A working meeting of Governor Alexey Ostrovskiy with representatives of the Polish business community

Governor Alexey Ostrovskiy held a working meeting with Yaroslav Ptashek, the president of JMP Flowers (Poland), during which the parties discussed the prospects for implementing an investment project on the territory of Smolensk region, involving the construction of a high-tech greenhouse complex for growing flowers.

JMP Flowers is the leading producer of flowers in Poland and one of the largest in Europe (one of the TOP 5 European companies in the industry) in sales of cultivated products. Currently, the Company is focused on the expansion and development of the flower business in the Russian Federation. In particular, the Company's management is planning the construction of a new modern greenhouse complex on the territory of Smolensk region. According to preliminary data, the total investment in the project will be about 60 million euros.

Addressing Polish investors, Alexey Ostrovsky emphasized: “I am glad to welcome you, Mr. Ptaszek (President of JMP Flowers), and your colleagues on Smolensk Land. As the Head of the region, I greatly appreciate the development of our business cooperation. I know that JMP Flowers is a dynamically developing company that is among the five largest orchid growing enterprises in Europe. I am sure that my subordinates informed you about all the advantages of localizing your production in our region - I mean the region’s potential for electricity and gas supply, tax and investment legislation preferences.”

In his turn, Yaroslav Ptashek thanked the Governor for the opportunity to personally discuss the prospects for business cooperation. The Governor assured investors of his willingness to do everything possible to localize production in Smolensk region and ensure availability of the necessary engineering communications: “After you have chosen a site that meets all technical requirements, we will ensure everything necessary for the implementation of the investment project. This covers the required volumes of electricity, gas, high-speed Internet, as well as other issues. You will receive the most favorable conditions in order not only to save the invested funds, but also to multiply them.”

During the discussion, Yaroslav Ptashek informed the audience that the Company's management plans to organize training courses and internships for future staff: “The key to the success of any business is highly qualified personnel. We will send our leading staff here, to Smolensk region, so that they hold a series of training sessions for local professionals. At the same time, we are planning to invite Smolensk representatives for an internship in Poland. By the time the greenhouse complex is ready for launch, the whole team will have undergone the necessary training.”

Speaking about potential sales markets, the president of JMP Flowers explained that in the future the Company intends to supply flowers grown in Smolensk region not only to the regions of Russia but also to European states: “Our orchids produced in Stenzice are rightfully considered the best in Poland. We want the flowers that we will grow in Smolensk region to become the best in Russia. We also assume that the products grown at the Smolensk greenhouse complex will be exported to the countries of the European Union.”

The Head of the region commented: “Based on what I heard, you, Mr. Ptashek, have a very professional approach to business development. Setting up production in Smolensk region is a very short and so-called high-speed “leverage” to the sales markets for your products, both inside Russia and in Europe. About 60 million people live within a radius of 500 km from Smolensk. And this is only in the Russian Federation. Moscow - a huge metropolis – is quite near. In addition, convenient transport logistics is at your service. The federal highway M1 "Belarus” which, according to experts, is the best international highway in the Russian Federation, runs through the territory of our region."

At the end of the meeting, the investor invited Alexey Ostrovskiy to visit the Company's production facilities in Poland and personally see the technological process. Summing up the business negotiations, the Governor said: “It has been nice meeting you. I guarantee that your investment project will be under my personal control. I consider it very significant for Smolensk region, since it will allow to attract additional investments to our region, create new jobs for its residents and contribute to increasing the tax revenues.”