At the recent Swedish–Polish Chamber of Commerce networking meeting in Warsaw, business leaders from Poland and Sweden exchanged their experiences on cross-border operations — from legal and tax frameworks to cooperation with local authorities and cultural nuances that can determine the success or failure of international ventures.

During the panel “How to succeed with international expansion and cross-border projects,” Bartosz Pastuszka, CEO of NaviRisk, addressed the often-overlooked risks of expansion — such as white-collar crime, corruption, and fraud — emphasizing the importance of thorough due diligence, trusted local partnerships, and a strong ethical business culture.

The Polish–Swedish business community, represented by the Swedish–Polish Chamber of Commerce, gathered once again in Warsaw for an engaging Networking Meeting focused on the real challenges and opportunities of doing business across borders. The discussion centered around practical aspects of entering the Scandinavian market and operating internationally — from legal structures and taxation to cooperation with public institutions and cross-cultural management.

Participants openly shared both positive and difficult experiences, highlighting what to avoid, how to navigate bureaucracy, and how business communication styles differ between Poland and Sweden. The recurring theme of cultural differences in management and decision-making built on discussions from previous meetings, again featuring insight from NaviRisk experts.

The panel, moderated by Fredrik Udd, Vice Chairman of the Chamber and CEO of Explore Markets, featured:

Bartosz Pastuszka (Founder & CEO, NaviRisk),

Agnieszka Zagroba Khlifi (Operations Director, Partner, Pro Relocation),

Tomasz Kowalski (Founder & CEO, KUBO),

Katarzyna Suchcicka (Vice President of the Management Board, R.Power Renewables),

Marcus Rajkowski (Founding Go-To-Market Lead Poland, CEE & the Netherlands, Legora),

Christian Keller (Key Account Manager, Concito Consulting),

Claes Ottosson (Founder & CEO, Independia Law Firm), and

Antonia Krzymowska, jur.dr (Partner, Attorney, KRZYMOWSKI).

Bartosz Pastuszka emphasized that effective expansion strategies must go hand in hand with awareness of the risks inherent in cross-border business. He noted that while Swedish companies operate with high ethical standards, entering complex markets such as Ukraine will require greater adaptability and local insight — with Poland naturally positioned as a bridge and operational hub for such ventures.

The event, co-hosted by ARPI Accounting and the Swedish–Polish Chamber of Commerce, also featured presentations by Ulrika Grufman (Embassy of Sweden in Poland), Ignacy Morawski (Puls Biznesu), and Joanna Szabuniewicz, PhD (ARPI Accounting). Once again, the meeting confirmed how valuable open exchange and partnership are in building safe and effective international ventures.

The event was coordinated by Jerry Ralowski from the Chamber.