Poland’s industrial growth after the EU accession was built on a clear progression: first bringing investors in, then embedding them in regional ecosystems, and finally helping companies move into higher-value production. Ukraine and Poland are structurally complementary: the former has industrial scale and reconstruction demand, the latter offers EU market access and institutional experience.
What Ukraine can take from Poland’s experience:
- Industrial policy worked because it was tied to accession and served the goal of joining European value chains.
- Investments were directed into sectors where Poland could grow more sophisticated over time.
- Regions played a decisive role: development agencies and local leadership shaped where growth actually happened.
- Public money followed priorities — EU funds were used where they produced the highest return, not spread thinly.
What it means for Ukraine-Poland economic ties:
- Together, Ukraine’s scale and Poland’s ecosystem can form cross-border clusters in machinery, metallurgy, agri-food and green tech.
- These clusters can serve reconstruction demand and function as real pre-accession pilots of Ukraine’s integration into EU value chains.
The presentation is produced by Centre for Economic Strategy and Stefan Batory Foundation with the support of the Askold and Dir Fund as a part of the Strong Civil Society of Ukraine – a Driver towards Reforms and Democracy project, implemented by ISAR Ednannia, funded by Norway and Sweden.
