Facts about Podlaskie:
Capital of region: Bialystok
Inhabitants: ca 1 200 000
Consists of 17 municipalities

The Podlaskie region is a place where you can find picturesque landscapes, primeval forests, and numerous rivers and lakes. The little towns give the entire region a unique charm. The region’s location on the border of Poland and its natural environment are factors which shape the province's economic identity. Podlaskie is an agricultural and industrial region where the timber processing industry, light industry and mechanical engineering play an important role in the regional economy.

A rich tourism potential

Podlaskie is a region with an immense tourism potential, much of which is still unused. Small towns, interesting buildings, and religious sites all come together to form a unique atmosphere and charm of Podlaskie. Numerous pure rivers and lakes are an excellent destination for all lovers of water sports and angling. Podlaskie has a very valuable variety of forests and a unique flora and fauna. Particularly local national parks are appealing. Almost 40% of the province's territory is under protection. Podlaskie is most varied from an ethnic and cultural point of view. It has been the home for people of different nationalities and religions already for several centuries. In addition to Poles, the region is inhabited by Lithuanians, Tartars, Jews, Belorussians, Russians, Ukrainians and the gypsies.

Qualified workforce and strong scientific base

Podlaskie is inhabited by 1,224,000 people, of whom 57.7% live in urban areas. The population is relatively young as almost 57% of people are of working age. There are also over 250 firms with foreign investments in the region. The capital Bialystok is known as a fair center. A large number of entrepreneurs and tradesmen come to the international trade fairs organized in Bialystok. The value of the regional trade is growing steadily. The basic export items of the region are food products, electric devices, light industry articles, pulp and paper. The existing foreign contacts do not take full advantage of the region’s economic potential. In the region potential foreign business partners can establish co-operative joint ventures in the field of food and agricultural industry, the production of health food, the processing of potatoes, the development of tourism and recreation and the natural environment.