Regional Development Agencies in Poland Performed by: Andrzej Parafiniuk Andrzej Parafiniuk The Chairman of Podlaska The Chairman of Podlaska Foundation for Regional Development Foundation for Regional Development

The basic similarities of Regional Development Agencies b Constructing ”bottom – up” structures of the communication and understanding of the community with the local and regional authorities; b Organisational and institutional autonomy; b Independence from administrative authorities and a public, non- governmental character.

Differences caused by specific character of the Polish reality b Making use of the extremely varied legal forms; b Differences in the variety of the activities performed by agencies, depending on the needs and local conditions; b Different sources and means of financing the activities of the agencies; b The common need (in most agencies) to conduct business activities due to the lack of stable mechanisms of making use of public funds.

The benefits resulting from the functioning of RDA in Poland b A network of co-operation, despite the great number and dispersion of agencies; b A systematic sharing of experiences (mainly at the level of the National Association of Regional Development Agencies); b Well trained, creative, innovative and experienced staff; b Well developed tools for conducting activities and achieving objectives; b Openness and fast response to the constantly appearing regional challenges; b Undertaking business and developmental activities as methods for solving

b Stock Companies b Limited Liability Companies b Foundation b Association Legal forms of RDA

Financing the activities of an agency b Generated funds – revenues from commercial activities and profits from property; b Funds received as donations, inheritances, etc.; b Funds from public charity sources (collected for a particular purpose); b Funds received from aid funds, available in course of the execution of programmes offered by the European Union and governments of particular states.

Partners of Agencies b regional self-government and central government administration; b associations of business people; b labour offices; b gmina and recently poviat authorities; b banks;

Clients of the agencies b Local and regional authorities (both from state, as well as self-government administration ); b Small and medium size enterprises; b The unemployed; b Business start-ups; b State enterprises (especially the restructured ones); b Advisors; b Business environment institutions.

Scope of activities of agencies b Development of the region; b Promotion of the region; b Services for enterpreneurs; b Services for local and regional authorities; b Training and advisory services; b International co-operation.

b The Polish Regional Development Agency (PARR) b Agency for the Development of Industry b National Association of Regional Development Agencies (NARDA) Central support for the activities of RDA