Nearly 100 participants, including 10 entrepreneurs from Scandinavia and representatives of more than 50 companies from the Warmia and Mazury region, took part in the 13th edition of the “Open to Scandinavia” conference, held on 17 June in Olsztyn, Poland.

Once again, the event provided a valuable platform for gaining practical knowledge, exchanging experiences, and building business relationships between entrepreneurs from Poland and the Nordic countries. This year’s conference attracted particularly strong representation from the construction, metalworking, machinery, and IT sectors.

Understanding the Scandinavian Business Partner

The conference programme focused on the practical aspects of doing business with partners from Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Finland.

Participants had the opportunity to learn about the key differences between Polish and Scandinavian business cultures, with particular emphasis on B2B purchasing decision-making processes.

The topic was presented by Sebastian Sadowski-Romanov, CEO of ITRO Sp. z o.o. and an expert in export, international sales, and international expansion strategies. With more than 30 years of experience supporting Polish companies in foreign markets, he highlighted the importance of trust, long-term relationships, and transparent communication—essential elements of successful business cooperation in the Nordic region.

Quality Standards as the Foundation for Cooperation

Another important topic addressed during the conference was certification and quality standards required in Scandinavian markets.

Participants learned about supplier expectations regarding quality, safety, environmental protection, and corporate social responsibility, as well as how to prepare their companies for entering the demanding yet highly promising markets of Northern Europe.

The presentation was delivered by Joanna Murawska, founder of ERGO Nordic & Global, a consultancy specializing in supporting companies entering Scandinavian markets and adapting their business offers to international market requirements.

Insights from Experts and Market Practitioners

One of the highlights of the conference was a panel discussion devoted to the expectations Nordic business partners have of Polish suppliers.

Experienced practitioners shared their insights into the competencies and attitudes most valued in business cooperation, while also discussing the most common mistakes that can hinder long-term commercial relationships.

The panel featured experts who work daily with companies expanding into Scandinavian markets:

  • Sebastian Magier, Head of the Polish Investment and Trade Agency (PAIH) Foreign Trade Office in Stockholm, discussed the characteristics of cooperation with Swedish partners and shared experiences of Polish companies operating in Sweden.
  • Martalena Eriksen, Head of the PAIH Foreign Trade Office in Oslo, presented opportunities available to Polish businesses in the Norwegian market across key economic sectors.
  • Ulf-Åke Oldenborg of Baltic Crossing Advisory Group offered the perspective of a Scandinavian business advisor, emphasizing the importance of understanding local customer needs and building trust-based relationships.
  • Przemysław Piela, founder of Hugin Consulting and representative of the Scandinavian-Polish Chamber of Commerce, focused on the Danish market, stressing the need for thorough preparation for negotiations with Scandinavian business partners, particularly with regard to cultural differences.

Practical Workshops

The conference also included hands-on workshops where participants explored marketing research methods and learned how to develop compelling value propositions tailored to Scandinavian markets.

Networking That Builds Future Partnerships

As every year, networking remained one of the most valuable elements of the event.

Following the conference sessions, entrepreneurs from Warmia and Mazury had the opportunity to meet directly with representatives of Scandinavian companies and institutions. These meetings provided an excellent opportunity to exchange experiences, establish new business contacts, and discuss potential future cooperation.

The “Open to Scandinavia” conference was organized by the Self-Government of the Warmia and Mazury Region as part of the project “Economic Promotion of Warmia and Mazury 2024+”, co-financed by the European Funds for Warmia and Mazury 2021–2027 Regional Programme.