Poland at a Glance

• Population: Approx. 38.7 million


• Capital city: Warsaw, approx. 2.4 million inhabitants


• Language: Polish


• Religions: 35 million Catholics, Russian Orthodox, Protestants, Old Catholics, Jews


• Form of government: Parliamentary Democracy with two chambers

Economy

Germany and Poland have multiple and closely intermeshed economic ties. Making up the largest market amongst the new EU member states and as Germany's second-largest neighbour, Poland occupies a key position. Germany is Poland's most important trading partner by far, accounting for about a third of foreign trade. Conversely, together with the Czech Republic, Poland numbers amongst Germany's major trading partners in Central and Eastern Europe. For the most part, Poland exports plant and machinery, vehicles and base metal products to Germany. Exports by German companies primarily include plant and machinery, followed by vehicles and chemical and plastic products. Germany ranks fourth on the list of major investors, behind France, The Netherlands and the USA. Larger German investments in Poland have so far focused on the motor vehicle industry, banking and insurance, the wholesale and retail trade, food processing and power supply. Of importance is regional and cross-border cooperation. An intergovernmental commission grouping the German federal states and the Polish provinces meets regularly to coordinate activities. With its branch offices in Danzig, Poznan, Lodz, Breslau and Katowice, the German-Polish Chamber of Industry and Commerce is one of the largest and most important chambers in Poland.

Culture and Science

Cultural exchange with Poland is accorded high priority. A German-Polish cultural agreement has been in place since 1997. All major German cultural organizations are engaged in Poland. The following have branches there: the Goethe Institute (Warsaw, Cracow), the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD, Warsaw), the Central Agency for Schools Abroad (Warsaw, Danzig and Opole), the German Historical Institute (Warsaw) and the German Adult Education Association (Warsaw). The work of the Polish-German Youth Office has been encouraging. Over twenty-five years old, the German School in Warsaw is currently being converted into a German-Polish binational school.

Links

www.botschaft-polen.de (Official representation of Poland in Germany)
ambasadaniemiec.pl/www (German Embassy in Poland)
www.ihk.pl (German-Polish Chamber of Industry and Commerce)
www.goethe.de/warschau (Goethe-Institute in Warsaw)