Lying at the geometric centre of Europe, Poland is a beautiful country surrounded by the Baltic Sea on the North and the Carpathian Mountains on the south. In the east, Poland ends at the River Bug while the Rivers Oder and Nysa Luzycka form the western border of the country.

With a population of more than 38.5 million, the country historically contained many languages, cultures and religions on its soil and has countless historical sights along with a picturesque landscape, clean environment, and outstanding natural riches. 

Fact file of Poland

• Population (July 2007 est.): 38.5 million
• Surface area: 312,679 sq. km.
• Official language: Polish
• Principal export destinations: France, Italy and Germany
• Principal import sources: Russian Federation, Italy and Germany
• India' exports to Poland: US$ 306.02 million (2006-07)
• India' imports to Poland: US$ 117.11 million (2006-07)
  

Economy of Poland
Despite a few worries Poland remains Central Europe’s locomotive economy and considered to as one of the fastest growing economies in Central European nations, with an annual growth rate of over 6.0%. Since the 1990s, the country has steadfastly pursued  economic liberalization which has contributed positively the country's economy. In addition, Privatization of state owned SMEs, huge inward investments, rising industrial output and productivity, entrepreneurial spirit of the young generation, etc. have also brought great change to the economic climate of the country.

As a result of the bold economic reforms carried out during the last decade, the foreign trade of Poland has grown from US$14.9 billion in 1989 to $671.03 billion in 2006 and $300 billion in 2007. Exports have been the main driving force for the country's economic growth during the last few years. Poland formally joined the European Union on 1st May, 2004.

One very important change of the last 10 or 15 years has been the rapid increase of Poland's export of industrial products, with an increasing share of highly processed products. At the moment, the most important group of export are electrical and machine products. Other significant groups are chemical and metallurgy products.

Find below the key indicators of Poland's economy-
GDP (Purchasing Power Parity- PPP): $624.6 billion (2007 est.)
GDP per capita (PPP): $16,200 (2007 est.)
HDI: 0.870 (2005)
Sectoral contribution to GDP: Agriculture (4.1%), Industry (31.9%), Services (64%)
Labor force by occupation: Agriculture (16.1%), Industry (29%), Services (54.9%)

Indo-Polish relation
Indo-Polish relations are deep rooted and have traditionally been close and friendly, characterized by understanding and cooperation. There has been close cooperation between the two countries in international fora.

Poland's attitude towards India is characterized by goodwill and recognition of India as a major power in Asia. Poland has always considered India to be an active and important player in the international arena and admires our democratic traditions and core values of non-violence, tolerance and secularism. The Polish people still recall with respect Mahatma Gandhi's support for their struggle in the face of Nazi aggression as also Pandit Nehru's unequivocal stand on the issue, at a time when neither India nor Poland were independent. There are streets named after Mahatma Gandhi, Rabindranath Tagore, Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi in Warsaw and Krakow.

Indo-Polish trade relations
Total bilateral trade between India and Poland has grown by more than seven times from 1992 to 2007. Overall bilateral trade, which totaled US $675.73 milion and US$ 6861.78 milion in 2006 and 2007 respectively, is now on target to cross US$ 1 billion in 2008.

Find below the figures for Indo-Polish trade for the last 15 years:

Poland' RMG imports
Germany and China were the two leading countries from where RMG are imported into Poland each accounting for more than of the 23% of the total RMG imports of Poland in 2007. In value terms, Poland's imports from Germany and China were US$ 464.21 million and US$ 459.28 million respectively. Share of top supplier countries is almost 65% of the total RMG imports of Poland during the same period. RMG imports from India were US$ 42 million in the year 2007, increasing from US$ 23 million in 2005 and US& 40 million in 2006. Share of India has increased from 2.03% in 2005 to 2.14% in 2007, though there has been a fall in its share, when compared to the value of 2.79 % in 2006. Close to India's value of imports to Poland is Netherlands with imports worth US$ 38 million and share of 1.94% in RMG imports of Poland. Bangladesh's share is 1.21% and value is US$ 23.7 million.

Poland's RMG imports at 4 digit HS code level

(i) Knit apparel

Poland's imports of knit apparel amounted to US$ 928.73 million in 2007, which is 0.57 % of the total imports of Poland.

Under the category of knit apparel, the following are the most significant items of import-

• 6109 (T-shirts, singlet, tank tops, etc., knit or crochet)
• 6110 (jerseys, pullovers, cardigans, waistcoats, etc., knit or crocheted)
• 6104 (Women's or girls' suits, dresses, skirts, shorts, etc.)
• 6115 (Panty hose, tights, stockings, other hosiery, knit or crocheted)
• 6108 (Women's or girls' slips, panties, pyjamas, bathrobes, etc.).
  

Poland's imports of all the above mentioned items have increased during 2005-07 in value terms, with the largest increase during 2007 being in the case of 6104.

(ii) Woven apparel

Similarly Poland's imports of woven apparel amounted to US$ 1035.59 million, which is 0.64% of the total imports of Poland.

The most significant items imports under the woven apparel category are the following-

• 6204 (Women's and girls' suits, jackets, dresses, skirts, etc., not knit)
• 6203 (Men's or boys' suits, jackets, trousers, shorts, etc., not knit)
• 6202 (Women's or girls overcoats, capes, wind-jackets, etc.)
• 6201 (Men's or boys' overcoats, capes, wind-jackets, etc.)
• 6205 (Men's or boys' shirts, not knitted or crocheted).
  

The imports of all the above mentioned items have increased during 2005-07 in value terms, with the largest increase during 2007 being 6205.

Poland's RMG imports from India
Of the total imports of US$ 537.84 million from India in 2007, Poland's import of knit apparel amounted to US $ 24.04 million, which is 4.47% of the total imports from India. Under the category of knit apparel, Poland's largest imports have been of 6109 (T-shirts, singlet and other vests, knitted or crocheted).

Of the total imports, Poland's import of woven apparel amounted to US$ 17.95 million, which is 3.34 % of the total imports from India. Largest imports in 2007 to the tune of US$ 4.56 million have been of 6204 (Women's or girls' suits, jackets, dresses, skirts, etc.), accounting for 25% of the total imports of woven garments.

Poland's top imports of apparel items from India

(i) Knit apparel and clothing

• 6106 (women's or girls' blouses & shirts, knitted or crocheted)
• 6107 (men's or boys' underpants, briefs, pajamas etc., knitted or crocheted)
• 6108 (women's or girls' slips, petticoats, pajamas, etc., knitted or crocheted)
• 6109 (t-shirts, singlets, tank tops etc., knitted or crocheted)
• 6110 (sweaters, pullovers, sweatshirts, vests etc., knitted or crocheted).
  

There has a been a fall in the quantity imported of 6110, 6109 and 6106 during 2006-07. Though in case of each of these commodities there was an initial increase in import quantities during 2005-06.

(ii) Woven apparel and clothing

• 6204 (women's or girls' suits, ensembles etc., not knitted or crocheted)
• 6205 (men's or boys' shirts, not knitted or crocheted)
• 6206 (women's or girls' blouses & shirts, not knitted or crocheted)
• 6214 (shawls, scarves, mufflers, mantillas, veils etc.).
  

In case of woven garments, there has been a continuous increase in the quantity imported of 6204, 6205 and 6206 during 2005-07. However, largest increase has been in case of 6214 during 2006-07 followed by 6206 and 6204.

Poland's tariffs

For the last few years, several Indian companies such as Arcelor Mittal Steel, Videocon, Escorts, Strides Arcolab, Reliance Industries, Ranbaxy, Essel Propack have made promising inroads in different industrial sectors in Poland. But the number Indian textile businesses trading with Poland is still very low. There is significant potential for growth for Indian exporters and investors in this area as the Polish economy is booming in these years and the RMG market of the country is expanding at a rapid pace.