as it is constantly adjusted to current market needs. Schools and universities in Gdynia show a maritime bias (the Maritime University, the Naval Academy or the Faculty of Oceanography and Geography of the Gdańsk University) and provide education which fosters personal development and employability.

Re-wording this idea to match the present situation we might say, The best business is done in Gdynia. And there is hardly any exaggeration in either of the quotes.

Property can be found within industrial estates and the Waterfront, as well as in attractive locations away from the city centre, meant for housing.

What all the estates for development have in common is the proximity of either the sea, or the forest. This applies to industrial estates as well.

The Waterfront is the area between the city centre in the narrow sense of the word and the sea. It will change considerably in the coming years - to accommodate current trends and the aspirations of the city.

For example, in view of the expected ownership changes at Dalmor company and under the land use plan now in preparation, the former fishing port will be available for development. The previous function of the area will give way to tourism, culture, sports and retail. This will certainly become an interesting investment proposal.

The site of Park Rady Europy and the surroundings of Skwer Kościuszki will also change. For years, this area has been waiting for the erection of the so-called Forum Morskie. Time has come for this old concept to materialise. International contest has already been decided for the architectural concept of the cultural centre that will be built here, comprising a drama theatre, a modern art gallery and a library.

The area should certainly see new hotels and boarding houses, with all the cultural, restaurant and recreational services.

The area near the City Hall and Skwer Plymouth will be another large construction site in Gdynia. Under the new land use plan, a new city hall is to be built here, as well as a multi-purpose retail and service facility.

The City Centre Development Zone (Strefa Rozwoju Centrum Miasta) is one hundred hectares of unique, undeveloped land, yet fitted with all the infrastructure, lying between the city centre and the port. It will be the "Manhattan of Gdynia" - a financial centre standing out from the surroundings because of its high-rise architecture. It will become possible when all the procedures connected with the legal status of the land have ended.

Gdynia-West is the direction in which the city is to develop spatially. It is in the districts of Chwarzno and Wiczlino, on the other side of the ring road, that housing estates with the accompanying services are emerging. Beautifully situated - in the sea of green - the area is the target of expansion of developers.

South-western districts of Gdynia, up to the bounds of the city towards Chwaszczyno, are also earmarked for housing. However, non-disturbing industry is also permitted.

And soon, the Gdynia-Kosakowo airport will become the investment buzz word. To begin with, the development of all the necessary infrastructure; later - a dream location for all accompanying services that can capitalise on the proximity of a passenger and cargo airport.

There is the sea, the woods (taking half of the total area of Gdynia), and there are animals - hares, hedgehogs, deer and even wild boars, which accustomed to human presence, can accompany you as you walk across the Tri-city Landscape Park or one of the four nature reserves. All this in the vicinity of housing estates.

This harmony and closeness of nature is something many cities might envy us. It is also something valued by business people, who often do not have the time for holiday. In Gdynia, you don't mind, as you quickly get invigorated before work in the morning, and can relax on the beach or in the forest close to your home at the end of the day.

Gdynia Design Days, organised for the first time in 2008, were a major success. Gdynia itself is an icon of design because of its unique, uniform Modern Architecture of the city centre.

Modern, with respect for tradition - this is what Gdynia is like.

There are more and more places in Gdynia offering something extraordinary. One of such places is certainly the City Museum (Muzeum Miasta Gdyni) - very modern in terms of architecture, but more importantly, the way of presenting history. It is really worth seeing - apart from the permanent gallery there are frequently changing thematic exhibitions.

Its modest sister facility is the Motor Museum (Gdyńskie Muzeum Motoryzacji) - a real gem, set up owing to the passion of a devoted collector of vintage cars and motorbikes. Children are delighted when they visit the EXPERYMENT science centre. They can touch and tinker with everything here, learning the laws of physics in the process. So can the adults...

An interesting new facility for both inhabitants and visitors fond of active pursuits is the Kolibki Adventure Park. The rough terrain once used for motocross racing, today offers a quad track, a rope park, a climbing wall and a shooting range. People looking for a thrill spend the time here, often with their families.

A new formula of game, movement and safe yet exciting fight is offered by the Zoltar Centre (Centrum Zoltar), where you can move to the land of science fiction, together with electronic weaponry.

Cycling routes are the pupil of the eye of the local authorities. They are quite many in Gdynia, especially in the woods. When the network is connected to those of the neighbouring cities, safe cycling will also be possible alongside major roads throughout the whole conurbation.

The local government is working to ensure good municipal infrastructure, quality education, availability of services, attractive cultural offer, clean environment - all up to European standards. They all translate into quality of life, which is high - by subjective and objective assessment. It is also what investors take into account when making location decisions.

This would not be possible without up-to-date economic mechanisms in management applied by the local authorities and their well-thought investment and social policies.

Among the numerous initiatives of the local government in Gdynia, there are some really innovative, even on an international scale. One of them is the annual competition known as the Business Plan of Gdynia, encouraging start-up in business. Another is the Business Assistance Centre (Gdyńskie Centrum Wspierania Przedsiębiorczości) also targeted mostly at start-ups. There is also the EU-supported programme www.innowacje.gdynia.pl, which encourages businesses to apply innovative solutions and share experiences in this respect in order to achieve synergies.

Intensive and successful promotional efforts of the local authorities are also important. Owing to good business promotion, Gdynia is perceived in Poland as an attractive location and the local authority as a modern and creative partner of entrepreneurs. This is demonstrated by Gdynia topping various ranking lists of major media, as well as by studies of various research institutions.

Low rate of unemployment in Gdynia is a measure of the activity and entrepreneurial spirit of the people as well as of the efficiency of local government initiatives.

In a nutshell, Gdynia is a city:
* with the highest quality of life among 19 Polish cities with a population of more than 200 thousand (the Diagnoza Społeczna survey headed by professor Janusz Czapiński);
* with one of the lowest unemployment rates in Poland (3.1% in June 2009);
* with the fastest growth rate in Pomerania (as reported by the Pomorski Przegląd Gospodarczy 4/2007);
* with the most business friendly environment in Poland (according to the Forbes List of Best Business Locations in 2007, 2008 and 2009);
* with style - often referred to as the European gem of Modern Architecture;
* hosting the HQ of the Polish Navy;
* with the most advanced port in Poland and container terminals leading in the Baltic;
* most frequently visited by the largest cruise ships in the world;
* with the largest marina in Poland;
* with the rapidly growing Pomeranian Science and Technology Park, hosting some of the best companies in the world;

 

download Free promotional material published by Gdynia City Hall - part 1 (pdf 10,4 MB)

download Free promotional material published by Gdynia City Hall - part 2 (pdf 11,9 MB)