The future is now

It is difficult to make long-term forecasts, but it is good to anticipate threats and see opportunities, to create the future. Your own, your business, your country but also the European Community. This is the most important challenge of the upcoming 14th European Congress of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises.

The immediate future is shaping up brightly for small and medium-sized entrepreneurs, sharks of bigger business and economic experts, political decision-makers. On October 29 and 30, several thousand of them will attend the 14th edition of the European Congress of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises.

Let's look forward 

The largest European meeting of the SME sector will take place in two weeks at the International Congress Center in Katowice.  It is safe to say that this will be a meeting on which the future will depend. That's because the motto of this year's ECSME is “Shape the future now”.

- It is necessary to look forward. Many threats, many unknowns and many challenges await business and the economy. By anticipating them, one can prepare for them - believes Tomasz Zjawiony, president of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Katowice, organizer of the congress.

The rich program of the Katowice congress is divided into nine thematic tracks. The main one, of course, will be “Shape the future now.” ECSME organizers have prepared quite a number of interesting discussions. The gaze of panelists is expected to look to the future in, among other things, a session on a new vision for Europe.

Firstly -safety

In “Security First - a new vision for Europe and economic processes” (Tuesday, October 29, 11:30 a.m.), participants will consider, among other things, the role of defense and military cooperation in shaping new economic processes, the security of the continent seen as a necessity to diversify the supply of raw materials, ensure a strong, uninterrupted supply chain and base the security of the new Europe on the foundation of its energy security.

- All these factors are the basis for the stability of the businesses conducted, but also for the security of states. There is no strong state today without a strong economy that is not susceptible to external influences - stresses Tomasz Zjawiony.

Secondly – development of polish military industry

The war in Ukraine and rising tensions in many regions of the world is a serious challenge not only for politicians and governments, but also for the economy. The increase in defense spending will result in more orders in the defense sector. Domestic or foreign? Produce or buy finished products? Can SME entrepreneurs get involved in the development of the defense sector? These are the questions and challenges posed to the participants of the panel “Modernization of the Polish Armed Forces and the possibilities of expanding the domestic defense industry” (Tuesday, October 29, 1:30 pm).

Thirdly – Poland the hub of Central and Eastern Europe?

Our country has been a large and important member of the European Union for even 20 years. Poland's advantage is certainly its location and constantly developing infrastructure - from highways, roads, airports to seaports. It is worth recalling that we are a key element of the TEN-T European transport corridor.

- It is certainly an asset to occupy an important position on global trade routes. I see a serious opportunity for Poland to become a logistics hub for the whole of Central and Eastern Europe - stresses President Tomasz Zjawiony.

Cargo transportation by air, rail and sea has been on an upward trend for years. Poland's trump card is certainly its network of regional ports, including Katowice International Airport - for years the undisputed leader among regional ports in cargo transportation.

We would like to invite you to the second disputation within the “Shape the future now” track, dedicated to these issues. - “Poland on the map of trade routes of Europe and the World” (Tuesday, October 29, 1:30 pm).

 Forth – the rich program of 14th ECSME

The agenda for this year's congress is very rich. The program consists of nine thematic tracks, including: “Company is People,” ‘Law and Taxes,’ ‘Finance and Investment,’ ‘Smart City for Business,’ and ”Going Global.”

The 14th edition of the European Congress of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises coincides with the round anniversary of Poland's membership in the European Union. Therefore, a special program track, under the auspices of the European Commission, was dedicated to the challenges of the European labor market “20 years of Poland in the EU - Labor market on the path of change”.

Fifth –registration is still ongoing

The opening session of “Shape the future now” will be held on Tuesday, October 29, at 10 a.m. at the International Congress Center in Katowice, Poland. You can register today to attend both congress days. Registration takes place on the website and is free of charge.

The organizer of the ECSME is the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Katowice.  The congress has received the honorary patronage of the European Parliament, the Minister of Science, the Ministry of Industry, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Development and Technology, the Ombudsman for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises. All patrons and partners can be found at www.ekmsp.eu/partnerzy-2024.