France is the largest foreign investor in Poland. French companies doing business here follow a policy of reinvesting their profits and are ready to help Poland build the new infrastructure needed for the Euro 2012 soccer championships that will be co-hosted by Poland and Ukraine.

Latest research indicates that Poles look favorably on French investors. And they are keen to continue doing business together in sectors such as road building, telecommunications, food processing, rail infrastructure and science.

According to the French Chamber of Industry and Commerce in Poland (CCIFP), by the end of 2006, French companies had invested 16-17 billion euros in Poland. A total of 760 companies with French capital operate in Poland. They include subsidiaries of large companies as well as small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

"A marked inflow of businesses from the SME sector has occurred since Poland's entry into the European Union," said Magdalena Tran-Van, director-general of the chamber. Companies with French capital have taken part in the privatization of 40 percent of Poland's state-owned enterprises. They have created 175,000 new jobs in Poland, or 1.5 percent of all new jobs created nationwide.

The largest French investors include companies in sectors such as telecommunications (France Telecom, Vivendi), retail trade (Carrefour, Auchan), construction (Saint-Gobain, Lafarge), automotive (Michelin), banking (Société Génerale, Credit Agricole), tourism (Accor), and energy (EDF).

France is Poland's fifth largest trade partner in terms of imports, with 5.5 billion euros worth of goods and services imported from France in 2006. According to Poland's Central Statistical Office (GUS), the value of goods and services imported from France by April this year reached 1.9 billion euros. Since Poland's entry into the European Union, trade between the two countries has increased by 54 percent.

Last year's research conducted by the Polish Institute of Public Affairs (ISP) shows that French investors are seen positively in Poland. Nearly four in 10 Poles say they have a positive attitude toward French investment in Poland; more than half are neutral; and only every 10th Pole surveyed said they had a negative attitude.

Other studies conducted last year by French commercial counselors and a business mission of the French embassy show that French companies in Poland are seen as good employers, paying their staff roughly 30 percent above the national average. At the same time, 79 percent of those employed in French-owned companies in Poland have higher or secondary education. French employers seek educated personnel and spend seven times more money on training than the national average.

For example, Carrefour Polska invests in people through an internal promotion program that aims to promote commitment and dedication among staff. The company also runs two "academies:" the Captain Academy and the Chopin Academy. The first trains managers, while the latter trains future directors for hypermarkets. The Dalkia company runs a training program called Sherpa. That is an intensive course for staff with the biggest management potential. Its graduates hold key positions within the Dalkia group. Peugeot Polska, on the other hand, not only invests in its workers, but also in future car-service specialists. The company works with vocational schools in Warsaw, Poznañ, Radom and Nowy S±cz, sponsoring classes and offering its students apprenticeships in Peugeot service stations.

Cooperation between France and Poland relates to other areas as well. As part of its corporate social responsibility agenda, Renault Polska is involved in activities to increase road safety. Renault has provided road-safety information kits to more than 23,000 schools participating in the program. The Servier Polska research group is heavily investing in the development of innovative medications. Its expenditure in this area is twice as high as in other pharmaceutical companies in Poland. Apart from that, Servier provides special grants for independent clinical research in cardiology and diabetology through the Polish Scientific Society (PTN). Accor Orbis is stepping up its involvement in the protection of the environment. Auchan Polska is among the companies that assist the poor. The company has donated zl.8.5 million to the needy over 11 years. Auchan donates funds to hospitals and summer camps for disabled children, and conducts food collection campaigns. Société Générale regularly sponsors various artistic activities. The Mécénat Musical Société Générale Foundation supports young musical talent and funds scholarships, which this year were given to three students from the Frédéric Chopin Academy of Music in Warsaw.

Many other companies are involved in local development. Michelin Polska has already helped 14 companies from Warmia-Mazuria province to obtain investment loans, by acting as a guarantor of the loans. Michelin has established a professional foundation to provide advice to them. Foundation experts conduct training courses in areas such as logistics, recruitment, personnel motivation and production cost controls. Also available are many educational programs and training exchanges. Thanks to special programs, 10,000 bilingual graduates are working in all sectors of the Polish economy. The Polish-French Cooperation Fund helps Polish students and workers take up studies or undergo professional training in France. The fund allocates more than 80 percent of its budget for individual scholarships and specialist seminars.