Danish companies in Poland – modern technologies and partner in decarbonization

The report is part of a comprehensive publication summarising the presence of Scandinavian companies in Poland, prepared on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the SPCC.

The 20th anniversary of the SPCC coincides with the 20th anniversary of Poland’s membership in the European Union. Poland’s accession to the European community has undoubtedly been a driving force behind our country’s impressive economic growth and an important factor encouraging foreign investors to enter the Polish market. Thanks to this, economic cooperation between Poland and Denmark has also reached a completely new, unprecedented level.

Direct Danish investment in Poland already amounts to EUR 6 billion and accounts for almost 40% of all Scandinavian investment in Poland. Since 2017, the level of investments has increased by 75%, which was the largest increase in invested capital among all Scandinavian countries.

Moreover, Danish investors are the undisputed leaders in the West Pomeranian Province – capital from Denmark accounts for over half of the foreign capital invested in this region. In several areas, Danish investments are of strategic importance to the Polish economy – this applies, among others, to food processing (companies such as Sokołów and Espersen), the construction industry and offshore wind energy.

Danish companies influence the Polish economy not only through direct investments, but also through mutual trade, which is already worth EUR 17 billion. Denmark is Poland’s second largest trading partner among the Scandinavian countries after Sweden, with a total trade volume very similar to that of Sweden (even though the Danish economy is one third smaller than the Swedish economy).

Over the last two decades, the volume of trade in goods between Poland and Denmark has increased fourfold. Trade in the services sector is developing even more dynamically: between 2012 and 2022, the surplus in trade in services with Denmark increased nearly tenfold. Denmark is also the second most dynamic Scandinavian country after Norway in terms of trade with Poland. In recent years, the food sector has had a major impact on this, but trade with Denmark is the most diversified of all the Nordic countries in terms of industry.

There are over 750 companies with Danish origin operating in Poland, employing a total of over 75,000 people. The largest Danish employers in our country are Sokołów, part of the Danish Crown group, and Netto. Both companies employ a total of almost 16,000 people. In addition to the food sector and the construction industry, Danish companies are particularly active in the medical devices, renewable energy and trade sectors.

Poland and Denmark have a rich history of cooperation in the field of energy transition, which contributes to the achievement of both countries’ climate goals. Danish business offers significant potential for partnership in the areas of decarbonisation and new technologies – cooperation in these areas can help address the socio-economic challenges that lie ahead in the near future. The development of renewable energy, energy efficiency and buildings’ renovation are just some of the areas of decarbonisation in which Polish and Danish businesses can join forces.