The Chamber Union Elbe/Oder

16/01/2025

Official Opening of 2025 by the Gorzów Wielkopolski Chamber of Commerce 🎉

We are proud to share that our KEO member, the Western Chamber of Commerce in Gorzów Wielkopolski (ZIPH), has successfully organized its 16th annual and unique New Year’s reception.

📍 This year, the event was held in the Column Hall of the Lubuskie Marshal Office in Zielona Góra—a place typically reserved for the sessions of the Lubuskie Regional Assembly.

The event consisted of two parts: a formal segment and subsequent networking opportunities.

During the first part, distinguished speeches were delivered by:
✔️ Jerzy Korolewicz, President of ZIPH
✔️ Voivode Marek Cebula
✔️ Marshal Marcin Jabłoński
✔️ Mayor of Zielona Góra Marcin Pabierowski

Additionally, there were two highly engaging presentations by former Finance Minister Piotr Saraczyński and Jerzy Kwieciński from the National Chamber of Commerce in Warsaw, focusing on financial policy, skilled workforce, and Poland’s economic development in relation to Germany's economy.

The session concluded with Managing Director of ZIPH, Kamila Swajkowska, presenting the Chamber's key programs for 2025. Among the highlights were cross-border cooperation initiatives within the Union of Chambers and joint Interreg projects with the IHK Ostbrandenburg.

✨ In summary, the event was a great success with approximately 200 guests. Combining a New Year’s reception with meaningful content proved to be an excellent formula!

📸 Photos from the event:

Image 1: Jacek Jeremicz and Robert Radzimanowski (IHK Ostbrandenburg) with Marshal Marcin Jabłoński.
Image 2: Sandy Morgen, Managing Director of the project company at IHK Ostbrandenburg, and Robert Radzimanowski (IHK Ostbrandenburg) in conversation with Wojewoda Marek Cebula and MP Hubert Harasimowicz, Chairman of the Civic Platform Parliamentary Circle.

Read more about the event 👉 https://www.ziph.pl/pl/artykul/1107/lubuski-biznes-zainaugurowal-nowy-rok.html

24/12/2024

🎄 The upcoming Christmas season is a time for reflection, joy, and appreciation. We would like to sincerely thank you for all the meetings, discussions, and initiatives we have undertaken together this past year. Your commitment and cooperation have strengthened the relationships between our countries and inspired many new projects that will bear fruit in the future.

We wish you a holiday season filled with warmth, love, peace, and joy in the company of your loved ones. May the New Year bring health, prosperity, and continued success, both personally and professionally. We believe that together we can achieve new ambitious goals and further develop our international cooperation.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
KEO Team

20/12/2024

Representatives of IHK Ostbrandenburg, together with the chairman of the "Interessengemeinschaft Ostbahn" (IGOB), Mr. Frank Schütz, met yesterday with the Head of the Gorzów County, Mr. Krzysztof Karwatowicz.

The discussions focused on cross-border cooperation and the development of railway line 203 (Ostbahn), a vital link for transportation and economic growth on both sides of the border. Participants explored opportunities for joint actions to modernize the infrastructure and strengthen regional connections.

The Union of Chambers of the Oder and Elbe actively supports initiatives that unite entrepreneurs and local governments, fostering a shared strategy for regional development.

We extend our thanks to all participants for their fruitful contributions and dedication to shaping a common future!

17/12/2024

🎉 The Grand Finale of the *'Entrepreneurship Sapphires'* Competition by the Union of the Elbe and Oder Chambers on December 11th honored outstanding achievements in international cooperation and innovation.

The aim of the competition was to recognize entrepreneurs and institutions that have achieved outstanding success on the international stage. 🌍

The meeting was the highlight of the General Assembly of the KEO, which took place a few hours earlier. During the meeting, the KEO General Secretariat was officially handed over to the Regional Chamber of Commerce in Liberec, Czech Republic.

👏 Congratulations to all the winners!
We also extend our gratitude to all participants for their involvement and dedication.

🔹 CATEGORY I – SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
🏆 Winner: Zachodniopomorski University of Technology + Universitätsmedizin Greifswald, Klinik und Poliklinik für Kinder und Jugendmedizin, leader of the *TEMICARE 2.0* project – Telemedicine Integrated German-Polish Pediatric Cancer Center in the Euroregion Pomerania 2.0
🏅 Honorable Mention: Lebenshilfe Ostfalen gGmbH

🔹 CATEGORY II – CROSS-BORDER COOPERATION
🏆 Winner: radort Magdeburg
🏅 Honorable Mentions:
- LSJ HR Group
- DEPENBROCK Ingenieurwasserbau GmbH & Co. KG

🔹 CATEGORY III – INNOVATIONS
🏆 Winner: SET Schiffbau- u. Entwicklungsgesellschaft Tangermünde mbh
🏅 Honorable Mentions:
- Open Mind Sp. z o.o.
- Interkov spol. s r.o.

🔹 CATEGORY IV – MODEL CROSS-BORDER COOPERATION OF PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS
🏆 Winner: Marshal's Office of the West Pomeranian Voivodeship
🏅 Honorable Mentions:
- Euroregion Pro Europa Viadrina
- Magdeburger Tourismusverband Elbe-Börde-Heide e.V.

Once again, congratulations to all the laureates and participants for their outstanding achievements and valuable contributions! 🏆✨

27/11/2024

We are excited to announce the III edition of the “Sapphires of Entrepreneurship” competition by the Union of Elbe and Oder Chambers! 🏆

We warmly invite entrepreneurs and public institutions to participate in this prestigious contest, aimed at recognizing outstanding achievements on the international stage. This is a fantastic opportunity to enhance your brand visibility and boost competitiveness in the Polish, German, and Czech markets.

Competition categories:
1️⃣ Social Responsibility
2️⃣ Cross-Border Cooperation
3️⃣ Innovation
4️⃣ Model Cross-Border Cooperation of Public Institutions

📝 Filling out the application form takes only a moment and could be the key to your company standing out in an international arena!

Application forms:
For Polish companies: https://forms.gle/BTZYckiNKHo3yMBN8
For German companies: https://forms.gle/pbo4VKd5zqLjg9bU8
For Czech companies: https://forms.gle/Vsbtu2op4JQUBLS39

🏆 The competition final will take place on 11 th of December 2024. Stay tuned for more details!

We encourage all interested parties to actively participate.

21/10/2024

Joint Presidium Meeting of the Western Chamber of Commerce Gorzów and the IHK Ostbrandenburg
On Friday (18 October 2024), the Presidiums of the Gorzów Western Chamber of Commerce and the East Brandenburg Chamber of Industry and Commerce met in Gorzów Wielkopolski.

The meeting focussed on current challenges in cross-border cooperation. A joint declaration was issued, criticising the border controls that have now been in place for 12 months and reminding everyone of the free movement of goods, people and services.
Those directly affected are mainly the immediate border regions.

As a sign of the good cooperation, the presidia planted a gingko tree in the courtyard of the chamber.
The participants then visited the vocational and further training centre in the city. Around 1,500 participants are currently being trained here. It was impressive to see the modern technology used for training here.
The joint meeting was crowned by a concert in the Philharmonic Hall in Gorzów followed by a visit to the Peace Bell. At the end of the evening meal, we looked back on our collaboration and made plans for the future.
The Elbe/Oder Chamber Union also played an important role in this, as both chambers are represented on the KEO Executive Committee and strive to utilise the strengths of the organisation.

❗ More information: https://www.ziph.pl/pl/artykul/1079/polsko-niemieckie-stanowisko-w-sprawie-kontroli-granicznych.html

18/10/2024

Water management and inland navigation: a supposed conflict that is not one

The 28th International Oder/Havel Colloquium organised by the Verein zur Förderung des Stromgebietes Oder/Havel e. V. (Oderverein for short) was entitled ‘The Oder as a water supplier and shipping route - perspectives and interests in Poland and Germany’. On 16 October 2024 in Szczecin, more than 50 participants discussed the prospects for preserving the Oder from a climate change perspective while at the same time maintaining economic interests.
Dirk Schwardmann, Vice President of the Directorate-General for Waterways and Shipping (GDWS), explained that this is a complex issue, as various aspects related to the topic of water have to be brought ‘under one roof’, so to speak. This could be done by coordinating with as many partners as possible.

Representatives of inland waterway transport and the maritime industry are vehemently in favour of the interests of shipping in the area of the ports of Szczecin/Swinemünde and on the Oder. With the implementation of the measures laid down in the German-Polish intergovernmental agreement of 27 April 2015, improvements have already been achieved for economic shipping on the Oder.
For the port of Szczecin/Swinemünde, the construction of the container terminal in Swinoujscie will lay an important foundation for the economic upturn, explained Rafal Zahorski, the authorised representative for port development.

The event was supported by the Elbe/Oder Chamber Union. The Oderverein is also a member of the Chamber Union.

07/10/2024

🎉 Zachodnia Izba Przemysłowo-Handlowa in Gorzów Wielkopolski is celebrating its 20th anniversary.

We sincerely congratulate you on your successes and wish you many fruitful years of work for the benefit of entrepreneurship in the region and beyond!

https://www.ziph.pl/pl/artykul/1069/20-lat-minelo-.html

26/09/2024

🌊 28th International Oder-Havel Colloquium in Szczecin – 16 October 2024 🌍

Climate change raises the question whether we are doing enough to against floods and equally against low water in the rivers be prepared. The current
floods and periods of low water since 2018 show that we need to act.
Water management on the rivers rivers is needed to better manage extreme situations under control. Flood protection alone is not enough.

Water shortages also pose a threat is also a threat. Germany and Poland are already working already working on plans to find ways to the water balance of the large rivers more evenly. There are various possibilities.

Is the Oder only a water supplier or also a shipping route? Does one exclude the other exclude the other? Or can ecological and economic interests be combined?
These are the questions that the 28. International Oder/Havel Colloquium in Szczecin. The event is supported by the Chamber Union.

✔️The conference fee (including lunch snack and coffee) is 50 euros and can be paid in cash on-site or in advance via bank transfer to the following account:
Account number: 0199516103; Postbank Berlin; BLZ 100 100 10.
(IBAN: DE52 1001 0010 0199 5161 03; BIC: PBNKDEFF)

Contact Person:
Association for the Promotion of the Oder/Havel River Basin e.V.
c/o Gerhard Ostwald
Le-Pavillon-Str. 29 | 13127 Berlin
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +49 30 47480414 | Fax: +49 30 47480416

24/09/2024

At the 5th German-Polish Energy Conference in Anklam, the home town of aviation pioneer Otto Lilienthal, 24 representatives from business, politics and administration from Poland and Germany came together on 19 September to discuss ways to achieve climate neutrality in the European economy by 2050. The Net Zero Industry Regulation (NNIV / NZIA) came into force at the end of June 2024, which is intended to promote the European production of net zero technologies in the areas of solar, wind, sustainable biogas, batteries and electrolysers and a rapid expansion of CO2 storage capacities. How can the European economy manage this enormous transformation of the energy system and implement massive climate protection measures in all areas? The aim of the conference was therefore to provide information on the EU's requirements and to discuss concrete and innovative climate protection and transformation measures in the border region and cross-border cooperation. The event was supported by the Chamber Union.

Die deutsch-polnische Oderregion, kurz „Pomerania“, ist auf einem guten Weg klimaneutraler zu werden. Der „Green Deal“ soll dabei unterstützen. Das bedeutet ...