Cosmetics Design spoke with Ilona Antoniszyn-Klik at the inauguration of the Programme of Promoting Polish Cosmetic Industry on Foreign Markets in Warsaw who explained that the timing is right to expand the industry further.
"It has now become an important time to take Polish industry into foreign markets," she said.
Cosmetics are one of 15 industries chosen by the Polish Ministry to help boost the country's economy through overseas activity.
EU-funded project
The project is funded by the European Union Regional Development Fund, has already seen vast research carried out, and will expect further promotion globally as part of its three year plan.
"We are surprised at the growth of [the cosmetics] industry," continued Antoniszyn-Klik. "Poland is the only country in Europe which has been growing every year for twenty years - we have great potential."
"The fact we are the number 6 producer for cosmetics in Europe shows the great potential for our local brands and local companies."
The project will promote the cosmetics industry, amongst others, on many foreign markets as it looks to establish global recognition.
"We have selected particular markets such as Germany, Italy, and the UAE etc to target for the cosmetics industry. For each industry we have chosen different markets," said Antoniszyn-Klik.
Polish companies traditionally coy
This will mark a big step for the Polish cosmetics industry, as traditionally, the country's brands would not make themselves known in foreign markets.
"In the past Polish brands would rather go under the name of a parent company in foreign markets as they thought it was the better option to be part of an established market because the Polish industry is not as well known," added Antoniszyn-Klik.
The cosmetics conference was organized by SPC House of Media and kicks off the project aimed at enabling the Polish national pavilion to appear at the most important world cosmetics fairs.
Polish companies are also planned to go on numerous foreign trade missions, as well as to host foreign contractors in Poland as part of the Programme, which runs from 2012-2015.