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GDP and population, 2002 Average GDP growth 1993-2002, % The biggest and most dynamic market in Central Europe... Market size is one of the most important reasons for foreign investors when making a decision to locate the capital in Poland. Even companies, which focus on export, value a firm base on the domestic market. Figures speak for themselves. Poland is the largest economy in the region of Central Europe. With almost 40 million consumers it is a market larger than those of the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary combined. For the last decade the Polish economy has been growing rapidly - the average GDP growth amounted to 4.4% over the last ten years. Western demand pattern... The consumer goods market is booming, driven by an improvement in standards of living and the increased purchasing power of the population. The market is far from being saturated, as changes in lifestyles and living patterns create new demand. Young people (half of the population is under the age of 35 years) are consumption oriented and influenced by fashion when choosing brands. Older part of the society is much more traditional, but enjoys buying things, which were unavailable during the communist regime. In general, Poles are avid consumers. Naturally, the growth in the consumer market has had a significant knock-on effect in other sectors of the economy. Some of the markets have developed from scratch (advertising, supermarket chains), while others have experienced a rapid growth (telecommunications, IT sector). The are still plenty of opportunities for the new entrants... Text source: Polish Information and Foreign Investment Agency (PAIiIZ)