The French Chamber of Industry and Commerce in Poland (Chambre de Commerce et d'Industrie Francaise en Pologne-CCIFP) is celebrating its 10th anniversary.

The organization was established in April 1994 by a group of entrepreneurs previously linked to the French Patronage Club: AGF, BISE, BNP, BULL, CBC, Crédit Lyonnais, Danone, France Télécom, l'Oréal, Peugeot, Renault, Rhone Poulenc and Thomson.

Ten years later, June 25, 2004, presidents of the companies which founded the Chamber, as well as the organization's current members and their partners, gathered for an anniversary gala meeting.

A huge pavilion, much like those at world exhibitions, was built in the park in front of Królikarnia palace in Warsaw. Soft music and Polish and French delicacies lent the evening a special atmosphere. The goal was to convey to the guests the idea of Polish-French partnership, for which CCIFP has worked for 10 years. Many prominent figures from the world of politics and business were invited to the gala. The Chamber affiliates both French companies on the Polish market and Polish companies that cooperate with France.

The Chamber is an association of employers. It is a member of the union of French chambers of commerce in Paris. It is an autonomous structure and is not subsidized by any public institution. The Chamber's revenues come from services offered to its associated companies. Intensive efforts to expand cooperation with Polish companies are among the priorities of the Chamber's development strategy.

The number of the Chamber's member companies has regularly increased, with annual growth amounting to 10 percent. This process has been linked to growth in French investment and thus increased French presence in Poland. The Chamber has over 260 members operating in various businesses. There are large corporations among them, as well as small and medium-sized French and Polish companies. Some 80 percent of them are based in Warsaw.

From the very beginning, the Chamber has worked to strengthen the ties between French and Polish industry and commerce, provide a forum for meetings, discussions and conferences as well as be a source of information and assistance. In attempting to bring Polish and French business circles together, the Chamber also opened its doors to Polish companies. This rapprochement is even more significant in the context of Poland's integration with the European Union.

The Chamber includes the majority of French companies in Poland. Its significance has grown given the fact that, among foreign investors, France has placed first since 2000. It affiliates leading players on Poland's business scene, thus contributing to the country's economic growth. A few times a year, the Chamber takes part in the Polish Days in France. The event is designed to present the services offered by CCIFP and the opportunities offered by the Polish market to small and medium-sized enterprises from a given region. The CCIFP also holds Business Mixer meetings for associated companies.

French firms have invested a total of $13.9 billion (in terms of cumulative value), 19 percent of the total value of foreign investment in Poland. Companies with French capital have already created over 150,000 new jobs in the country.