Key to the global success of SMEs!

October 29 and 30 of this year, the International Congress Center in Katowice was the venue for intense discussions and knowledge exchange during the 14th European Congress of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises. One of the key points of the event was the panel discussion “International public procurement - a high-stakes game”, organized in cooperation with the Ministry of Development and Technology.

Experts on opportunities for SMEs in international procurement

The panel was moderated by dr. hab. Grzegorz Głód, professor at the University of Economics in Katowice, who, in his role as moderator, effectively engaged both the panelists and the international audience. The discussion was translated into English, allowing a wide range of participants. The conversation discussed key challenges and opportunities for Polish companies in public procurement organized by international institutions.

Artur Dabrowski, Head of the Department of International Organizations and Procurement, pointed out that many tenders are at the $50,000 level - making them achievable also for small and medium-sized enterprises and sole proprietorships. An example is a Polish company that won a contract worth $49,000 for training services for one of the international organizations. Experts stressed that international procurement is not just about arms projects - tenders also include transportation services, cleaning, and even window washing at NATO headquarters.

- There are companies that earn $20,000, $15,000 and are one-person businesses. These are companies that provide, for example, training or transportation services. Last year $49,000 was spent on services in Poland, and these were training services, made by micro-companies. There are more and more such opportunities, and the same with NATO-related tenders. Most of us will of course think of armaments, but that's not what we're talking about. An entrepreneur who wins a tender to wash windows at NATO headquarters may also be earning a huge amount of money – highlighted Artur Dąbrowski.

Participation of Polish entrepreneurs in public procurement

The Ministry of Development and Technology is actively supporting Polish entrepreneurs in participating in international public procurement. The panel noted that over the past four years Polish companies have had difficulty winning tenders from international organizations. The Ministry is taking steps to improve this situation. Polish companies have completed as much as 69% of World Bank contracts in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Their value increased from $90 million in 1999 to $330 million in 2022. Nonetheless, many entrepreneurs still focus mainly on the domestic market, which limits their international potential. Globalization is progressing gradually, and orders from global organizations represent an opportunity to establish a presence in exotic countries.

The presented database of public procurement of international organizations, is available on the website of the Ministry of Development and Technology, and is intended to help entrepreneurs find tenders and prepare bids.
https://www.gov.pl/web/rozwoj-technologia/miedzynarodowe-zamowienia-publiczne

Reconstruction of Ukraine - an opportunity for Polish entrepreneurs

The panel also paid attention to the reconstruction of Ukraine, which is estimated to be worth $100 billion. Turkish and international companies are already involved in the process, and Polish companies are encouraged to join the effort. The war in Ukraine, while difficult, has not significantly affected the functioning of the western part of the country, which opens up new opportunities for economic cooperation. The ministry pointed out that the war in Ukraine has not significantly affected the functioning of the western part of the country, which creates additional opportunities for economic cooperation.

The panel “International public procurement - the high stakes game” was an excellent source of knowledge and inspiration for the SME sector. It was emphasized that Polish companies have a real chance to make their mark on the international arena - all it takes is courage, knowledge of procedures and use of available support tools. This is the first step on the road to building global competitiveness.

Workshop: “How to become a U.S. Army supplier?” with cooperation from the Ministry of Development and Technology

Don't miss your chance to be a part of this global game - join us for more events and initiatives to support the development of Polish business!