Artur Popko: Polish construction industry to complete the most complex investments

Artur Popko – Budimex CEO's statement from the Build4Future conference:

Infrastructure investment in Poland accounts for more than 70 per cent of the value of construction production and is therefore a lever for the entire construction industry. Polish construction companies are capable of handling the largest linear investments in the country – Artur Popko, Budimex CEO, said during the Build 4 Future Conference. The event was a panel on the future of major infrastructure investments in Poland.

By 2040, Poland has investment plans of more than PLN 1 trillion. Planned investments include: Nuclear power plants, CPK, port, hydro, offshore and onshore investments, and multi-year motorway and railway programmes. I believe that the construction industry can ‘process’ this – both motorway contracts and consolidated rail contracts. Successful companies operating in Poland are implementing the most complex development projects. Where there are problems in the implementation of a small number of contracts, the contractors are companies either from outside the European Union or which have previously come off other motorway contracts, – said Artur Popko.

Budimex's CEO confirmed that a great deal had been done on the part of PKP PLK, despite the lack of funding. Through dialogue, we have established and jointly reached an agreement that the rail industry will not waste time. Tenders have been announced and the bids already submitted are now being reviewed. We are capable of investing in people and equipment, as we have shown in the railways, and we can deliver more contracts using our own forces and specialist equipment. For general contractors, a stable approach to bidding opportunities is key, – Budimex's CEO said.

The company is keeping an eye on how tender procedures are going across Europe. Public procurement in Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia prefers contractors from the European Union area. We are bidding in Latvia, where no company outside the European Union will enter the critical infrastructure market as a general contractor – Artur Popko added.

Budimex's CEO also pointed to risks, particularly in the energy sector. The energy segment of our economy is expected to grow strongly. We have such a challenge ahead of us in terms of a huge and long-lasting energy transition. If we are to meet the EU's climate targets, we should allow private capital into strategic investments. In the case of RES investments, we, as well as others, cannot develop all the possibilities, as the transmission networks have major limitations due to their age. We want to invest offshore as Poland, but private capital has very limited access to this market. This is bizarre. Such investments promote economic development. If we are to achieve such energy independence within three decades, private capital should be allowed to support you – he explained.

Artur Popko also explained the reasons for the company's move into foreign markets. Our expansion abroad is due to two reasons. The first is to continue to grow the company and diversify. The other reason is the desire to reach out for additional construction contracts, given that some EU funds may be blocked at some point in Poland. Going beyond the border allows us to develop our workforce. Many of our people have now gone abroad to learn, to develop and to gain experience in the United States or Australia. We also want to gain expertise in tunnel construction. These investments are limited on the Polish market for the time being, but this will change – concluded Budimex's CEO.