President to take part in Polish-Australian Energy Forum in Sydney

President Andrzej Duda will take part in the Polish-Australian Energy Forum on cooperation in the field of modern technologies and innovations in the natural resource and energy sector on August 21 in Sydney, head of President's Office Krzysztof Szczerski told PAP.

The forum will be one of the highlights of Duda's first official visit to Australia on August 18-23.

"The Polish economy today needs global partners," Szczerski pointed out. "The Energy Forum is part of the Polish president's economic diplomacy, through which he promotes the country's economic interests abroad and tries to help Polish entrepreneurs to establish business contacts, the aide explained.

An large delegation of Polish entrepreneurs will take part in the forum organised at the initiative of the Polish president, including representatives of such power companies as: PGNiG, Gaz-System, Polskie LNG, Jastrzębska Spółka Węglowa and Węglokoks.

The talks will also be attended by representatives of the Polish Geological Institute (PGI), the Energy Ministry and the Polish Investment and Trade Agency and, on the Australian side, by Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Geoscience Australia, Nautitech, and National Energy Resources Australia (NERA).

Cooperation agreements between Polish and Australian partners are expected to be signed during the event.

According to data from Poland's Central Statistical Office (GUS), in 2017, Poland's trade with Australia amounted to USD 1.3 billion. Polish exports to Australia reached USD 714.4 million, and imports from Australia was estimated at USD 578.4 million.