Poland’s “Going Global 4.0” program entails PLN 21.5 million (€5.2 million), 28 trade missions, nearly 300 companies and dozens of signed contracts, said Michał Rado, deputy marshal of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship, in an interview with Salon24.
The project began in March 2024 and will last until December 2025 and is being funded 70 percent by the EU and 30 percent by the provincial budget.
“These are not tourist trips. These are strategic trade missions that bring real results,” Rado noted.
So far, nine of the planned 28 missions have already taken place. Lower Silesian entrepreneurs have visited Singapore, Japan and Leipzig, among others, and there are plans for further trips to Osaka, Vancouver, San Francisco, and Taiwan.
“Almost 300 companies from Lower Silesia will take part in the program. Entrepreneurs are already declaring the conclusion of about 60 contracts with a total value of PLN 7 million – and this is with incomplete data from the surveys,” said the deputy marshal.
Companies participating in missions do not have to worry about costs – the local government finances the flight, hotel, space at the stand and full organizational support.
“Each mission involves around 10 entrepreneurs, and the trips are thematically matched to the trade fair. If the mission concerns cosmetics, representatives of the beauty industry go. If we are talking about IT or artificial intelligence, we recruit from these sectors, “Rado explained to Salon24.
Vice-Marshal Rado noted that the “Going Global” project also serves to boost the image of the region. To date, over 840 publications on the mission have appeared in the media, and their advertising value has been estimated at around PLN 2 million.
“We show Lower Silesia as a place of innovation, entrepreneurship and global ambitions,” he added.
The program is open to micro, small and medium-sized enterprises from Lower Silesia whose profile matches a given trade mission. Recruitment is announced periodically on the Marshal’s Office website and on social media.
According to Rado, “Family businesses can also participate. For many of them, this is the only chance to present themselves at a world-class fair.”
