Targi Kielce has signed a loan agreement with Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego, which will enable further financing of one of the key infrastructure investments in the history of the centre, namely the construction of a new exhibition hall. The loan of PLN 55 million has been granted for a period of 10 years and is an important element in the implementation of Targi Kielce's development strategy. The new facility with an area of approximately 15,500 m² is intended to significantly increase the capacity for organising trade fair and conference events, including those of an international nature. The management of Targi Kielce and Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego emphasise the importance of this investment both for the further development of the centre and for the city and the Świętokrzyskie region. According to the adopted schedule, the facility is to be commissioned in the summer of 2026 to host the International Defence Industry Exhibition as the first event of the new season.
Financing parameters and course of negotiations
The agreement concluded with Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego provides for financing of the investment with a loan of PLN 55 million for a period of 10 years. As the management board of Targi Kielce points out, the agreement concludes a demanding and lengthy preparatory and negotiation process covering both business issues and technical aspects related to the implementation of the construction project.
"Signing this agreement closes a long and demanding negotiation process. I would like to thank Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego for its trust and very good financing conditions. The new hall is an investment that has been really needed for several years now. It is essential for the further development of Targi Kielce," emphasised Andrzej Mochoń, president of the management board of Targi Kielce.
The investment financing by BGK is in line with the bank's role as a development institution whose task is to support projects of strategic importance for the economy and local governments. In the case of Targi Kielce, the loan makes it possible to continue construction work while maintaining the adopted schedule and functional assumptions for the facility.
Investment decision and impact of the pandemic on the schedule
The decision to build the new exhibition hall was taken in 2018. Initially, it was assumed that the investment would start in 2020. However, the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic led to a temporary suspension of the project. According to the management of the exhibition centre, this period was used to refine design solutions and adapt the concept of the facility to the current and future needs of the exhibition market.
The new hall is being constructed on the basis of an updated concept that takes into account the experience of recent years, including changes in event organisation and exhibitor requirements. The priorities include flexible use of space, the ability to handle events of various scales, and efficient implementation of logistics operations between successive events.
Importance of the investment for the city and the region
Local authorities highlight the importance of the new hall not only in the context of the development of the exhibition centre itself but also in a broader economic perspective. The facility is intended to strengthen the position of Kielce as a business and trade fair hub on a national and international scale.
"Signing this agreement is an important moment both for Targi Kielce and for the entire city. The new trade fair hall is a strategic investment that strengthens Kielce's position as a strong economic and exhibition centre on a national and international scale. It is a project that has a real impact on the development of the city, the region and local business," stressed Agata Wojda, mayor of the city of Kielce.
The new exhibition infrastructure is expected to affect the economic environment by increasing the number of events, extending the length of participants' stays in the city and generating demand for accompanying services such as hospitality, catering and transport.
The role of Targi Kielce in the regional economy
The importance of Targi Kielce for the regional economy is also emphasised by Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego, which points to the multi-sector impact of the exhibition centre on the labour market and the development of local enterprises.
"Targi Kielce is one of the most important economic engines of the Świętokrzyskie region. It is not only jobs at the centre itself but also an impulse for related sectors such as hospitality, catering and services. Financing this investment fits perfectly with the mission of Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego as a development bank supporting local governments and strategic infrastructure projects," said Piotr Waluszewski, director of the Świętokrzyskie region at BGK.
In the context of organising trade fairs for various industries, including events dedicated to the plastics industry, the expansion of exhibition infrastructure creates opportunities to further increase the scale of events and improve exhibition conditions for domestic and foreign exhibitors.
Functional scope of the new trade fair hall
The new hall with an area of approximately 15,500 m² is expected to significantly increase the exhibition potential of Targi Kielce. The facility will be used, among others, during the International Defence Industry Exhibition, the Agrotech agricultural technology fair and events held as part of Industrial Spring. The additional space is also intended for other key events that have so far faced limitations resulting from the available exhibition area.
The expansion of the exhibition base is to enable more efficient organisation of trade fairs, shorter logistics and technical breaks between events and a further increase in the number and scale of international events. This will make it possible to run several trade fair projects in parallel and thus make better use of the centre's potential throughout the calendar year.
Implementation schedule and signing of the agreement
According to the adopted investment schedule, the new trade fair hall is to be commissioned in the summer of 2026. The first event to be organised in the new facility is to be the International Defence Industry Exhibition. The investment is seen as a further step in strengthening the position of Targi Kielce as one of the leading exhibition centres in Poland and in this part of Europe.
The loan agreement was signed on behalf of Targi Kielce by Andrzej Mochoń, president of the management board, and Bożena Staniak, vice president of the management board. Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego was represented by Piotr Waluszewski, director of the Świętokrzyskie region at BGK, and Janusz Krupa, director of development of the Świętokrzyskie region at BGK.
