Poland May Avoid Recession in 2020, Deputy Premier Says

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Poland’s economy may avoid falling into a recession in 2020 and it should continue growing next year, Deputy Prime Minister Jadwiga Emilewicz said Saturday.

The comments suggest a more optimistic outlook for the largest nation in the European Union’s eastern wing than the bloc’s forecast for a 4.3% contraction this year. Poland was the only EU state able to maintain growth in the global financial crisis and it’s expected to outperform its peers during the pandemic even after it imposed similar containment measures to those crippling economies across the continent.

“We might avoid a recession this year, we haven’t closed our industry during the lockdown and we have a buffer on the labor market,” Emilewicz told the radio station RMF. “Growth of about 4% is possible next year, that’s our target.”

As many countries in Europe gradually ease restrictions, Poland has reopened shopping malls although restaurants there will remain shut and the number of customers will be limited.

Sales at malls are at 70% of the pre-pandemic levels but reopening schools before the summer holidays “will be difficult,” according to the deputy premier.

The unemployment rate should remain under control with the help of jobs that became available after about 1 million Ukrainian workers left Poland at the start of pandemic, Emilewicz said.

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