In surveys carried out independently by Bank Pekao and BRE Bank, Polish companies turned out to be optimistic about their situation in 2013. Pekao surveyed 7,000 small and micro-entities. Their view of the future was optimistic, despite having had a difficult year in 2012. Pekao's business climate index came in with a score of 90, just two points lower than a year ago. BRE surveyed 400 companies of different sizes. A third of them expect next year to be better than year. Thirty-one percent of the surveyed firms plan to look for new sources of revenue as a means of battling the economic slowdown.

“Compared to slowdown in 2009, companies are better prepared. They don't have as many debt as they had back then. They didn't understand the importance of financial liquidity,” said Przemysław Gdański, from BRE Bank management board.

To fight the economical slowdown, companies cut costs (23 percent), 22 percent will reduce employment and only 7 percent will suspend its investments. Also 31 percent of entities will look for new sources of revenue.

Poland A.M.