Since its founding in 1990, the Polish Business Club has played a key role in the development of business and entrepreneurship in Poland. Equally important, you have helped re-establish business ties between Polish companies and the large Polish community living abroad. Your success is reflected in Poland's impressive economic performance over the last years. In the early 1990's, Poland was one of the initiators of bold economic reforms. And while these reforms have, at times, been painful, they have paid off.
Economic reforms are only one facet of Poland's return to the European mainstream.
The opening of your economy has gone hand in hand with your forward-looking foreign policy. Besides reaching out to Western institutions, you have also reached out to your neighbours to enhance security and stability. Perhaps more so than at any time in this century, Poland today enjoys cooperative and stable relations with all of her neighbours. You have concluded bilateral treaties with Germany and Lithuania. You are an active player in the Baltic region, fostering regional cooperation and expanding commercial ties between Northern and Central Europe.