Special economic zones with no surface limit plus an easy access to the lots owned by the Agricultural Property Agency – these revolutionary changes are provided in the amendment of the law being prepared by the ministry of economy.
“I’m obliged to prepare the bill till September 26th”, Teresa Korycinska from the ministry of economy said.
All experts approve of the idea of getting rid of the limit of area which may be covered with special economic zones. Today, it amounts to 12,000 ha. 11,000 ha have already been split among zones while 1,000 ha is a reserve to found industrial parks. Prior to its entrance into the EU, Poland promised not to exceed 6,300 ha hoping that companies operating in the zones would not lose their privileges.
The plan failed and the ministry of economy believes that Poland has no reason to limit the zones and does not need the approval of the European Commission here. The ministry of economy forecasts that the zones will not exceed 20,000 ha. So far, 1 ha of the zone meant 24,000 jobs and PLN 5.8 billion of investment. The ministry estimates that 70,000 more new jobs will be created in the zones. There are 146,000 today.
The amendment provides also that after a lot owned by the Agricultural Property Agency is included into the zone, it is the latter who manages it. “We cared for this change because it’s so hard to get a lot from the agency. It lasts 180-200 days”, Miroslaw Pachucki from Katowice special economic zone said.
For the last year when the law on special economic zones was changed last, ANR should convey the lots to the zones without a fee. Till July, it managed to do it only once. “I keep my fingers crossed for the ministry of economy because I’m afraid that the ministry of agriculture and ANR will not give away their competences so easily”, Marcin Kaszuba from Ernst & Young said.Politicians agree that the amendment is vital. “I’m pretty sure that the amendment will be approved of by the government. The zones have turned out to be such a good tool to create new jobs that every government will take care about them”, Ryszard Wawryniewicz, MP of PiS Law and Justice ruling party said.
“It’s strange that the government should have so many interesting laws when it’s too late for this parliament to approve of anything. However, a rational government does not throw away bills of its predecessors provided they are good. Next to ANR lots, I would do the same with the lots owned by the Agency of Military Property Agency”, Adam Szejnfeld, MP of PO Citizens’ Platform opposition party said.
“We had so good experiences with the former amendment of the law about zones that I would be optimistic about the new amendment. The zones don’t have much time, because they will expire in 2017, so we need to use the time as well as possible”, Jacek Piechota, MP of SLD leftist opposition party said.