POLES IN NUMBER
The British Polish Chamber of Commerce (BPCC) and market research agency Polarity UK have conducted crucial research into the demographics of Poles living and working in the UK. According to the research, an estimated 45,000 businesses have been set up by Poles in the UK since EU accession in 2004 and yet this entrepreneurship is so often overlooked. Polish entrepreneurs, born out of the migration wave, should be of interest to British and international organisations for their dynamism, self-motivation, hard-work ethics, willingness to learn, and risk taking personalities. The average Pole living in the UK is 28 years old with A-level equivalent education or higher (over 40% are university graduates) - these are individuals who have capital and are currently |  |
ABOUT POLES IN POLAND
HSBC: Poland will avoid the worst of economic downswing
The Polish economy is better positioned than most European countries to weather the economic downturn and will escape the worst of it, according to Economics Europe, a new report by HSBC.
Its authors point to the country’s relatively lesser reliance on exports compared to other Central European nations and to the beneficial effect of several growth-supporting factors. Taken together, these should ensure a softer landing for the Polish economy, with only a gradual and moderate slowdown of economic growth. As a result, GDP will rise by 3% in 2009 and by 3.5% in 2010, HSBC estimates.
The growth-supporting factors highlighted by the report are the income tax cut in force since 1 January that will benefit 95% of taxpayers and a historically high inflow of EU funds, which will peak in 2009 at PLN 24bn (over €6.5bn), to be spent mostly on infrastructure projects.
/Source : HSBC/
Increase in demand for foodstuffs and cosmetics in Poland
Spending on foodstuffs and cosmetics increased by almost 12% year on year between December 2007 and November 2008 in Poland despite the global financial crisis, according to recent research by the GfK Polonia agency, quoted in Rzeczpospolita. Sweets and snacks have undergone the most substantial increase, of 17.5%, whereas demand for cosmetics has grown by the least substantial amount: 4.2%.
The growing demand in Poland is a phenomenon on a European scale, as consumer moods in Germany, Great Britain, the Netherlands and France have been deteriorating. In these countries demand for cheaper products such as private label goods is growing, in contrast to that for luxury goods, whereas in Poland spending on both economy and upmarket products is increasing.
In addition, a recent Nielsen survey showed that Poland was one of the countries with the most rapidly growing FMCG sales in the third quarter of 2008. Sales increased by 10.4% year on year, whereas in countries such as Finland, Germany and Ireland there were, respectively, 0.1%, 3.3% and 4.6% reductions in sales.
