Susanne Hyldelund, head of the Commercial and Economic Department at the Danish Embassy, talks to Dena R. Gurgul.

Do you have any previous experience working with Poland?
No. My previous experience with the Danish Foreign Service involved Russia, the three Baltic states and Ukraine-I then spent three years at our embassy in Washington D.C. working with export promotion and commercial issues related to the World Bank.

Denmark has traditionally enjoyed a very good trade balance with Poland. Is that still the case?
Yes. Although we have also seen some difficulties with our exports over the last 2-3 years during the economic hard times in Poland-but that has fortunately to some extent been balanced by more production in Poland by Danish investors. Right now the trade balance is looking good for both parties-even in Poland's favor since exports from Poland have grown at a higher rate than Danish exports to Poland, which remain relatively stable, with expected growth of 2-3 percent in 2004.

Before Poland's EU accession, there were more than 400 Danish companies in Poland. As an EU member, will Poland be able to attract more Danish investors?
We strongly believe so. We've seen that May 1, 2004 really made a difference in the minds of investors despite the lack of major changes in investment conditions in Poland. We have received more requests for information about the Polish market from both potential and already existing investors, particularly from small and medium-sized companies, which want to sell finished goods and source, outsource or start production with a view to servicing the Polish as well as other markets.

Previously, the Polish market was attractive for its raw materials and low production costs, but we have observed an increase in marketing and sales of consumer goods and services.

Which sectors of Polish-Danish trade are strongest? Are there any weak points?
Strong sectors include pharmaceuticals, machinery, textiles and agricultural products and equipment. A substantial number of Danish companies produce in Poland, and Denmark is, relatively speaking, one of the biggest investors in Poland. The Danish company Danfoss, for example, produces and exports one of its products to the rest of Europe from its Polish facility.

Weak points? I guess there is room for improvement-especially in terms of increasing Polish imports. We believe innovative niche products can be successful here, and we also see room for more services. The consumer market is already heavily covered by international brands and concepts, but we believe Danish design products have potential.

What similarities do you see in both countries?
Previously, I spent three years in the U.S. so I think it is easier to compare Poland with America in terms of expat conditions. Even though our partnership with the U.S. is very strong, there is still an element of an "it's us against them" attitude, which is less profound in our relationship with Poland. Poland is part of Europe and has a strong will to influence European events so in that sense, we really don't feel as if we're far away from home here. Personally, I was surprised how many shopping opportunities are available in Warsaw and how easy it is to get around, not to mention the good air connections from Poland to other destinations.

What are your priorities for the next four years?
Our primary agenda includes helping Danish companies gain access to EU structural funds through their Polish partners and affiliates. We are involved in areas such as training, the environment/energy, industry and fisheries, and would like to improve our role as an advisor for both current and future investors. It is significant that this money is not only in Warsaw but is distributed to the provinces. That means we will be speaking to more local authorities and companies, expanding our sphere of involvement outside the capital. We are already focusing on Gdańsk and Pomerania province and would also like to focus on activities in Kielce and Cracow in the future.

We would also like to continue the focus topics in the "Denmark, Closer to the Future" campaign, which emphasizes our country as a close neighbor of Poland, world leader in environmental protection and the health industry, world leader in future technologies, and a producer of innovative and trend-setting designs.