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On July 5, 2023, we officially became a member of the Polish-Chinese Main Chamber of Commerce (SinoCham for short). And that means we can do even better to deepen Polish-Chinese cooperation.

SinoCham is a bilateral organization established independently by business entities operating in Poland. It represents the commercial interests of its affiliated members in their business activities.

What are the main goals of the Polish-Chinese Main Chamber of Commerce?

1. Promotion and development of economic cooperation between Poland and China
2. Legal protection of member companies
3. Create a platform for business to government relations
4. Encourage member companies to act in accordance with corporate social responsibility

– GTHR Poland has strong Chinese roots. This is because the Prusice plant was created out of cooperation between Zhangjiagang Guotai-Huarong New Chemical Materials Co., Ltd. and China's Jiangsu Ruitai Chemical Co., Ltd. As a result, we have many specialists in our teams just from the Middle Kingdom,” – says Zhang Xiaomeng, Assistant to the Board of Directors, and adds: – Membership in SinoCham is another step to further strengthen Polish-Chinese ties and develop cooperation between our countries.

SinoCham includes such companies as Bank of China (Luxembourg) S.A. Poland Branch, Huawei Polska Sp. z o.o., Bank Millennium S.A. or Hikvision Poland Sp.z o.o.

In total, the Polish-Chinese Chamber of Commerce brings together more than 70 entities.

You can read more about SinoCham here: https://sinocham.pl/

The Polish Alternative Fuels Association, of which we are a member, has published a report “Europe drives on Polish lithium-ion batteries. The potential of the battery sector in Poland and the CEE region”.

According to the data collected, sales of electric cars reached as many as 10.5 million units in 2022. This allowed to record an increase of 55% over the previous year. According to BNEF forecasts, global lithium-ion battery production capacity will increase as much as eightfold by 2027, reaching 8945 GWh.

The market is undoubtedly gaining momentum, and with it, Europe's role in the sector is becoming increasingly important. Poland and Hungary are emerging as leaders, already accounting for 9% of global production.

– A report by the Polish Alternative Fuels Association clearly indicates that our country already holds a significant position in the market. Lithium-ion batteries account for as much as 2.4% of Polish exports, and Poland ranks second in the world in terms of battery production. We are pleased to see such a buoyant development of this sector: over the past 6 years its value has increased from PLN 1 to 38 billion. We know that there is still much to be achieved in this field,” – says Zhang Xiaomeng, Assistant to the Board of Directors.

The report can be downloaded at: https://pspa.com.pl/2023/raport/samochody-elektryczne-w-europie-jezdza-na-polskich-bateriach-litowo-jonowych/

One of the largest global suppliers of electrolyte used in lithium-ion batteries, China's Guotai-Huarong Poland, is launching a mass production. Assuming full plant capacity at level of 40 thousand tons of electrolyte the company, located in Prusice in the Lower Silesia will supply about 500,000 batteries annually.

GTHR Poland to pierwsza w Europie inwestycja dwóch światowych liderów na rynku elektromobilności – działającego od przeszło 20 lat Zhangjiagang Guotai-Huarong New Chemical Materials Co., Ltd. oraz Jiangsu Ruitai New Energy Materials Co., Ltd. Wartość całej inwestycji, której budowę rozpoczęto w 2020 roku, to 66 mln dolarów.

– Dostrzegamy rosnącą rolę Polski w łańcuchu dostaw baterii litowo-jonowych. Dlatego właśnie tutaj zdecydowaliśmy się zbudować nasz pierwszy zakład w Europie. Ilość naszego surowca używana w jednej baterii samochodu osobowego to ok. 80 kg, co oznacza, że roczna wielkość produkcji naszej fabryki zasili ok. pół miliona samochodów. Inwestycja w Prusicach pozwoli nam umocnić pozycję jednego z wiodących globalnych dostawców elektrolitu i tworzyć dzięki temu zrównoważoną przyszłość. Jestem przekonany, że dzięki wysoce wyspecjalizowanemu zespołowi, który udało nam się zgromadzić na Dolnym Śląsku, będziemy dalej konsekwentnie realizować ambitne cele rozwojowe – mówi Wang Yiming, Prezes Zarządu Guotai-Huarong (Poland).

Według danych dostarczonych przez Polskie Stowarzyszenie Paliw Alternatywnych wartość sektora produkcji baterii litowo-jonowych w Polsce w ciągu ostatnich 6 lat wzrosła z 1 do ponad 38 mld zł, a same akumulatory litowo-jonowe stanowią ponad 2,4 proc. polskiego eksportu. Europa już dzisiaj odpowiada za 14 proc. światowych mocy produkcyjnych w tym obszarze, z czego 9 proc. to Polska i Węgry.

Proces produkcji elektrolitu polega na fizycznym mieszaniu rozpuszczalników organicznych z solami litu oraz niewielkimi ilościami dodatków pozostałych związków chemicznych. Dzieje się to w instalacji zamkniętej, w ścisłym reżimie technologicznym z zachowaniem atmosfery inertnej z wykorzystaniem najwyższej jakości i czystości surowców.

GTHR Poland dostarczy elektrolit między innymi do takich kontrahentów jak LGESWA Energy Solution Wrocław, CATL (Niemcy) czy FREYR Battery Norway. W zakładzie w Prusicach już dzisiaj pracuje ok. 120 pracowników.

We are extending the sponsorship agreement with the local club Orzeł Prusice. Thanks to this cooperation, we want not only to create opportunities for meetings during the most important sports events in the municipality, but above all to promote physical activity among children and young people.

– Cooperation with Eagle Prusice fits perfectly with our strategy of being a good neighbor and popularizing sports among the youngest. As a large company in the region, we understand our important social role and want to use our influence wisely. Extending the sponsorship agreement with the club was therefore obvious to us. We want to involve the local community in what brings positive emotions for whole families, and at the same time build healthy habits from childhood – says Aleksandra Kołaczek from the Translation and Polish-Chinese Relations Department.

You will still be able to see us in many places: on the club's social media, on posters and flyers, on the match uniforms of all youth groups affiliated with the Eagle of Prusice, sports events organized by MKS Eagle of Prusice Soccer Academy or other events.

Chinese New Year is a movable holiday, always falling between January 21 and February 20. This time we celebrated it on January 22. This is the most important date in the calendar of the Middle Kingdom, so we decided to celebrate it with our employees. 

Each year in the Chinese calendar is assigned to a different zodiac sign. They are, in order, Rat (shu), Ox (niu), Tiger (hu), Rabbit (tu), Dragon (long), Snake (she), Horse (ma), Sheep (yang), Monkey (hou), Rooster (ji), Dog (gou) and Pig (zhu). On January 22, we entered the Year of the Rabbit (tu nian). 

In China, this celebration is celebrated very lavishly. On New Year's Eve, families sit down to dinner together, eating dishes typical of the day - such as the famous jiaozi dumplings, sticky rice cake and fish. According to tradition, relatives are presented with red envelopes, meant to symbolize luck and wealth. Everyone spends the evening at home - something that strongly distinguishes the model of celebration we know from Europe.

As you may have guessed, New Year customs were shared among GTHR employees. In addition to a presentation about them and distinctive snacks, everyone had the opportunity to try calligraphy, cut-outs, read about their zodiac sign, look at a game of Chinese chess, checkers or mahjong. At GTHR, in this way, we bring the culture of the Middle Kingdom closer, create an open working environment and space for every employee to grow. 

Once again, we wish you a happy Chinese New Year!

Christmas and the new year is the perfect time to get to know more about those we spend our daily lives with at the dinner table. At GTHR, we celebrated it with great care, and everyone was able to get involved in their own way. It was on this occasion that we gathered with all employees.

There was also a traditional Chinese touch! It is customary in the Middle Kingdom to eat... apples at Christmas. This is all due to the homophone, a similar-sounding word. In Chinese, an apple is ping guo, on the other hand, silent night is ping an ye. To celebrate this custom, we all enjoyed them in December!

This time was exceptionally conducive to meetings. We decided to use it also to invite our employees to a training course on intercultural communication. It was attended by 15 people from various departments who work with Chinese speakers on a daily basis.

– I'm glad that our employees were so eager to engage in joint celebrations. It's important for us to combine traditions and celebrate important days with respect for diversity. This is how we at GTHR create an open work environment – says Aleksandra Kołaczek of the Translation and Polish-Chinese Relations Department.

GTHR is a company with Chinese roots and we have always been passionate about the traditions of our colleagues. On more than one occasion, we have celebrated holidays originating from China. 

This time we decided to bring the history and culture of Poland closer to our employees from the Middle Kingdom. The previous weekend we organized a trip to Krakow.

– At GTHR, we work based on international standards and procedures. Yet cultural differences can be a challenge for employees from other countries. Similar trips are a great opportunity to exchange experiences and integrate the international team,” – says HR and Administration Director Justyna Wojtuń. 

Together with our interpreter Adam Kobiel, our colleagues saw the Wawel Royal Castle, visited the Wieliczka salt mine and tasted both Polish and Chinese cuisine. 

– The cultures of China and Poland differ on many issues - from state traditions to business communication. A trip to Poland's former capital is an opportunity to learn about Poland's history and traditions. We believe it will allow our colleagues to better understand our culture,” – says Polish-Chinese-English translator Adam Kobiela.

It is the fundamental duty of every company to take effective care of the environment.

– We believe that every activity affects the quality of the environment in which we live and work. That's why, together with students from the H. Sienkiewicz Elementary School in Prusice, we organized a Clean Up the World campaign,” – says Aleksandra Kołaczek, head of the Polish-Chinese relations and translation department.

Cleaning up the world is part of an international environmental campaign that involves the whole world on the third weekend of September. This year, together with young colleagues, we took care of the cleanliness and beauty of Independence Square in Prusice.

– Our goal is to be actively involved in the local life of the municipality and to educate residents on issues important to society, among others. environmentally friendly activities,” – comments Aleksandra Kolaczek.

The Mid-Autumn Festival is a tradition that is three thousand years old. Chinese farmers were already aware of the moon's influence on the quality of crops. The celebration took the form of a gift-giving ceremony, with a key element being the tasting of mooncake. This baked product is crumbly on the outside and sweet on the inside due to the filling. 

– Chińczycy cenią sobie wartości rodzinne i w związku z tym szczególną wagę  przywiązują do świąt, podczas których mają okazję spotkać się w gronie bliskich  osób. Jednym z nich jest właśnie Święto Środka Jesieni, po chińsku Zhongqiujie 中 秋节, drugie największe (po Chińskim Nowym Roku) tradycyjne święto w kraju – mówi Aleksandra Kołaczek, kierownik działu relacji i tłumaczeń polsko-chińskich.  

Tradycja czczenia księżyca jesienią sięga dynastii Zhou, a więc ma już około 3 tysiące lat. Wtedy obchody miały charakter składania darów w podzięce za  udane plony i prośby o urodzaj w przyszłości. Chińczycy już wtedy zauważyli  związek księżyca z uprawą roli i w ten sposób chcieli zyskać sobie jego  przychylność.

– We are a company with Chinese roots and are passionate about the traditions of our colleagues and peers. This year, we organized a symbolic celebration of the Mid-Autumn Festival, during which everyone could taste cakes and learn more about Chinese culture,” – comments Aleksandra Kołaczek.

Mooncakes can come in really big sizes. According to tradition, family members should eat one sliced cake together, which is supposed to symbolize reunion. It is also in good taste to bestow such a sweet treat on a superior or business partner.