AmCham Diner at the XVIII European Economic Congress in Katowice 2026

AmCham Diner at the XVIII European Economic Congress in Katowice has come to a close, marking several days of strong presence, high engagement, and dynamic activity.

Our dedicated zone at the Congress became a lively and highly visible meeting point, where business leaders and public sector representatives connected throughout the event. The AmCham Diner was constantly filled with conversations, exchanges, and new ideas, welcoming a broad group of distinguished guests, including Wojciech Balczun, Minister of State Assets; Wojciech Wrochna, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Energy and Government Plenipotentiary for Strategic Energy Infrastructure; Andrzej Szeptycki, Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Science and Higher Education; Ireneusz Raś, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Sport and Tourism; Tomasz Chróstny, President of the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK); Wanda Buk, Advisor to the President at the Chancellery of the President of the Republic of Poland; Michał Kobosko, Member of the European Parliament; Michał Szczerba, Member of the European Parliament; Ryszard Petru, Member of Parliament, Chair of the Parliamentary Deregulation Committee and Member of Parliament representing the Centre Parliamentary Club; Bartłomiej Pejo, Member of Parliament and Chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Digitalisation, Innovation and Modern Technologies; Gretchen McKeever Cureton, U.S. Consul General in Kraków; Nathan Reich, Director and Attaché of the Energy Department at the U.S. Embassy Warsaw; Sharayah Heidenhain, Political Officer at the U.S. Consulate General in Kraków;  Jadwiga Emilewicz, Member of Parliament, former Minister of Entrepreneurship and Technology and Minister of Development (2018–2020), Deputy Prime Minister in 2020; Filip Czernicki, CEO and the President of the Management Board of the Centralny Port Komunikacyjny; and Wojciech Kuśpik, President of the Management Board of the Grupa PTWP. The scale of our presence and the energy within the space created a distinctly American atmosphere, open, collaborative, and forward-looking.

This year’s program reflected that spirit through a variety of formats, from expert panels and a breakfast debate to networking moments and an evening cocktail, each contributing to a consistent and recognizable AmCham voice at the Congress.

The panel “Poland–USA: Investment, Competitiveness, Development,” moderated by AmCham Chairwoman Marta Poślad, brought together key representatives of government and business. The discussion underlined the continued importance of transatlantic relations in a changing global landscape. Speakers emphasized that strong economic ties between Poland and the United States remain a cornerstone of stability, innovation, and security, while U.S. investments continue to play a vital role in strengthening Poland’s competitiveness and long-term development. The panel featured Michał Baranowski (Undersecretary of State, Ministry of Economic Development and Technology), Gretchen McKeever Cureton (Consul General, U.S. Consulate General in Kraków), Jakub Urbaniak (Partner, McKinsey & Company Poland), Mariusz Wawer (Head of Governmental Affairs, 3M), Erik Emilsson (Head of Global Network Banking Poland, Citi Handlowy), and Piotr Arak(Chief Economist, VeloBank).

The second discussion, “Poland–USA: Sustainable Food Production in Practice,” moderated by Andrzej Gantner, focused on the role of regenerative agriculture within global supply chains. The conversation demonstrated how leading companies are translating sustainability ambitions into measurable actions, while also highlighting the importance of knowledge-sharing and practical implementation across the sector. The panel featured Marzena Ignaczak (External Affairs Director, Mars Poland), Katarzyna Kucisz-Rosłoń (Sustainability Lead, Impact Team PL, McDonald’s Polska), Krzysztof Stańkowski (Agro Program Manager, PepsiCo), Krzysztof Gawęcki (Vice President of the Management Board, Top Farms Group), and Anna Czerniecka (Farmer).

Alongside the panels, we hosted the breakfast debate “Workforce and Skills for the Future of Modern Industry,” organized together with 3M, which added depth to discussions on the future of the labor market and industrial transformation. The program was complemented by a Cocktail Reception co-organized with Philip Morris Polska, offering another opportunity to strengthen relationships in a more informal setting.

Across all these activities, AmCham maintained a strong, consistent presence throughout the Congress. Our space remained active from morning to evening, reflecting both the scale of engagement and the growing role of our community in shaping the broader dialogue. By bringing together diverse stakeholders and perspectives, we continue to build a positive and credible narrative around the United States, highlighting the value of transatlantic cooperation and the tangible impact of American investment in Poland and the region.

We extend our sincere thanks to our Partners – 3M, Autodesk, Citi Handlowy, Mars, McDonald’s Polska, McKinsey & Company Poland, PepsiCo, Philip Morris Polska, and VeloBank – as well as our In-Kind Sponsors: Coca-Cola HBC, Mars, Mondelēz, PepsiCo, and Perła. Thanks to your support, we were able to welcome guests at scale, serving over 4,000 food items and 5,000 cups of coffee, further reinforcing the openness and hospitality that defined the AmCham Diner.

Finally, thank you to everyone who contributed to and joined us at the AmCham Diner.

If you couldn’t attend or would like to revisit key moments, we invite you to explore our photo gallery below or watch a short recap video on our YouTube channel.