Renata Marks-Bielska

Operations Performed by Business Environment Institutions in the Process of Foreign Investment Acquisition: a Case Study of Investor Service Centres

The quality of institutions is important for economic growth and inflow of foreign direct investment. Business environment institutions may introduce certain adaptations of the conditions as a response to foreign investors’ expectations. The main objective of the research was to evaluate business environment institutions, exemplified herein by Investor Service Centres, in terms of their active participation in the process of attracting foreign investors. The empirical investigation (using questionnaire forms, carried out in the first half of 2013) was completed by employees of 10 centres (62.5%). COI employees use most of the available sources of information about foreign investors. COIs are very active in their information search, and do not resort to the simplest possibilities, for example the Internet. Foreign investors contacted offices having previously found relevant information about chosen investment locations. COIs actively cooperate with other institutions in order to attract foreign investors. They undertake various activities to reach this aim, most of which demand a high degree of engagement. Most often COI employees promoted available investment sites themselves rather than delegate this task to agencies. In order to improve the efficiency of COIs, they should strive towards building relationships between institutions.

The Impact of Warmia and Masuria Local Authorities on Entrepreneurship Development in the Business Location Factors Context

Abstract Local authorities are a very important institution having a direct or indirect impact on attracting investors who significantly contribute to the entrepreneurship development at local and regional level. The main objective of the research was to evaluate the impact on entrepreneurship development in the business location factors context by Warmia and Masuria local authorities representing different types of communes. The results obtained allowed to determine in which type of commune, Warmia and Masuria local authorities actively supported the entrepreneurship development in their activity area and, among others, to indicate which location factors were less important, and which were gaining in importance in the business location process. Based on the results obtained, it can be concluded that local authorities of urban and urban-rural communes feel a stronger need to improve entrepreneurship development in their area. The research also showed that the location factors hierarchy shaped in a slightly different way depending on the perception of the local authorities representing different types of communes.

The determinants of Polish government policy in terms of agricultural land market in the context of the end of transitional period of agricultural real estate acquisition by foreigners

The paper attempts to describe selected elements of the situation on the market of agricultural land and the assumptions of the policy conducted in this field in Poland.Particular attention was paid to the legislative changes associated with the end of the transitional period of agricultural real estate acquisition by foreigners. We used staRenata Marks-Bielska, Roman Kisiel, Wiesława Lizińska 16 PDGR – PSAH tistical data derived from Minister of Interior reports on the implementation of the Act of 24th March, 1920 on the agricultural real estate acquisition by foreigners (with later amendments), CSO’s data and the results of own empirical research conducted among farmers in Warmińsko-Mazurskie Voivodship. The agricultural land in Poland is regarded not only as an economic asset but also has a particular cultural, symbolic and sentimental value. Attributes of the land (including no displacement and no magnification) cause that this resource requires a particular attention, which is related to important intervening role of the state in this regard.

Intervention On The Agricultural Land Market In Relation To The End Of The Transitional Period For Purchasing Agricultural Land By Foreigners

Research background: A traditional form of state intervention in agriculture comprised regulating the rights to ownership. One of the often discussed aspects of regulations refers to those binding for foreigners. Purpose of the article: The objective of the article was to analyse the position (of the Euro-pean Economic and Social Committee and the Polish legislator) regarding the phenomenon of purchasing agricultural property by foreigners as well as the opinions of farmers on the consequences for the agricultural land market resulting from ending the transitional period in Poland for purchasing agricultural property by foreigners as on 1 May 2016. Methods: Direct studies were conducted in 2015 among 86 farmers in the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship. Findings & Value added: The main reason for such a discussion conducted glob-ally and in Europe is the phenomenon of excessive concentration and the use of land for non-agricultural purposes. Whereas, the European Economic and Social Committee indicates that in order to limit unfavourable practices in the EU member states, activities directed at preventing speculation, preserving local traditions and ensuring a proper usufruct of land should be permitted. The majority of farmers were afraid of the changes in the agricultural land market after the end of the transitional period in purchasing agricultural property by foreigners. They emphasised the above by expressing opinions on regulations binding in the transitional period and their effectiveness. With regard to the provisions of the Act of 5 August 2015, farmers were afraid of an increase in prices of agricultural land and the capital advantage of foreigners.

Managing Assets Of Agricultural Property Of The National Treasury In The Context Of State Aid Granted By The Agricultural Property Agency

Abstract This study covers the issue of activities of the Agricultural Property Agency in terms of state aid in the form of non-repayable financial aid, with the following specific objectives: determining the scale and diversity of state aid granted by the APA (including the local branch in Olsztyn), evaluating the current technical condition of some of the assets and their condition upon being handed over by the APA, determining their importance, main problems associated with resources which are taken over, identifying and assessing the importance of actions which encourage communes to take over property still held by the APA, assessing the scale and procedure of aid granted in the opinion of representatives of APA units. The article makes use of information obtained from the local branch of the APA in Olsztyn in the years 2003-2014. A direct survey among the entities was taken. The survey questionnaire was sent in 2014 to all communes (gminas) of the Province (Voivodeship) of Warmia and Mazury (116 units). Completed questionnaires were returned by 73 representatives of the communes. A total of PLN 327.1 million was allotted in the Agency’s financial plans for the program of non-repayable financial aid during the period from 2009 to 2014. Approximately 81.6% of PLN 164.4 million granted by the local branch of the APA in Olsztyn, was granted to units of the public finance sector. As was shown in the survey conducted among representatives of local governments, the interest of communes in taking over assets still held by2 the local branch of the APA in Olsztyn could be increased by limiting the number of tenants who do not pay the rent regularly and by increasing the amount of non-repayable financial aid. It is possible to carry out the latter action, but the former could prove to be extremely difficult.

Polski handel zagraniczny produktami rolno-spożywczymi i jego przewaga komparatywna w latach 2008–2013

The purpose of the article was to show the directions, values, structure and assessment of comparative advantage of Polish foreign trade in agri-food products. Adopted time range covered the years 2008–2013. The analysis was based on the data from the statistical publications of the Institute of Agricultural and Food Economics and the Central Statistical Offi ce. The results indicate a constant increase in the value of foreign trade in agri-food products, as well as a stable positive balance of foreign trade of these products. In the commodity structure the largest share in the period 2008–2013 were plant products (an average of 55.37% of total exports and 65.08% of total imports). Analysing the changes in the value of Lafay indicator of diff erent types of agri-food products in 2008–2013 decrease can be observed in this ratio in the case of total animal products (–4.24) and a simultaneous increase of the comparative advantage in the export of plant products in total (4,00).

FARMLAND ACQUISITION BY FOREIGNERS IN POLAND IN YEARS 2000–2013

The present study aimed at identification and evaluation the issue of agricultural land acquisition by foreigners in Poland in the years 2000–2013. The authors have used secondary data from: the Ministry of Interior, the Agricultural Property Agency (APA) and the Institute of Agricultural Economics and Food Economy. The issue of farmland acquisition regulation in UE countries was also mentioned. The area of agriculture land acquired in the analyzed time is 5 0833, 98 hectare. The phenomenon most intensively affects legal persons (with permission of Minister of Interior) who purchase 68.7 % of it. Having considered the analyzed issue from the perspective of the country of origin, Germany and Austria dominate in natural persons (49.04 %) and in the case of legal entities leaders are: Germany and the Netherlands (58.27 %).Significant for interest of polish agricultural land by foreigners was Poland’s accession to the European Community, when in the real estate market a recovery from the foreigners side happened. The future situation in the agricultural land market in Poland is determined by the political decisions and public opinion pressure, especially before 1 May 2016. Present prepositions of changes in the regulation will rather do not limit requirements in land acquisition by foreigners like in Hungary, Slovakia, Lithuania or Bulgaria. Keywords: agricultural land, foreigners, land acquisition . Article DOI: http://doi.org/10.15544/RD.2015.100

Nakłady inwestycyjne przedsiębiorstw z kapitałem zagranicznym w okresie kryzysu gospodarczego

The economic crisis of recent years affected not only the business and financial results of enterprises, but also the value of their investment outlays. The purpose of the article was to analyze and evaluate changes in the value of investment outlays incurred by enterprises with foreign capital in Poland in the years 2007–2012. The analysis allowed to indicate groups of enterprises with the highest dynamic of vulnerable to the economic crisis. The analysis was carried out taking into account the size of the companies and the origin of capital (domestic and foreign). The highest growth rate of investment outlays characterized a group of micro companies with foreign capital. Despite the crisis, the value of imports and exports in the companies with foreign capital did not decrease as much as in the case of investment. Companies with the participation of foreign capital presented a higher growth rate of revenues.