On 26 November 2025, the conference titled “Contemporary Economy – Current Trends and New Horizons. 3rd edition” was held at the University of Rzeszów, on the Zalesie Campus. The event was organized by the Regional Branch of the National Bank of Poland in Rzeszów and the Faculty of Economics and Finance of the University of Rzeszów.

 

The conference guests and speakers were welcomed by Mr. Jerzy Guniewski, Director of the Regional Branch of the National Bank of Poland in Rzeszów. He also expressed gratitude to the authorities of the Faculty of Economics and Finance of the University of Rzeszów for their cooperation and joint organization of the conference, which is becoming a recurring and significant event bringing together the academic community, public administration institutions, the education sector, as well as business and financial circles.

 

Next, His Magnificence the Rector of the University of Rzeszów, Prof. Adam Reich, MD, PhD, emphasized the importance of the issues discussed at the conference, which cover not only current economic challenges but also technological, social, and security-related aspects connected to the economy. The participants were also welcomed by the Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Finance, Dr. hab. Bogdan Wierzbiński, Prof. UR.

 

The first part of the conference was chaired by Dr. hab. Ryszard Kata, Prof. UR, Vice-Dean for Research at the Faculty of Economics and Finance. During this session, experts from the National Bank of Poland delivered their presentations.

 

Dr. Piotr Boguszewski, Economic Advisor (Department of Economic Analysis and Research, NBP, Warsaw), presented a paper titled “Economic Situation in Poland and Worldwide in Light of NBP Analyses.” His presentation covered external (international) and internal factors shaping Poland’s economic growth dynamics in recent years, as well as future prospects.

 

Next, Mr. Jacek Kocerka, Deputy Director of the NBP Statistics Department in Warsaw, delivered a presentation titled “Relations of the Polish Economy with Foreign Countries – International Trade and Foreign Financing.” He highlighted key factors determining the competitiveness of the Polish economy in the international arena in the context of the balance of payments and capital account. He presented data on Poland’s trade and capital flows for 2020–2025, as well as information on foreign investments in Poland and on the level and structure of the country’s external debt.

 

During the panel discussion, topics such as the impact of trade wars on the condition of the Polish and global economies, the significance of structural problems in the German economy for economic conditions in Poland, the effects of rising public sector debt on GDP dynamics, and the conditions for replacing foreign capital with domestic capital in Poland’s economic development were addressed.

 

After the break, the second session—chaired by Dr. hab. Bogdan Wierzbiński, Prof. UR—Dean at the Faculty of Economics and Finance  UR eatured the following presentations:

• Dr. Magdalena Cyrek, Department of Economics and International Economic Relations, University of Rzeszów – “The Impact of Infrastructure Development on Economic Growth in Polish Regions.”
• Associate Professor Ioannis Leventidis, Department of Economics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens – “AI’s Role in Public and Financial Governance.”
• Bernadeta Ziomek-Niedzielska, Statistical Office in Rzeszów – “Innovative Approaches to Measuring Migration – Applications in Statistical Research.”

 

An important part of the session was a discussion inspired by the presentations. Participants addressed opportunities and risks for the public sector and the financial sphere arising from the dynamic development of artificial intelligence. They also discussed the effectiveness of investments in technical and social infrastructure for income convergence across Polish regions, as well as the importance of new data sources and digital solutions for improving the quality of statistical research.

 

The conference was attended by 180 participants representing the banking sector, business, public institutions, schools, and universities.

 

The event was another initiative jointly organized by the Faculty of Economics and Finance of the University of Rzeszów and the Regional Branch of the National Bank of Poland in Rzeszów, as part of their long-standing cooperation.