There is no other way to develop our region in terms of economy, but to focus on high value added products”, said Wiesław Rozłucki, former President of Warsaw Stock Exchange and a consultant at Rothschild Polska during the panel devoted to the role of venture capital in transforming the Central European economies”. Therefore, the significance of venture capital funds must be expected to grow. In 2007, the value of private equity investments in Central and Eastern Europe amounted to approximately 3 billion euros. 15 percent of the aforementioned sum is credited to venture capital.
The participants of the conference shared the view that additional incentives for those funds are indispensable. “Government support as well as collaboration with research circles are a must”, believes John Gorecki, the President of the Globe Forum commercial chain.
Small and medium enterprises are the most likely to capitalize on the activity of venture capital funds. According to Beata Gessel – Kalinowska, a managing partner at Gessel Law Office, despite the lack of direct involvement in management, a majority of companies associated with the funds most frequently decide to develop through mergers.
