SITUATION
Kutno is the second largest town in Płock Province, and lies beside the Ochnia river, the left bank tributary of the Bzura. The town has 51,000 inhabitants and occupies 33.6 square kilometres.
Kutno is located 120 kilometres from Warsaw, 180 kilometres from Poznań, 56 kilometres from Łódź, and 46 kilometres from Płock.
Kutno is one of the largest by-pass links in Poland for railway passenger and freight traffic. Every year around 2 million passengers travel through here. The town is situated at the intersection of two of the most important Polish and international communications routes joining the north with the south and the east with the west. On the way to Kutno, one passes a large sign with the inscription: THE CENTRE OF THE NEW EUROPE.
HISTORY
The first historical mention of Kutno dates from the year 1301. Trading privileges were granted to the town by Prince Siemowit IV in 1386. At this time, the land, together with the town, belonged to the Kucieński family of the Ogon coat-of-arms.The town grew up around the market square (what is today Plac Wolności). The trails linking Płock with Łęczyca and Warsaw with Poznań passed this way.
PERSPECTIVES FOR DEVELOPMENT
Kutno possesses an extensive institutional infrastructure for the support of business and the development of the economy. The town has land available for the realisation of investment projects in its industrial zone. Preferred development projects include food processing, transport services, production, and catering facilities. Amongst the town's other good aspects are its pro-ecological activities: it has built a combined sewage treatment plant in accordance with the most modern technology, and it has realised a programme for the multi-faceted recycling of garbage. The dominant industries in the town are the pharmaceutical, machine, and electronic industries. Trade and processing are developing well. The land of the Kutno area is characterised by the rich and fertile soil covering the southern part of the province. The production of fruits and vegetables is so great that there is an urgent need for the growth of the processing industry. Kutno would very much like to become a centre for food processing and distribution. It should be emphasised that the cleanliness of the environment allows for the production of healthy food.
The largest (18 ha) youth baseball and softball centre in Poland is being created: the European Little League Baseball Centre serving 39 countries of Europe, Africa, and the Near East.
THE KUTNO AGRO-INDUSTRIAL PARK - THE FUTURE OF KUTNO
The Kutno Agro-Industrial Park (KPAP) is a new project of the administration and inhabitants of Kutno to increase the number of jobs and to attract investors to the town and region. The industrial park is a closely knit area of natural landscape, on which the owner is actively creating good conditions for the development of potential investment projects. KPAP is located on 250 hectares in the south-eastern part of the town. The park's excellent location, both within Kutno and within Poland, should not be overlooked. The majority of the area has utilities, and these will in the future reach the entire park. Existing firms in the industrial quarter employ around 2,000 workers. A number of these firms have plans to extend or to start up new investment projects in Kutno. The town is presently conducting negotiations with several potential investors who would ensure the creation of new jobs for Kutno. The town is intending to hire an agent to promote the park both at home and abroad. A team composed of the town's managers and representatives of business are working to ensure the success of the park. The Town Administration's Office of Strategic Studies is coordinating the efforts related with the park.
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