Poland's Skrzypek Sees `Downside Risk' for 2009 GDP Forecast

By Monika Rozlal

Sept. 13 (Bloomberg) -- The Polish government's forecast for economic growth of 4.8 percent next year ``seems to be very optimistic,'' central bank Governor Slawomir Skrzypek said.

``There is a downside risk to this forecast,'' Skrzypek told reporters today at a meeting of European Union finance officials in Nice, France.

The government earlier this week cut its projection for 2009 growth in gross domestic product to 4.8 percent from 5 percent. This year's expansion is estimated at 5.5 percent.

Skrzypek said he forecasts 2008 growth between 5 percent and 5.5 percent.


The central bank governor also said Prime Minister Donald Tusk's plan to adopt the euro by 2011 is ``a challenge.'' Tusk on Sept. 11 said Poland, the largest of the EU's eastern members, plans to be the next country to switch to the common currency after Slovakia does so on Jan. 1, 2009.

``Everything related with the euro adoption by Poland in 2011 will be a challenge,'' Skrzypek said.

To contact the reporter on this story: Monika Rozlal in Nice, France, at mrozlal@bloomberg.net.