A GREAT Summer

Sorry to have been off the air but I spent much of last week visiting Budapest and Bucharest in my role as Director of the Central European Network, which brings together nine Embassies in Central Europe. It was fascinating to compare the situation in Poland with the situations elsewhere in the area. There are many differences, not least the heat wave in both capitals last week, but also a really important similarity – the big opportunities for British business right across our region. Together the region represents a market of over 100 million consumers in a strategic location with higher than average growth potential and access to EU funds. Our nine Embassies are working together to explain the opportunities, and some challenges, offered by a region that we are describing to British business as ‘Emerging Europe’.

The Olympics are almost upon us. London 2012 will be a great showcase of all that the UK has to offer, including as a top location for business and innovation. They are the latest in a series of great summer sporting events. Who would have expected both Agnieszka Radwańska and Andy Murray to reach a Wimbledon singles final in 2012? There will doubtless be similar surprises in London too but I hope pleasant ones for both Team GB and Poland. Enjoy!

For us in Warsaw, the Paralympics are an occasion to recall the incredibly important contribution made by the disabled not only in terms of sporting excitement but in all walks of life. In an increasingly competitive globalised world, we need to make the best use of all our talent. So we are delighted to be collaborating closely with the Polish Paralympics Association, their UK sponsors Aviva, parliamentarians and NGOs to promote equality of opportunity.