Bringing in the new

Back in the UK, it's often amusing to listen to stories of people contacting customer services departments, and finding that their interlocutor is addressing them from Delhi, in India, about a problem they're having just around the corner. This drift east of Business Process Offshoring (BPO), which has significant implications for office space requirements, is one of the emphases of a report by McKinsey & Company, into the prospects for future foreign direct investment in Poland. Soon my family and friends might find that their problems are being dealt with by someone closer to home. According to Richard Mbewe of the Warsaw Investment Group, BPO might just be the sort of activity that will make the Polish economy a European hub after accession. Read more in the article "BPO needs space" on page 12. The Hungarian-based developer TriGranit has been behind some dramatic projects in Budapest, most notably the West End City Centre multifunctional scheme, but has also ventured further east into Slovakia as well. It has even bigger expansion plans for the Central and Eastern Europe region and Poland is certainly part of them. Some here haven't even heard of the company, but one guesses they soon will. Find out more on page 18. How many readers had heard of Polish warehouse developers before today? True, they number very few but they're out there putting up buildings as we speak. Learn about them on page 22. Magda is away recuperating after surgery to her knee. We all hope for her speedy recovery and I'm sure our readers do as well. On her behalf and everyone at Eurobuild, I'd like to extend the best possible wishes to all our readers for the festive season. Have a good one.