The presence of eminent guest speakers confirmed the significance of the event. On the second day, the speakers included Bronisław Komorowski, the President of Poland, and Jerzy Buzek, MEP, former Polish Prime Minister and former President of the European Parliament.

The topics discussed at the Congress covered the recent shifts in European politics, the future of Europe’s relations with the East, and, fitting in this context, the development agenda for Eastern Poland. The attendees discussed key infrastructural investments, tackling topics which ranged from prospects for renewable energy generation to detailed analysis of the food and agricultural market.

The Puławy Competence Centre was represented at the Congress by dr Zenon Pokojski. During a panel discussion on collaborative partnership between industry and agriculture, Mr Pokojski emphasised the important role agricultural business owners play in the sector and the entire economy.

“Agriculture is the fourth largest sector of the Polish economy. Rural areas represent 93% of Poland, and are inhabited by nearly 40% of the country’s population. The food and agricultural industry is a material element of the nation’s economic potential. It gives jobs to nearly 20% of the labour force,” said Mr Pokojski, who also serves as Vice-President of the Grupa Azoty Puławy Management Board.

Mr Pokojski believes that in the coming years the largest farms will raise to the forefront of Poland’s agriculture. “Near-term forecasts suggest that up to 95% of the largest farms of over 300 ha will embrace state-of-the-art technologies”, he added.

The Eastern Economic Congress is organised by the PTWP Group, ranking among the most experienced business event planners in Poland, with one of its flagship projects being the European Economic Congress.