Jakub Chełstowski, the Marshal of the Silesian Voivodeship, announced the opening of the regional office in Abu Dhabi, the capital city of the United Arab Emirates. Is it a right move? How can this decision affect local companies?

Silesian office in Abu Dhabi

In the Silesian Voivodeship there are programs that help to develop SMEs by supporting export. The two most popular programs are Global Silesia and InterSilesia. As part of these initiatives, the Upper Silesian Fund and the Marshal’s Office of the Silesian Voivodeship organized an event in Abu Dhabi, the capital city of the United Arab Emirates, in November 2022. The event was addressed to SMEs operating in the energy, renewable energy, IT, ICT and industry 4.0 sectors. Entrepreneurs took part in meetings with representatives of companies from the UAE, exchanged experiences and established new business relationships.
At the end of the event the Upper Silesian Fund announced that it is opening its Regional Office in Abu Dhabi! Jakub Chełstowski, the Marshal of the Silesian Voivodeship, commented as follows:

We strengthen international economic relations at the Polish-Arab Economic Forum. Entrepreneurs from the Silesian Voivodeship can use the services of the Regional Office in Abu Dhabi. This is an advantage that will certainly benefit businesses.

The Silesian Voivodeship has opened its Regional Office in Abu Dhabi

This may sound a bit abstract – what does Silesia have to do with Abu Dhabi? It turns out that they have a lot of things in common! The Silesian Voivodeship is one of the most entrepreneurial regions in Poland. There are over 338,000 companies operating here as compared to 303,000 registered companies in the Lesser Poland Voivodeship and 264,000 companies in the Lower Silesian Voivodeship. The new decision of the Upper Silesian Fund may stimulate the development of Silesian enterprises even more.

How will the presence of the office in Abu Dhabi affect the economy?

The foreign office is to serve as a platform for cooperation with other entrepreneurs in the United Arab Emirates, as well as in the surrounding countries. In addition, the goal of the regional office is to support Polish entrepreneurs and investors who want to start doing business in the UAE.
A huge advantage of the regional office is that Silesian companies will be able to take advantage of the opportunities to scale their business in the Middle East. This can be highly successful. What is more, the office will provide access to a wide range of services, such as legal and financial consultancy as well as management and marketing support.

How will the Silesian region benefit from the cooperation with the UAE?

  1. The global reach of Silesian companies
    The opening of the regional office in Abu Dhabi increases the global reach of the Silesian Voivodeship. This allows Silesian companies to acquire new customers in the Middle East region. The Regional Office also enables the creation of new business networks that will help companies to send their products and services to the region. Silesian entrepreneurs can use the new office to expand their reach.
  2. Better investment possibilities
    Silesian companies will be able to invest in the United Arab Emirates and nearby countries. These investments can bring numerous benefits.
    Moreover, Silesian entrepreneurs can use the assistance of the Regional Office in order to obtain funds for the development of enterprises. As a result, the companies can gain access to funds for new innovative activities, thereby contributing to the development of the Polish economy.
  3. Valuable knowledge
    Knowledge is extremely valuable in business. Foreign cooperation facilitates exchange of knowledge. As a result, Silesian entrepreneurs will be able to use modern technologies and innovations to develop their products and services.

The opening of the regional office in Abu Dhabi is an important step for the Silesian Voivodeship, but also for Poland in general. Increasing global reach opens up many opportunities. This can help establish new business contacts and reach new customers in the Middle East region. Furthermore, this solution will effectively support Polish entrepreneurs and investors who want to start business in the UAE.

Dominika Bochniarz