Óscar Puente discusses the role of Spanish companies in the development of Poland's infrastructure whilst in Poland

The Minister for Transport and Sustainable Mobility, Óscar Puente, has visited Warsaw to see first-hand the work being carried out by Spanish engineering and public works companies in the development of Poland's transport infrastructure and networks, and to share his concerns and expertise with Polish leaders in the sector.

To this end, he held two meetings with both the companies and Poland's Minister for Infrastructure, Dariusz Klimczak. During the first of these, Puente spoke with representatives and executives from Adif, Renfe, Acciona, Aldesa, CAF, Elecnor, Idom, Indra, Lantania and Talgo, all Spanish companies with a presence or subsidiaries in Poland. He sought to learn first-hand about the projects they are helping to drive forward, as well as the opportunities and challenges they face in consolidating their business in the country.

The minister, Óscar Puente, emphasised that Spanish companies "have achieved a high level of local involvement in one of the European countries developing the most infrastructure - for example, through the expansion of its high-speed rail network or the construction of new airports - where our companies can contribute their knowledge and experience".

Subsequently, the Spanish Transport Minister held a bilateral meeting with Dariusz Klimczak, Minister for Infrastructure, and Eliza Zeidler, State Secretary at the Polish Ministry of State Assets, with whom he discussed matters of mutual interest relating to transport, such as the impact of the agreement between the European Union and Ukraine on freight transport, the development of high-speed rail, the liberalisation of transport, and the implementation of dynamic passenger information and monitoring systems. In all these sectors, Spanish companies already play a significant role and are currently bidding for a number of contracts.

Spanish engineering and public works companies have played a key role in the development of transport in Poland for decades and are making a decisive contribution to the development of the country's infrastructure. Their international expansion took off following Poland's accession to the EU in 2004, since when the number of motorways and dual carriageways in the country has increased sixfold.

Furthermore, Poland is currently implementing an ambitious rail and air transport development programme, comprising a series of projects which, in the rail sector, include the purchase of high-speed trains, the roll-out of the ERTMS signalling and control system, the construction of overhead lines and the modernisation of the existing network. In addition, through the state-led Port Polska project, which entails an investment of €32.2 billion up to 2035, Poland aims to position itself as a transport hub for Central and Eastern Europe. This initiative centres on a new airport near Warsaw with a capacity of up to 44 million passengers and a new 500-kilometre high-speed rail network.

This project, spearheaded by the state-owned company CPK, represents a major business opportunity for Spanish companies in strategic sectors such as consulting, engineering, construction, signalling, electrification and train manufacturing and operation, as well as related ancillary activities.

Following the meeting with the two Polish leaders, Óscar Puente highlighted the spirit of mutual understanding between the two nations - a relationship that will continue to be fostered to support the international expansion and strategic presence of Spanish companies.

Non official translation