290 cases of bankruptcy were reported in the first half of 2009 (as compared with 195 cases in H1 2008), according to data collected by Euler Hermes, international trade credit insurer.

Poland used to be one of Europe’s most heavily polluted countries. As much as 30% of its population lived in ecologically threatened areas, where pollution norms were exceeded many times over. 20% of the population lived in areas affected by acid smog in the winter.

At the NEUF 2009 panel in Warsaw Karl Falkenberg, Director General of DG Environment at the European Commission discussed the implications of the climate package for European industry.

- Poland, as one of few European countries, records economic growth. This is a sign of Poland’s economic strength and good prospects for development –Polish Deputy Prime Minister Waldemar Pawlak told a session in Warsaw of the OECD Working Party on Small and Middle-Sized Enterprises and Entrepreneurship.

A public projects finance forum organized by the British Polish Chamber of Commerce held in Warsaw drew representatives of local authorities from across Poland as well as BPCC members from the construction, advisory and investment banking sectors.

“The Central Mining Institute (GIG) is an exception among Polish research institutions. This is mostly because of the research and engineering fields it deals with, as well as the fact that GIG has full academic rights in two disciplines: mining/geo-engineering and environmental engineering”, GIG head Professor Józef Dubiński tells Polish Market.

Two international IT companies, Capgemini and Opera, are interested in co-operation with research workers and designers in the south-western Polish Wrocław. The Wroclaw University of Technology enters into co-operation with Volvo. Thanks to the scheme solutions developed by scientist will now be applied in real-life business.

The Heineken Open’er Festival kicks off tomorrow on an airfield near Gdynia on the Baltic coast. Held for the 8th time the Festival will last until Sunday.

100 renowned cantors form the US, Israel and other countries are to perform at the National Opera in Warsaw on June 30. They will be accompanied by the National Opera Choir and Orchestra and Alla Polacca Children’s Choir.

Mark Mobius, regarded by many in the financial world as one of the most successful emerging markets investors over the last 20 years, gave a presentation entitled “Role of Emerging Markets at the Time of a Global Downturn.” at the Warsaw Stock Exchange.

Polish IT & Communications Export 2009 conference focusing on challenges and barriers ahead of Polish IT exporters took place on May 26.

The Rzeszów-based division of the General Directorate for National Roads and Highways (GDDKiA) has announced a tender for the construction of two sections of the A4 Tarnów-Rzeszów highway totaling 64 km: the Krzyż junction - Dębica Pustynia junction section and the Dębica Pustynia junction - Rzeszów Zachodni junction section.

Twenty years since the big move to democracy and the nation is taking stock. A bit unfortunate that the commemoration falls at the culmination of the European parliamentary elections. From the glimpses I catch, the focus is on recollection of the turning points, and the assigning of blame or the claiming of credit.