The Main Problems

Deputy Prime Minister Jerzy Hausner and German Gref, Russian Minister of Economy, have signed an economic cooperation agreement between Poland and Russia. Among the main problems concerning trade between the two countries are Poland's dependence on Russian stocks and the difficulties in signing economic agreements. The Ministry of Economy believes this year the value of domestic exports to Russia will return to levels reached in 1997 before Russia's economic crisis. Last year Russia was Poland's tenth largest export market. From the beginning of 2004 the value of Polish export to Russia amounted to $1.6 billion, 68% more than the year before. Yesterday's agreement supplements the regulations already operating in EU and Russia. Until 1998 the Russian market was one of the most important ones for Polish enterprises. Later our export to the East collapsed, but since 2000 the value of articles and services sold to Russia has gradually increased.