The Silesian question

Upper Silesia, famous for its industrial traditions, is undergoing a transformation forced by global changes – the phasing out of coal mining and the onset of the decarbonisation era. Its key advantages include its excellent infrastructure, proximity to western markets, and a thriving industrial base. All the new logistics and industrial space being developed there has been injecting new energy into the province, while retail centres are competing for more affluent customers and the high-quality office development is attracting global corporations. According to the Silesian Investor and Exporter Assistance Centre (Department of Promotion, Economy and Sport of the Marshal’s Office for the Silesian Region), Silesia has the second highest GDP and the second highest number of companies of any Polish province. It is the leading exporter among the regions with the most extensive network of express roads and motorways and one of the fastest-growing airports, Katowice International