About Katowice and Silesia:
Katowice is a metropolis of about 400 thousand inhabitants. This industrial rather than touristic city is worth visiting as it is the capital of Upper Silesia and one of the biggest agglomerations in Europe. For tens of years, the growth and progression of Katowice was extremely dynamic due to advantageous natural conditions for development of mining and metallurgical industries, as well as to the development of transport routes. The political transformation of the state after 1989 resulted in deep restructuring processes in the economic life of the town.
Right now, Katowice has become a vast area of investments (infrastructure, highways, banks, research facilities, shopping centers, modern office buildings etc.) attracting businessmen from all over the world. The Katowice Special Economic Zone is the leader among Polish economic zones. Among the biggest investors are General Motors Opel, Japanese Isuzu Motors, Spanish Roca, Mecalux etc.
Katowice is also known for its research academic and cultural life. There are numerous research institutes located here as well as various higher education institutions, among them the University of Silesia, Medical University of Silesia, Karol Szymanowski Academy of Music and the oldest economic university in the region Karol Adamiecki University of Economics.
Silesia is a province situated in the mid-south of Poland, relatively close to the Czech and Slovak borders. The Province covers 12,300 km2 and it is inhabited by 4,8 million citizens. The area is also one of the greenest in Poland , although for years the economy of the region has been dominated by the coal and steel industries. Indeed, the Śląskie Voivodeship is an industrial region with mines, coal-heaps and factory chimneys. Nevertheless, it is known for its rich history, fine places of interest and local people's unusual hospitality. It is where the economy combines old traditions that still continue with the most modern technological advances. Nowadays, there are over 403 000 enterprises in the region, two special economic zones, and a lot of investments being implemented. Śląskie Voivodeship comprises a variety of geographically diverse areas. In its stormy history it was a region of flourishing economy and a place where different cultures and traditions coexisted. Because of this geographical differentiation and rich cultural heritage it has become very attractive for tourists. The nature of Śląskie Voivodeship is preserved in seven national parks and 59 wildlife reserves. The climate of Śląskie Voivodeship is described as transitional between the warm marine climate of Western Europe and a continental climate from the East. The region is also famed for active music events and art centers The Silesian Province is a meeting point of various nations, cultures and religions. In addition to that, the region is a forth research and university center in Poland with 25 universities and about 140 000 students.
