New Delhi: Piotr Anoni Świtalski, Polish Ambassador to India, called Indians in Poland a “model immigrant community” who “perfectly integrate, earn well, cause no trouble and pay taxes on time”.
In an interaction at ThePrint’s newsroom, Świtalski said the Indian diaspora can call Poland their home and enrich the sociocultural and economic fabric of the central European country.
“Indians who come to Poland can feel at home. They integrate well. They do not cause problems and earn good money. There are now almost 30,000 Indian citizens living in Poland and paying taxes,” the ambassador said, emphasising that the diaspora is the third-largest national group, after Ukrainians and Belarusians.
His remark contrasted sharply with Warsaw’s increasing restrictions on immigration due to “national security concerns”. While explaining this, he said, “Belarus and Russia use migrants as a weapon by sending thousands of illegal migrants across the Polish border.”
He added, “Some of our soldiers and policemen were killed by them. A 21-year-old Polish soldier was killed by a group of angry youngsters,” citing this as the reason for the need for a 200-kilometre border wall.
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Education in Poland
Speaking about education opportunities in Poland, Świtalski said language would not be a barrier for Indian students, as most applicants from India are comfortable with English. “The knowledge of language, which for India is not a problem because most of your candidates speak English without any problem. But we had cases of hundreds of applicants, students who didn’t speak any foreign language,” he said.
He said that many foreign students arrive without any secondary education and end up working as Uber drivers or pizza delivery workers, and claimed that Indian candidates have not posed similar issues.
Świtalski further said Poland remains an “open country” for those who “follow rules”. He underscored that Indian tech and consulting companies are also on the state’s “preferential list” to streamline and attract experts in their respective sectors.
He noted that Indian restaurants have become a nodal point of cultural exchange between the two nations. “Indian restaurants are the most dynamic brand in terms of the number of restaurants, and they are welcome,” Świtalski added.
Indian companies in Poland
The Polish envoy said, “Big Indian companies” are working in Poland because Poland is a “good springboard” to other parts of Europe, including Germany, France, and others.
He added that labour costs are lower in Poland and that Polish cities are “probably the safest” in the European Union in terms of criminality and related aspects. “We are also modern. Our infrastructure, including communication networks such as internet accessibility, is among the most developed in Europe,” he said, outlining the benefits for Indian companies looking to work in Poland.
Świtalski also emphasised air connectivity, stating, “we are well-connected with India. We have daily flights between Warsaw and Delhi. So, roughly 160,000 people annually take direct flights from Delhi to Warsaw.”
The ambassador concluded that fostering a relationship can open multiple possibilities between New Delhi and Warsaw, as Poland can be a strategic gateway for Indians into Europe.
(Edited by Shashank Kishan)
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