Central and Eastern Europe (CEE)—including Poland and the Baltic states of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia—has moved far beyond its former status as Europe’s “second choice” and is now a dynamic region attracting strong foreign investment, particularly in e-commerce, technology, and commercial real estate.
The area has become a genuine land of opportunity, with economic growth consistently outpacing that of Western Europe. Poland has been the standout performer: between 1990 and 2020, it ranked as the world’s second-fastest-growing economy, surpassed only by China.
Key Strengths of the CEE Region
A key strength of CEE is its highly skilled workforce, along with the continuous improvement of infrastructure supported by EU funding and a strong inflow of FDI. The region offers a range of economic and business advantages, such as an attractive economic growth structure compared with Western Europe and the stability typical of developed economies, which sets the region apart from other emerging markets.
CEE is drawing substantial foreign direct investment from both long-standing and new sources: inbound FDI stock from EMEA remained historically high at around EUR 700 billion in 2023, while a growing group of APAC investors added approximately EUR 50 billion in fresh capital.
Most Promising Sectors for FDI
Information technology and innovation
CEE is a major outsourcing and R&D hub for global companies, with rapid growth in AI, gaming, cloud services, and IT integration.
- Estonia leads with world-famous digital infrastructure, e-government, and a highly supportive environment for startups and fintech.
- Poland offers a large, exceptionally skilled workforce, some of the world’s best programmers, and strong EV and aerospace industries. (more on Poland here)
Advanced Manufacturing
Poland is the fifth-largest manufacturing country in the EU (Eurostat sales data), with electric vehicles and industrial machinery among its strongest sectors. The government actively promotes new industrial technologies—such as additive manufacturing—to elevate the country’s manufacturing capabilities.
Across the Baltic states, advanced manufacturing is accelerating as well, driven by strengths in precision engineering, industrial electronics, and high-tech components integrated into Nordic and EU supply chains.
Business Services
Poland has become one of Europe’s strongest hubs for business services, supported by:
- a large multilingual workforce,
- strong technical education,
- competitive operating costs.
Meanwhile, Lithuania is becoming a leader in fintech operations, and Estonia leverages its digital-first environment to attract innovation-driven businesses.
Expand to Europe With Confidence: Polylocal’s Business Tours
Fully Customised Business Tours Across Poland and the Baltics
Ready to expand to Europe? At Polylocal, we help companies expand confidently into Central and Eastern Europe by organising fully customised business tours across Poland and the Baltic region.
Whether you are searching for new customers or seeking to establish long-term partnerships, we will do it for you: we design every trip around your specific goals.
Easily Meet the Right Partners for Your Business
We are a European team with deep, hands-on experience in Taiwanese business and culture. Because we work locally across Europe and understand how Taiwanese companies operate, we can provide insights and access that you won’t find anywhere else. We know whom to contact and how, where to go, and how to source the information you need to build new partnerships and clients with confidence.
What Our Business Tours Can Include
- Curated B2B matchmaking with vetted local partners, distributors, suppliers, or innovation hubs
- Meetings with local experts, business associations, chambers, or government agencies
- Soft-landing support, including translation, cultural guidance, and logistics
- Sector-specific deep dives, from ICT and electronics to green energy, manufacturing, and mobility
While our tours focus on direct business exposure and personalised meetings, we can also integrate attendance at major trade fairs in Poland and the Baltics—helping you understand market trends, meet exhibitors, or scout new technologies.
Why choose Polylocal?
- Local expertise in Central & Eastern Europe
- Hands-on support from planning to on-site coordination
- Tailored schedules, designed around your company’s needs
- Experience connecting European and Taiwanese businesses
Interested? Let’s talk.
Do you want to learn more about participation, costs, logistics, and opportunities for your company?
Write to us and book a short online consultation.