International corporations in Poland: why global companies choose the Polish market

International corporations in Poland are increasingly investing in much more than sales, administration or simple operational processes. Today, global companies are also building technology centres, research and development facilities, financial hubs, logistics platforms, manufacturing plants and strategic infrastructure in Poland.

This marks an important shift in how international investors perceive the Polish market. For many years, Poland was mainly described as an attractive location because of its competitive labour costs. That factor still matters, but it no longer fully explains either the scale or the nature of new investments.

Today, Poland is chosen because it combines several important advantages:

• access to a large pool of qualified specialists,
• location within the European Union,
• well-developed transport, office, industrial and digital infrastructure,
• a strong industrial base,
• experience in handling international business processes,
• growing technological capabilities,
• a relatively large domestic market.

This is particularly visible in the modern business services sector. According to ABSL, at the end of the first quarter of 2025, Poland was home to 2,081 business services centres operated by 1,258 investors from 50 countries. Between January 2024 and March 2025, 61 new centres were established, mainly in IT and R&D.

This means that Poland no longer attracts isolated individual investments only. In many industries, it has become a permanent location for global business functions: technology, finance, accounting, HR, cybersecurity, logistics, research and development, and advanced manufacturing.

Technology and R&D: Poland as a place for creating global solutions

One of the most visible changes is the growing importance of Poland as a location for technology projects. Increasingly, the purpose is not only operational support, but the development of solutions used across multiple markets.

Visa: a global technology and product hub

Visa is a strong example of this trend. The company announced the creation of a global Technology and Product Hub in Poland. According to the initial information, the centre was expected to employ up to 1,500 technology and product specialists, and Poland was identified as Visa’s fifth strategic global technology hub.

In 2026, Visa also announced additional investments in Europe worth EUR 500 million over the next decade. Part of this activity is linked to Poland, where one of the company’s five global technology centres is being developed.

The importance of this investment goes beyond the number of jobs created. In Poland, Visa is developing capabilities related to:

• digital payments,
• cybersecurity,
• artificial intelligence,
• payment network resilience,
• product development for global markets.

This is a clear example of Poland moving from the role of an operational centre to a place where internationally relevant solutions are created.

Google: cloud technology development in Warsaw

Google’s presence in Poland follows a similar direction. The company is developing an important European engineering centre in Warsaw related to Google Cloud technologies. Google’s Polish organisation has grown to nearly 3,000 employees, including engineers working on solutions used in global markets.

This shows that Poland is no longer just a sales market for major technology companies. Increasingly, it is becoming a place where products, tools and technological capabilities important for entire international organisations are developed.

Intel: R&D centre in Gdańsk

Poland’s strong position in the technology sector is also confirmed by Intel’s presence in Gdańsk. The company has been developing one of its largest research and development centres in Europe there for years, employing several thousand specialists.

Intel’s activity in Poland is particularly important in the context of semiconductors, one of the most strategic industries for the global economy and European technological security. The Gdańsk centre shows that Poland can serve not only as a location for business services or manufacturing, but also for advanced engineering projects.

It is a stable and well-documented example of a global technology company’s long-term presence in Poland.

Microsoft: cloud infrastructure, AI and cybersecurity

Microsoft highlights another dimension of Poland’s attractiveness: digital infrastructure. In 2025, the company announced that it would allocate PLN 2.8 billion by June 2026 to expand cloud and artificial intelligence infrastructure in Poland, as well as cybersecurity-related activities.

This is not a classic example of mass employment in a service centre, but it is highly relevant for investors. The expansion of cloud infrastructure and AI tools may strengthen Poland’s attractiveness for companies operating in finance, retail, industry, public administration, healthcare and logistics.

For foreign businesses, Poland is therefore becoming not only a labour market, but also an important digital infrastructure point in Central and Eastern Europe.

Business and financial services: scale, experience and specialisation

The second pillar of global companies’ presence in Poland is business and financial services centres. Kraków, Wrocław, Warsaw, Tricity, Łódź, Katowice and Poznań have been building their position for years as locations supporting processes for international capital groups.

These processes most often include:

• finance and accounting,
• HR and payroll,
• procurement,
• logistics,
• compliance,
• business customer support,
• data analytics,
• technology and cybersecurity.

Shell Business Operations: scale and sector transformation

Shell Business Operations in Kraków shows how large the modern business services sector in Poland has become. The Kraków centre supports Shell’s global organisation in finance, logistics, procurement, HR, digitalisation and operational support.

For years, it was one of the largest business services centres in Poland, employing several thousand specialists. At the same time, its example also shows that the shared services market is entering a new stage. Some large organisations are restructuring, automating processes and reducing selected functions, but this does not mean that Poland is losing its importance as a location for international business.

What is changing is primarily the type of work performed in such centres. Functions requiring expert knowledge, data skills, technology capabilities and global process experience are becoming increasingly important, including:

• financial and business analytics,
• process automation,
• data management,
• cybersecurity,
• advanced procurement and logistics functions,
• digital transformation support,
• coordination of processes across multiple markets.

Shell is therefore a good example not only of employment scale, but also of the evolution of Poland’s business services sector: from simple operational processes towards more specialised competencies.

UBS: global finance and technology in Kraków and Wrocław

UBS is a good example of the role Poland plays for international financial institutions. Over the years, the Swiss group has developed a large organisation in Poland, covering financial, technological, operational and analytical functions, as well as process support for its global business.

In 2025, UBS announced a restructuring of its Polish operations, including job reductions and the planned closure of its Warsaw office. At the same time, Poland remained an important location for UBS, especially in Kraków and Wrocław, where the company’s further activities are concentrated.

This example clearly illustrates the change taking place in the financial services sector. For global institutions, Poland remains an attractive place to run advanced business functions, but the market’s advantage is less and less often determined by employment scale alone. The quality of competencies, process efficiency, automation and access to specialists in technology, data, risk and regulation are becoming increasingly important.

HSBC: Kraków as a financial services centre

Kraków remains one of the most important financial and business services locations in Poland, also thanks to organisations such as HSBC Service Delivery.

HSBC describes its Kraków centre as a global service centre providing operational and professional services to the group. HSBC Service Delivery in Kraków has grown from a small team into one of the large financial and technology services centres in Poland, employing several thousand specialists. The centre supports the group’s global activities in technology, operations, finance and risk.

This is another example showing that Polish service centres are no longer simply places for basic data processing. Increasingly, they are responsible for functions requiring industry knowledge, regulatory understanding, analytical skills and technological expertise.

Manufacturing and industry: Poland as part of European supply chains

The presence of global corporations in Poland is not limited to offices, IT and shared services centres. Industry remains an important pillar of foreign investment, especially automotive manufacturing, component production, electromobility and advanced facilities supplying parts and solutions to European value chains.

For many companies, Poland is attractive because it combines manufacturing competencies, access to qualified technical workers, well-developed logistics infrastructure and proximity to the largest European Union markets. As a result, the country serves not only as a production location, but also as an operational base for entire regional supply networks.

Volkswagen Poznań: production for global markets

Volkswagen Poznań is one of the most important examples of global industrial presence in Poland. The company employs around 9,000 people and operates four production plants, with vehicles manufactured there reaching markets around the world.

However, the importance of the group is broader than Volkswagen Poznań alone. The entire Volkswagen Group, including its companies and joint ventures in Poland, employs more than 22,000 people in the country. This shows the scale an industrial investor can achieve when it develops not only a single plant, but a wider production, services and supplier ecosystem.

The significance of this investment is not limited to factory employment. A large manufacturing facility creates an entire economic ecosystem around it: it cooperates with suppliers, logistics companies, technical service providers and local subcontractors. It also supports the development of technical skills in the region, including through cooperation with vocational and technical education.

In the case of industrial investments, the regional economic impact is therefore broader than the number of jobs created directly by the company. The presence of such a manufacturer strengthens the local labour market, attracts business partners and increases the region’s importance in European supply chains.

Mercedes-Benz in Jawor: modern automotive manufacturing

A similar effect can be seen in Jawor, where Mercedes-Benz Manufacturing Poland invested around EUR 600 million in an engine and battery factory. The plant created more than 1,000 highly qualified jobs, and according to Mercedes-Benz Group data, employed around 1,200 people at the end of 2025. Jawor is part of the group’s global production network and, in the next stages, is also expected to play a role in the production of electric vans.

This is particularly important in the context of the automotive transformation. Poland is no longer competing only on low production costs, but also on its ability to handle more advanced processes, such as:

• production of components for electric and hybrid drives,
• automation,
• quality control,
• maintenance,
• cooperation with European supply networks.

Logistics and e-commerce: Poland as Europe’s operational base

Amazon is a good example of an investor that used Poland’s location, developing infrastructure and access to labour to build a large-scale logistics and e-commerce operation.

By the end of 2024, Amazon employed more than 19,000 people in Poland, while its operations also supported tens of thousands of jobs indirectly related to logistics, transport, services and operational support. It is also important to remember that Amazon’s distribution centres serve not only the domestic market, but also a broader part of the European sales and delivery network.

This shows that Poland is attractive not only for technology centres or manufacturing plants, but also for operations requiring efficient logistics, automation and good transport accessibility.

The importance of such investments goes beyond warehouses alone. Logistics today is connected with warehouse technologies, data analysis, e-commerce, international transport and services for companies operating across multiple markets. As a result, Poland is becoming an important part of the European e-commerce ecosystem, where one large investment can strengthen several areas of the economy.

Why do corporations choose Poland?

Investment decisions made by global companies usually do not result from one factor alone. Poland is attractive because it combines several advantages that matter to international business.

1. Access to talent

Poland has a large labour market, an extensive network of universities and a strong base of specialists in IT, engineering, finance, analytics, logistics and manufacturing.

This is particularly important for companies that are no longer looking only for a low-cost location, but for a place capable of supporting high-value-added processes.

2. Operational experience

The business services sector in Poland has been operating for many years. Many centres have evolved from simple administrative functions into regional or global roles. The sector is growing not only in terms of the number of centres, but also in strategic importance, while new investments increasingly concern IT and R&D.

3. Location in the centre of Europe

Poland is located in Central Europe, belongs to the European Union and connects Western, Central, Northern and Eastern European markets.

This matters for:

• manufacturing,
• logistics,
• regional service delivery,
• supply chain planning,
• sales into European Union markets.

4. Developing infrastructure

Poland offers increasingly strong road, warehouse, office, industrial and digital infrastructure.

Microsoft’s and Google’s investments, together with the development of cloud infrastructure available in Poland, strengthen the argument that the country is a place where modern operating models based on cloud technology, data and automation can be developed.

5. Economic resilience

Over the past decades, Poland’s economy has grown faster than many Western European economies, and the country remains one of the largest markets in the European Union.

At the same time, investors must also take into account challenges such as:

• rising labour costs,
• energy costs,
• demographics,
• availability of specialised talent,
• automation pressure,
• geopolitical uncertainty.

Poland is therefore attractive, but it is not a market where investment decisions should be based solely on cost considerations. The quality of the market entry strategy is becoming increasingly important.

What does this mean for foreign investors?

For companies planning to enter Poland, the key conclusion is simple: Poland is not a uniform low-cost labour market. It is a mature investment location where different business models can be developed.

Technology companies

A technology company can find engineers, cloud specialists, cybersecurity experts, AI professionals, data analytics teams and product development talent in Poland.

Financial institutions

A financial institution can build a centre supporting operations, risk, compliance, data, technology and support functions across multiple markets.

Industrial manufacturers

An industrial manufacturer can use Poland as a production base for European supply chains, especially in sectors such as automotive, components, machinery, electromobility and advanced industry.

Logistics and e-commerce operators

A logistics or e-commerce operator can develop warehouses, distribution centres, cross-border sales support and technological back-office functions for the European market.

This does not mean, however, that every investment will be simple. The labour market is becoming more competitive, while the shared services sector is under pressure from automation and artificial intelligence. Companies need to plan not only employment costs, but also skills availability, location, management quality, cooperation with universities, stability of legal and tax processes, and the ability to scale operations.

For this reason, any decision to invest in Poland should be preceded by a sectoral and regional analysis.

Where do global centres locate in Poland?

Poland is not a single, uniform investment market. Individual cities and regions have different specialisations.

Warsaw

Warsaw is a natural centre for management, technology, finance, sales and professional services. It attracts global companies because of access to management talent, financial institutions, public administration, advisers and a large office market.

Kraków

Kraków is one of the most important business, financial and technology services centres in Poland. The city is particularly strong in shared services, banking, IT and processes for global organisations.

Wrocław

Wrocław has a strong position in technology, business services, engineering and industry. It is attractive for companies looking for a combination of technical, academic and manufacturing competencies.

Tricity (Gdańsk, Gdynia, Sopot)

Tricity, especially Gdańsk, is an important technology, engineering and logistics location. Intel’s R&D centre confirms the region’s potential in advanced technologies.

Poland as a centre of employment and development: the key trend

The most important trend is that global corporations increasingly treat Poland as a place for developing competencies, not only reducing costs.

Company examples show different dimensions of this change:

• Visa, Google, Intel and Microsoft highlight the importance of technology, R&D and digital infrastructure.
• Shell, UBS and HSBC show the scale and specialisation of business and financial services.
• Volkswagen and Mercedes-Benz confirm Poland’s industrial potential.
• Amazon demonstrates Poland’s role in European logistics and e-commerce.

For foreign investors, this means that Poland can perform several functions at the same time:

• employment centre,
• operational centre,
• technology hub,
• manufacturing base,
• logistics point,
• competency development location for an entire capital group.

This is why international corporations in Poland continue to develop their operations, even though some sectors are undergoing restructuring. The market is maturing, and the nature of investment is changing with it. The number of jobs alone is becoming less important, while process quality, specialisation and the ability to create value for global organisations are gaining significance.

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