Economy.
Krakow, one of Poland's most important economic cities, is a young metropolis with 60% of its inhabitants under the age of 40. With a population of over 750,000, 170,000 students attend Universities in the city. Once reputed as an important industrial centre for coal, zinc, salt, iron and the steel industry, today, Krakow is Poland's fourth largest industrial centre with key industries in metallurgy, tobacco and pharmaceuticals.
Renowned as a business friendly city, Krakow has been encouraging and aiding the settlement of high technological companies since the establishment of the Krakow Technology Park in 1998. Spread over four separate areas, the park offers modern infrastructure and carries considerable tax exemptions. This base is also home to 15 higher education institutions and 140 research centres.
International investment, tourism and the property market have grown considerably since Poland joined the European Union in 2004. International companies such as Capgemini, Delphi, Global Trade Center AG, IBM, Motorola, Pliva, Philip Morris, Shell, to name but a few, are located in Krakow.
Tourism has also played an important role in strengthening Krakow's economy. Cheap flights from western Europe, particularly the UK and Ireland, have increased the yearly influx of visitors to a staggering 5 million.