How Poland became an important destination for Turkish investment
Even though foreign investment in Poland has slowed down, the country still attracts many international companies. A Turkish business owner explained to Euronews why his company chose Poland as its main base.
Foreign direct investment in Poland dropped strongly in 2024. Between 2000 and 2024, investment usually stayed around 3% of GDP. In 2024, it fell from 125.7 billion Polish złoty (€29.8 billion) to 56.5 billion złoty (€13.4 billion). This means it dropped from 3.7% to 1.6% of GDP.
However, Poland is still highly international. By the end of 2024, the total value of foreign investment in the country reached almost 1.4 trillion złoty (€332 billion), higher than the year before.
Most investments came from the Netherlands, Germany, and Luxembourg. Companies from Germany, the United States, and France were the main parent firms.
Now, Turkey is becoming an important new source of investment. One example is FAF Global, a Turkish business services company. It chose Poland as its European headquarters and now employs hundreds of people there, including many Turkish workers.
“Poland was the right choice”
Utku Sarper, Group CEO of FAF Global, told Euronews that the company chose Poland for practical reasons.
“Poland is very open to foreign investors. It is friendly to businesses, especially when it comes to company rules. It also has excellent infrastructure, such as fast internet, modern offices, and high-quality buildings, which are not always available in other parts of Europe,” he said.
After moving to Poland, the company grew quickly. FAF Global expanded from a small team of about 15 people in Ukraine to more than 500 employees in Poland.
“When we grew from 15 to over 500 people, we saw that Poland made it easy to expand the business. The good working conditions, office space, and overall environment helped motivate employees and support fast growth,” Sarper said.
Poland also became the home of the group’s holding company, where all its businesses are now managed.
FAF Global works in business process outsourcing (BPO) for the online gaming and betting industry. Sarper says it is very important that the company stays separate from gaming operators.
“Our clients have their own licences and manage their platforms themselves. We do not take part in their gaming activities. We only provide BPO services,” he said.
Before starting any partnership, the company carries out careful checks. All revenues are transparent and fully taxed. Sarper explains that this business model is already common in countries such as Malta, Cyprus, Romania, Sweden, and the UK.
“In Poland, this type of company was not very common before, but I believe more companies will choose Poland in the future,” he added.
EU stability attracts investors
Sarper says one of Poland’s biggest strengths is its stable and predictable regulations as a member of the European Union.
“Employment rules, labour law, VAT, taxes, and social contributions are all clearly defined. Outside the EU, it is hard to find this level of stability,” he said.
There are some challenges, especially with work and residence permits for foreign employees. However, the company includes this support in its employment package and manages the process well.
Poland’s education system is another big advantage.
“Poland has strong universities. After finishing studies here, many people can get long-term work permits — sometimes for 10 years or even permanently. This helps companies like ours build a stable workforce for many years,” Sarper explained.
At the moment, many FAF Global employees in Poland come from Turkey, which is the company’s main talent pool.
At the same time, the company is growing in Europe. It has offices in Portugal and Spain to serve Latin American, African, and Middle Eastern markets and to build multilingual teams.
FAF Global also contributes strongly to Poland’s public finances.
“I cannot share exact figures, but we pay more than €600,000 every month in Poland in taxes and employee contributions,” Sarper said.
“This shows our real contribution to jobs and public finances. We are proud of this.”
Investing in a “frontline” EU country
Security concerns are now common in talks with foreign investors.
Because of Russia’s war in Ukraine and Poland’s location near Ukraine and Belarus, some people see Poland as a “frontline” country.
Sarper understands these concerns but says they often oversimplify the situation.
“There is always some level of concern. But businesses and investors go where there is stability and a real sense of security,” he said.
Despite regional tensions, major European companies have not left Poland. German, Scandinavian, Austrian, and Israeli investors — known for being careful and long-term focused — continue to invest.
“These investors own some of the largest assets in Europe. If they are staying, it means they believe in Poland’s future,” he said.
Sarper believes Poland is in a strong strategic position. It is a NATO member and has the largest economy and population in Central and Eastern Europe. This gives it an important political and logistical role.
“Yes, being close to Ukraine and Belarus brings risks, such as transport issues or drone incidents. But Poland strictly controls who enters the country and who operates here. This increases stability,” he concluded.
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