Marek Belka predicts bright future for Poland - and even a budget surplus by 2010

In his opinion Poland and other CEE countries will remain very attractive for foreign investors from Western Europe. "This will ensure a GDP growth of 5% for many years," said the PM. Economists are also optimistic. "I believe that 4% growth would be possible to maintain," said Marek Nienałtowski, analyst with Palladia Capital Markets. Marek Belka is also optimistic about the labor market, saying: "In a few years we might face a problem of lack of hands to work. Registered unemployment might reach 10%, but it will be difficult to find workers." Experts agree that this possible scenario could follow from the exodus of skilled employees to foreign markets, especially in areas like medical sector. Belka went on to say that if the total increase in budget spending does not exceed 1% above inflation, then at the end of the decade we could observe a budget surplus. (Puls Biznesu, p. 9) M.M.