Kagami-wari, which is a Japanese traditional ceremony of breaking of a cask of sake, is supposed to bring good luck and good fortunes to the most recent investment project of Nifco Poland sp. z o.o., a company functioning within the Wałbrzych Special Economic Zone in Świdnica. Among the guests invited to the opening of the new production floor were Deputy Minister of Economy Ilona Antoniszyn-Klik, President of the WSEZ “INVEST-PARK” Barbara Kaśnikowska, Mayor of Świdnica Beata Moskal-Słaniewska and representatives of the contractor.
The construction of the new plant took less than a year.
“When we dug the first spade in March, 2014, the new production floor was just an idea,” said President of Nifco Poland Siegfried Baier. “However, this place is more than just a typical production floor. We are going to introduce new production technologies here, we will have a paint shop to extend the production of a new range of components, and we are also developing project management and the technical department. This place is of key strategic importance to Nifco – it is here that we are going to further develop our business,” Mr. Baier added.
The new facility will translate into increased production volumes and workforce. Almost 400 people are already working for Nifco Poland. As Deputy Minister of Economy Ilona Antoniszyn-Klik emphasized, supporting the development of knowledge-based companies is one of the priorities of her ministry.
“We are preparing a new strategy of Polish economic policy for the next few years. We are putting huge emphasis on innovativeness. We would like to support companies in a way that would generate jobs connected with creativity, that would lead to the creation of R&D centers. Within the Intelligent Development Operational Program, we will allocate more than € 10 billion to investors and companies that will want to develop their innovative operations,” Mrs. Antoniszyn-Klik said.
The invited guests stressed the importance of the new facility not only for Nifco, but for the development of the entire region.
“I am glad to see that a Japanese company that has decided to invest in Poland is now growing, developing, generating jobs and positively influencing the local community and economy. I would like to congratulate you on your steady growth and I hope it will continue in the future,” President of the WSEZ “INVEST-PARK” Barbara Kaśnikowska said. She presented the company with a commemorative agate, whose Greek name means “bestower of goodness”, and added that Nifco is precisely this kind of investor who creates and spreads goodness in the region.
Nifco is a corporation that was set up in 1967. Today it has several dozen factories in 14 countries in Asia, America and Europe, and employs more than eight thousand workers. The Japanese company is a leading producer of components for the automotive industry, especially plastic elements for firms such as Ford, Suzuki, Skoda, Porsche, Hyundai and Toyota. The company has functioned in Poland since 2006, when its first factory opened in the Świdnica Subzone of the Wałbrzych Special Economic Zone “INVEST-PARK”. Since then, Nifco has received five permits to conduct business activity in the WSEZ. The total cost of the investment is almost 140 million zlotys. The company has declared its willingness to take on almost 450 new employees.
