Small is the New Beautiful for IBM; Now in Poland

RMN Digital | March 29, 2012 | Corporate, Europe, Regions, Strategy | No Comments

IBM is among the few companies that have realized the significance of small, emerging markets particularly when the traditionally advanced markets in Americas and Europe are facing ruthless recession.

So, IBM has been aggressively increasing its forays in the new areas that are trying to embrace technology for their economic growth.

Now, it has announced the opening of two new offices in the Polish cities of Katowice and Wroclaw as part of the company’s geographic expansion program to strengthen its presence in the fastest growing markets in the world. The announcement was made by IBM on Wednesday, March 28.

Just last week, it opened a new branch office in Ludhiana, Punjab as part of its continued geographic expansion across India.

The Ludhiana branch is IBM’s seventh new office to be opened in India in the past 12 months after those in Coimbatore, Indore, Guwahati, Dehradun, Raipur and Visakhapatnam. (Read: IBM Expands in India with Office in Ludhiana, Punjab)

Similarly, the company announced the expansion of its branch office in Port Louis on the island of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean off the South East coast of Africa. (Read: IBM Expands in Africa with Office in Mauritius)

With the aim to strengthen its position in China, IBM also opened its server remanufacturing center in China. The new center, located in Shenzhen, will help reduce the impact of e-waste on the environment by extending the life of older IT equipment that otherwise would go into landfills. (Read: IBM to Remake Old Computers in China)

And now in Poland.

“IBM has been present in Poland for the past 20 years and we have established operations across the country. In recognition of the continued importance of Poland to IBM and to ensure the highest levels of support for our clients and partners, we are strengthening our branch network in a number of strategic locations,” said Anna Sienko, country general manager, IBM Poland & Baltics.

The new offices are in Poland’s Upper and Lower Silesia regions which have seen some of the country’s strongest economic growth in recent years.

[ Also Read: Nokia’s First CDMA Windows Phone in China ]

Traditionally known for mining and heavy industry, today these regions have seen an increase in high-tech and other innovative economic activity, as well as growth in the small and medium sized business sector which currently generates about 50 per cent of Poland’s Gross Domestic Product.

The opening of the Polish branch offices was recognized this week at two ceremonies attended by government officials, customers, and business partners in Katowice and Wroclaw.

In the picture above: Dr Maciej Bluj, Vice-Mayor of Wroclaw (left), Anna Sienko, Country General Manager IBM Poland & Baltics (center) and Aleksander Skorupa, Lower Silesian Governor (right).