The Podbeskidzie region with its capital located in Bielsko-Biała is situated in the south-central part of Poland, at the foot of the Beskidy mountains and bordering with the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Till the end of 1998, the Bielsko-Biała province was one of 49 Polish provinces. Its attractive location and easy accessibility, good regional labor potential, large manufacturing potential (mainly in the field of industry), high living standards, picturesque landscapes as well as well-developed tourist and recreational infrastructure are the region's main features.
Over 98% of businesses in the region are privately-owned. The structure of businesses is well-adapted to the requirements of the market economy with a high degree of de-concentration, consisting mainly of small and medium-sized companies which adapt more easily to changing market conditions, with a high percentage of high value-added processing industries (such as electrical and machine building industry), as well as trade and services which are above the average level in the country. The economy of the Podbeskidzie region is not dominated by one significant monopoly nor by any one manufacturing sector.
Due to its convenient location and good investment opportunities, there are about 600 businesses with foreign capital. Therefore, it is not by chance that such giants as Fiat, Heineken, Jacobs-Suchard, Philips, Delphi and several other world companies have brought their operations here. In the last year of its existence, the Bielsko-Biała Province was leading in the statistic and economic rankings. It ranked fourth in economic potential and third in per capita industrial production. The share of privatized industry in the Podbeskidzie region was higher than the national average while the unemployment rate was the fifth lowest (6.9%) in Poland.
The Bielsko-Biała Province no longer has a status of being a province. Even though losing its province status, Bielsko continues its dynamic, social and economic development in full swing. The main attributes of the region are not affected by the administrative divisions.
Bielsko-Biała is one of the most beautiful cities in Poland. It ranks among the leading developing business centers in Poland. This is the resultant of several factors such as: excellent location, a long economic tradition, favorable business conditions and pro-investment policy of the local authorities.
Bielsko-Biała has a population of 180 thousand people, including 42,000 at a school age and 113 thousand employment aged population. They are active, enterprising, industrious and able people. This is due to the region's many centuries' tradition in crafts, manufacturing and trade. This is reflected in employment statistics, number of operating businesses as well as in the Podbeskidzie residents. Bielsko-Biała used to be dominated by light industry which was mainly the textile industry. However, aside from this dominating branch other industries there were developing. That's why Bielsko-Biala used to be called a "City of one hundred industries". The largest company operating in Bielsko-Biała is Fiat Auto Poland S.A. About 9 thousand people are employed in its Bielsko plant. In 1998 the Fiat's Bielsko and Tychy plants manufactured over 336 thousand cars, and the company's total sales amounted to PLN 6.7 billion. Another company in the automotive industry, Teksid Poland SA, employs 1,400 people. The largest employers are companies dealing in electrical, machine building and in the metal industries: 'Bispol SA', the Screw Manufacturing Plant, 'Indukta SA' - Electrical Machines Plant, Metalplast Bielsko SA, the Saw and Tool Manufacturing Plant in Wapienica as well as UNION-VIS. Light industry plants are still employing large numbers of people, the biggest ones being: 'Befado' - the Bielsko Shoe Manufacturing Company, 'Bielkon SA' - a clothing company, 'Weldoro Ltd.' - a spinning mill, 'Bezalin' - the Bielsko rope and belt manufacturing company. Bielsko-Biała is not only a city of hard-working and wealthy people as compared with other Polish regions. This is noticeable by just looking at the type of cars being driven in the Bielsko area and the continuously growing infrastructure of shops and restaurants. Upon analysis of this dynamically developing region, many foreign companies have taken advantage of an absorptive power of the consumer's market. In late 1980's, Klimczok, the largest co-operative department store in Poland, was opened in Bielsko-Biała. Today, such supermarkets as Billa, Plus, Tesco and Sesam are present in Bielsko. In 1998, 'Makro' a supermarket/department store supply center was opened. This investment amounting to PLN 70 million. For years now, Bielsko has been the shopping place not only for the city's residents but also for the whole region. The number of restaurants, cafés and pubs is growing rapidly. They are set up in new and old buildings or stylish cellars which allow a wide choice of venues for a night out on the town with friends. Pizza Hut - KFC and McDonald's are among the fast-food chain restaurants present in Bielsko. Such rapid development of private businesses in Bielsko-Biała, and all the more the activities of so many foreign significant investors would not be possible if it were not for the well-developed infrastructure referred to as a 'business environment'. Numerous banks, institutions actively supporting enterprises and entrepreneurial activity, higher education institutions which provide qualified personnel are additional attributes of the Bielsko-Biała region. Bielsko-Biała does not intend to be only an industrial city. One of its main attributes is its location which makes it a gateway to the Beskidy Mountains. This is an excellent place for recreation and a good starting point for mountain trail tours, attractive in summer and winter. A modern gondola lift to the top of Mt. Szyndzielnia, the highest peak within the city borders, is a symbol of the city's aspiration in tourism. Its modernization was completed in 1995, the cost amounting to about PLN 14 mln and financed through the city budget. Bielsko-Biała has a modern Tourist Information Center. Informative and currently updated information may be obtained via the Internet.
Visitors to Bielsko-Biała can choose from approximately 2,000 lodging accommodations in over twenty facilities of various standards - from hotels to guest houses (bed-and-breakfast) and mountain shelter-hostels. Moreover, in the region there are camping and tent sites available. Accommodation and recreational infrastructure is being continuously expanded and upgraded. The tourist industry offers numerous opportunities for new investors. Attractive locations in recreational areas of Bielsko-Biała including those on mountain slopes, are still to be developed. The city definitely needs more recreational and sports facilities, hotels and camp sites.
At present, Bielsko-Biała has a good standing but there is always room for improvement. Bielsko-Biała's authorities link further development of the city with maintaining a high level of economic dynamics, which also means being open to investors. Plans concerning the city's development are connected with shaping new, large municipal functions which will satisfy the business needs. Such a long-term program was described in detail in the 'Strategy for development of Bielsko-Biała to the year 2010' prepared by the Regional Development Agency SA in Bielsko-Biała and approved by the City Council.