Although the EU-15 remain the major trading partner for CESEE, the region should make active use of China’s and Russia’s growing demand for imported goods – particularly in the light of the recent economic and financial crisis.
GDP growth of 2¾ per cent through 2009 compares with our forecast a year ago of –1 per cent. That is, the level of real GDP today is  2  BIS Review 54/2010  nearly 4 per cent higher than had been anticipated.