Poland to have compulsory state-run business chamber?

If it goes ahead, the new so-called “economic self-government” organisation will be funded by 0.02 percent of Value Added Tax (VAT), which equates to some PLN 260 million (EUR 60 million), the paper said.

According to the paper, the new organisation will be tasked with mediating between businesses and public administrators, offering legal aid, and running business incubators.

The paper said the idea was “a revolution”, adding that fewer than five percent of firms are currently members of any of Poland's business chambers and organisations.

Marek Goliszewski, CEO of the Business Centre Club, was quoted by the paper as saying: “While I do not know the project, in general, a self-government body is necessary, and we ourselves postulated to introduce one.”

“In order to make sound business decisions, the government should have … a strong partner who represents the largest possible part of the economy,” Goliszewski said, according to the daily.

But he raised concerns about the effectiveness of such an organisation, Rzeczpospolita said.

Jeremi Mordasewicz, an expert at the Lewiatan business organisation, said: “In the case of low social activity among entrepreneurs we risk creating a useless and politicised bureaucratic structure ... funded by our taxes,” according to the paper. (vb/pk)