KIEŁTYKA GŁADKOWSKI KG LEGAL at Polish Investment and Trade Agency meeting – Ukraine Reconstruction
Publication date: August 04, 2025
On 30 July 2025 our lawyers participated in the meeting of Polish Investment and trade Agency devoted to new opportunities and tools of Ukraine Reconstruction.
The Polish Investment and Trade Agency (PAIH) is a government agency subordinate to the Polish Development Fund (PFR). It focuses primarily on supporting Polish companies in their international expansion and attracting foreign investment to Poland. It operates in two main areas: first, it supports Polish companies abroad. Primarily, it helps Polish entrepreneurs find business partners, supports the export of goods and services, advises on entering new markets, and organizes trade missions, fairs, and promotional events. Furthermore, it seeks to attract foreign investors by promoting Poland as an attractive investment destination, assisting them in finding a location, obtaining permits, and navigating Polish law.
PAIH operates through various support programs, including Foreign Trade Offices located around the world, which assist in establishing business relationships locally. They also initiate the Go To Brand competition, which aims to finance the promotion of Polish brands in foreign markets, such as participation in trade fairs, missions, and advertising. Invest in Poland program is aimed at foreign investors and promotes Poland as a country friendly to investment and innovation.
Furthermore, PAIH coordinates Poland’s participation in world exhibitions, such as Expo 2020 in Dubai, which promotes the Polish economy and innovation. PAIH is targeted at micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), large Polish companies eager to export, foreign companies interested in investing in Poland, and local governments and regional institutions (e.g., special economic zones). PAIH boasts a record six-month investment year, supporting 21 investment projects with a total value of approximately €2.4 billion in the first six months of 2025, which is expected to employ over 2,500 people.
Investors primarily came from the US and China, but the largest number of projects were implemented by Polish companies.
PAIH organizes webinars on establishing or investing in various industries and countries.
On July 30, a Polish-British webinar titled “Rebuilding Ukraine – the Green Technology Sector” took place. Its aim was to highlight the opportunities offered by Poland and the UK in rebuilding their economies after the war with Russia. The representatives from Poland and the UK presented their capabilities and ideas.
Henry Sayers was the first to perform leader of the UK- Ukraine project TechBridge. He presented TechBridge’s initiative to help Ukraine. The primary goal is to boost Ukraine’s economic recovery by strengthening ties between the UK and Ukrainian technology industries, promoting partnerships and collaboration, and ensuring mutual trade growth.
Four pillars underpin the TechBridge program’s work on key technology topics, including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, agricultural technology, medical technology, educational technology, and humanitarian mine clearance.
TechBridge is part of the 100-year partnership agreement between the UK and Ukraine, and is one of several initiatives aimed at deepening bilateral relations. TechBridge aims to support economic growth through business partnerships and investments aligned with our shared priorities. It was noted that the UK’s technology sector is characterized by a large number of startups and “unicorns,” which significantly contribute to economic growth and innovation, making it one of the best places to invest in the world. A strong presence of venture capital supports the UK’s technology sector, providing competitive financing conditions for emerging companies. Ukrainian IT services are in high demand globally, supported by initiatives such as CodeUA and Dija City. The Ukrainian startup ecosystem is one of the fastest-growing in Central and Eastern Europe, with over 2,600 active startups. Since 2020, its value has tripled.
The TechBridge Investment Accelerator program has trained high-potential Ukrainian tech SMEs to enter the UK market and secure funding. The 2024 cohort raised $12 million in a year. Among the barriers and challenges that can lead to misunderstandings and conflicts are cultural differences, regulatory barriers that can hinder progress and create obstacles for companies and initiatives, and limited access to funding that hinders the development of many organizations. In summary, the UK and Poland can succeed by increasing targeted assistance for Ukraine’s recovery, leveraging our respective technology industries and building on our respective strengths.
There was also presented the programme for green technologies for the climate and environment. The GreenEvo program is a unique program of the Ministry of Climate and Environment, aimed at supporting Polish entrepreneurs in promoting Polish environmental technologies domestically and internationally. Its primary goal is to support Polish small and medium-sized enterprises in establishing international relationships and providing them with the knowledge and tools that enable their dynamic growth. Activities undertaken within the program comprehensively support the development and strengthen the role of innovative green technologies in creating a circular economy. The Ministry helps them enter new markets while promoting the idea of conducting business with respect for the environment. Only proven, implemented, and highly effective technologies are selected for the award, which contributes to building a positive image of Poland globally. GreenEvo awardees are reliable business partners who are open to sharing their knowledge, experience, and technologies with developing countries grappling with local environmental issues. Their primary activities include trade missions, company training, and exploring expansion and pro-ecological solutions. The launch of this program is driven by the progress Poland has made over the past 30 years, including increasing GDP, reducing CO2 emissions, and building wastewater treatment plants.
Poland is an example of the green transformation, and Ukraine is in a position where it should rebuild itself following Poland’s example. Therefore, GreenEvo offers its solutions to Ukrainian SMEs. Industries covered by GreenEvo and the companies it partners with include water and wastewater management, such as ProTE and SYMBIONA, energy construction, such as IZODOM, and alternative energy sources, METALERG. In summary, the program offers support to Ukrainian small and medium-sized enterprises, and the main areas of economic interest to GreenEvo at this time are energy construction and the water and wastewater sector.
There was also present a representative of the 1991 Ventures fund. 1991 Ventures is based in London and invests in early-stage ( pre-seed and seed ) mission-oriented startups from the CEE region and Ukraine. Each investment can reach up to $500,000. Established in Ukraine in 2012, it serves as a startup ecosystem focused on developing new technologies and providing capital investment opportunities for startups. They invest in Ukrainian companies, with a strategy of investing from half a million to $2 billion. The partnership aims to continuously increase the fund. They utilize the 1991 Accelerator program, an accelerator program for early-stage projects (from ideation to MVP). 1991 Accelerator is the leading accelerator in Ukraine, with a portfolio of over 270 alumni startups that have raised a total of $45.8 million. 1991 Accelerator operates Google for Startups ‘ Ukraine Support Fund 2024-2025. This is a $10 million fund. 1991 Ventures launched two editions of the UK- Ukraine TechBridge – Investment Acceleratox, a UK government-backed acceleration program between the UK and Ukraine, is designed for startups from seed to round A, scaling and raising capital in the UK. The company provides consulting and helps establish partnerships. The sectors most in demand are healthcare and the military, but the most important thing is the idea, and Poland is also included in this mandate.
The Polish Investment and Trade Agency (PAIH) supports Polish companies in their international expansion and attracts investment to Poland. It operates through programs such as Go To Brand and Invest in Poland, as well as Foreign Trade Offices. In the first half of 2025, PAIH supported 21 investment projects worth €2.4 billion, employing over 2,500 people.
A Polish-British webinar organized by the Polish Investment and Trade Agency (PAIH) on Ukraine’s reconstruction and green technologies showcased the cooperation and potential of Poland and the UK in Ukraine’s reconstruction, as well as the development of technologies and investments in the region.
