centrally located in Europe

only 120 km /75 miles) fom the EU border

excellent entry point to the Eastern market

on the A2 Paris-Moscow route

centrally~ located in the Wielkopolska province

neighbouring Poznań, one of the most important economic centres of Poland

on main transportation routes

- rail: Poznań-Szczecin port

- road: A2 |Świecko-Terespol, Poznań-Szczecin

neighbouring Poznań, one of the most important economic centres of Poland

close to the infrastructure of Poznań - only a few kilometres from the international airport, branches ol most important foreign banks, Poznań International Fair

on main transportation routes with an extensive network of local access roads

Szamotuły County is a historical land, formerly belonging to two families of Wielkopolska - |widwa and Górka. Over thousands of years the land witnessed periods of heyday and war disasters, fires and crop failure. However, the strength of the people inspired them to live in harmony with nature.

First mention of settlements in what today is Szamotuły County goes back to the 13 th century. However, first settlements were built here thousands of year ago.

Two and a half thousand years ago merchants travelled the amber rout, one of the most important routes in the county. A bronze figurine of yoked oxen was recently found by Bytyń Lake in the Commune of Kazmierz, one of two such findings in Europe, probably originating from ancient Assyria.

Much later important trade routes were travelled in the county, the fact evidenced by a silver treasure from the second half of the 10 th century, including Roman, Byzantine, Arabic, Turkish, Persian and Indian coins, found in Obrzycko.

Just like in the past the routes decided of the existence and development of local communities, today the Paris - Moscow route, one of the most important transportation routes in Europe, going through the county, is the biggest incentive to investors.

Szamotuły County is not only a land with history but an integral component of the Wielkopolska Province, which is an important part of Poland's politics and economy, one of the three biggest and most influential provinces in Poland with respect to area, number of inhabitants, gross domestic product (GDP) and unemployment rate.

Szamotuły County is located in the direct vicinity of Poznań County and the city of Poznań, the capital of Wielkopolska Province. Poznań is the fifth largest city in Poland (580.000 inhabitants), successfully competing with Warsaw as a banking and financial centre.

For hundreds of years Poznań has been one of the most important economic centres in Poland. It is planned to build offices, trade centres and residential buildings in the very heart of Poznań. It is also planned to encourage industries to locate their factories in the outskirts of the city. If this vision comes true, Szamotuły county will be one of the most attractive regions in Poland. This has already been confirmed by the Market Economy Research Institute, which considered Szamotuły most attractive to investors of all county towns in Poland (category A).

What makes Szamotuły County attractive?

• Favourable geographical location

• transportation routes:

• international roads, A2 motorway (under construction)
• rail links to the Baltic coast and Szczecin port

• vicinity and easy access to Poznań
• land configuration favouring investment
• ecological purity
• landscape and tourist values

• Professional labour

• technical schools
• mobility of local labour

• successful former investment ventures

• ADM
• Hochland
• Amica
• AVK

There is no doubt that extensive co-operation with partner cities has contributed to the high place on the attractiveness scale. For years Szamotuły has co-operated with such towns as Brignoles (France), Gross-Gerau (Germany), Tielt (Belgium), Bruneck (Italy), Ond en Nieuw Gastel (Holland) and Kinna (Sweden). Wronki has established co - operation links with Beverwijk in Holland, Pniewy with Halluin (France), Alphen en Chaam (Holland), Loningen, Prettin, Der Erkenschwick, Lubbenau (Germany), Toirano (Italy) and Kocevje (Slovenia). Finally, Kazmierz has established partner links with Eimenkirch (Germany) and Ejszyszki (Lithuania).

Szamotuły County

Local administration

County Office: Starostwo Powiatowe w Szamotułach

Address: Ul. Wojska Polskiego 4, 64-500 Szamotuły

Tel./Fax.: (0-61)2921709, 2921750, 2923085,2923560 / (0-61)2921880

Starost: Paweł Kowzan

Wicestarost: Paweł Mordal

Investor's contact: Promotion and Development

Communes

Total: 8

Rural communes: 1

- Obrzycko

Municipal and rural communes: 4

• Ostroróg
• Pniewy
• Szamotuły
• Wronki

Rural communes: 3

• Duszniki
• KaĽmierz
• Obrzycko

Budgets

Income per capita(PLN): 873,5

Expenses per capita(PLN): 875,9

Area

Area(km2): 1 119,6

Arable land(%): 59,7

Woods and forrest areas(%): 31,2

Other areas(%): 9,1

Protected areas(%): 21,5

• Nature reserves(ha): 66,2
• Landscape parks(ha): 600,0
• Protected landscape areas(ha): 23 380,0
• Nature monuments: 96

Population

Total: 85 359

• town: 41 783
• village: 43 576

Population growth (county/province/country): 1,2 / 1,5 /0,9

Demographic structure (age):

• youth (%): 28,2
• working age (%): 58,4
• senior (%): 13,4

Labour market

Employed in national economy: 19 318

Unemployed (registered): 2 047

Unemployment rate (%): 6,6

Best enterprises

• Amica Wronki S.A. - Wronki

Tel./Fax.: (0-67)2546100 Branch: production of cookers, refrigerators, fittings

• Hochland - Polska - KaĽmierz

Tel./Fax.: (0-61)2918203 Branch: foods

- Wielkopolskie Zakłady Tłuszczowe ADM - Szamotuły

Tel./Fax.: (0-61)2921227 Branch: foods

• AVK Sp. z o.o. - Pniewy

Tel./Fax.: Branch: valves

Business entities: Total 5 110

• public sector: 153
• private sector: 4 957

Technical infrastructure

Total (KM): 1 782,1

Communal and local municipal roads (km): 692

• of which hardened (km): 259

Water supply system (km): 812

Gas network (km): 808

Inhabited flats (tys.m2): 1 626,5

Avarage flat size (m2/1 person): 19,4

Telephone owners:

• total: 13 410
• per 1000 inhabitants: 157,2

Transportation

Rail connections with main cities in Poland

Nearest motorways: A2 (Berlin-Moscow)

Nearest airport : Poznań - Ławica

Education

Total schools: 77

• secondary (junior and senior highschools): 14
• vocational: 27
• primary: 36

Total number of students: 19 397