Bogdan Szczęśniak, former mayor of Jelcz-Laskowice, talks to Kazimierz Śniadek.

The special economic zone in Jelcz-Laskowice is five years old. What experiences have you gathered over this time?
When we decided to create the Jelcz-Laskowice subzone of the Wałbrzych Special Economic Zone in 2001, we knew that we were doing the right thing. Our town and district needed rapid economic growth to prevent negative trends such as unemployment, stagnation and a shortage of funds in the local budget.

Over the past five years, we have attracted 11 large international companies, including Toyota, Italmetal, Faurecia and Simoldes Plasticos. Although most of them are still developing their operations here-and their target production levels have yet to be achieved-the results of their operations in our town are already visible. They have influenced the local job market and helped bring down the unemployment rate by more than a dozen percent over the past few years. It is now below the national average.

So far, these investors have provided jobs to more than 1,700 people. The real estate market has started to grow, and local entrepreneurs have more opportunities to provide construction work and services needed in the zone.

The present and planned budget revenues allow for the comprehensive development of our district. This means that we were right to create the SEZ five years ago.

All land intended for investment in the zone is occupied by now. How do the local authorities plan to maintain the current rate of development, the changes and the commune's investment attractiveness?
I hope the plans to expand the SEZ in Jelcz-Laskowice by an extra 25 hectares will be approved soon-perhaps as early as the beginning of next year. In this way, we will be able to invite more companies to come here. We are making every effort to provide them with optimum conditions for doing business. In the first place, we want to develop the road network, in particular adapt the 20-odd-kilometer road connecting the town with the A4 freeway-to meet growing transportation needs.

Residential construction is another priority. We intend to ensure proper living standards for the employees and managers of the companies which have invested here. This is especially important because many employees from the companies active in the SEZ decide to take up permanent residence in our district.

Our development has been driven not only by those investing in the zone but also by the many companies operating outside the zone. Our activities in the coming years will focus on guaranteeing the best possible conditions for all businesses to operate.

This is a good time for investment, and our district is determined to help entrepreneurs take advantage of this opportunity.