Marek Goliszewski,
President of the Business Centre Club
“The condition of the Polish economy will depend on whether the coalition government shows enough determination in conducting reforms. Public finances should be reformed. Major changes should be introduced in health care. The pension reform should be completed. It is vital to resume dialogue within the Tripartite Commission (involving the government, employers’ organizations and trade unions). A Spanish- or Irish-style social accord should be concluded. This year employers expect positive moves geared toward development. Further European integration should continue to play an important role. 82% of the employers said in a poll they were keen for the euro to be adopted by Poland at the earliest possible date. The economy needs long-term and decisive policies. That is why on behalf of the Business Centre Club members I wish the government determination in reforming the country, but I also hope that it will appreciate the role of social dialogue and that it will show skill in pursuing this dialogue.”

Henryka Bochniarz,
President of the Polish Confederation of Private Employers Lewiatan
“My wish is that in 2008 and beyond the government should listen to the views of employers, that it should plan economic reforms and carry them through together with them. We don’t really need anything else. We wish the government strength and courage in fulfilling promises given to employers and the rest of society by Prime Minister Donald Tusk in his opening address to Parliament. We hope that society manifests just as much courage. For the Polish economy to be given fresh impetus for development, radical, sometimes painful changes are necessary. It is our wish that throughout its term the government could enjoy the confidence society now places in it, as evidenced in opinion polls. We all need this climate. We hope that the government gives us as much freedom of maneuver as possible.”

Andrzej Malinowski,
President of the Confederation
of Polish Employers
“From the point of economic statistics, 2007 can be regarded as quite good. Key indices reached satisfactory and more than satisfactory levels. However, little is said about the fact that this success is primarily owed to employers who managed to develop their activities in spite of adverse circumstances. One should bear it in mind that the Polish economy faces a number of problems: the situation on the labour market, inflation, the state of public finances and low level of innovation. All these factors combined mean that at any time we could be threatened by economic slowdown. In the past year nothing was done to resolve those problems. One lives in hope that 2008 will see decisions which will create a foundation for stable, balanced economic growth.”

Andrzej Arendarski,
President of the Polish Chamber
of Commerce
“Entrepreneurs associated in the Polish Chamber of Commerce expect 2008 to see the start of fruitful dialogue between politicians and entrepreneurs. It will not be possible to maintain the present rate of growth without changes in Polish legislation conducive to economic development, lessening administrative barriers and limiting budgetary spending. We expect the quality of legal regulations and of the legislative process to improve. We expect the law on the freedom of business activities to be amended to lay down adequate rules for business activity. The investment process should be streamlined. Public finances should be reformed. We also expect the strengthening of the role of public-private partnership through making the rules governing its operation less formal.”