The winners of the 2009 Pearls of the Polish Economy in the category Companies with Revenue over PLN 1 billion per year are: Cyfrowy Polsat S.A. digital TV operator, Grupa Żywiec S.A brewery. and TVN S.A; in the category Companies with Revenue between PLN 100 million and PLN 1 billion are: Wałbrzyskie Zakłady Koksownicze „Victoria” S.A. coking plant, Young Digital Planet S.A. and Pfizer Polska S.A..

In experts’ opinion, the Pearls of the Polish Economy ranking is the most objective classification of companies. It is based on indicators evaluating the entire spectrum of corporate activity and the rank depends not only on the size of the company calculated according to revenue, but also on its effectiveness, dynamics and financial liquidity. 2,000 companies with revenue over PLN 100 million are graded. “What was the effect obtained with your resources: capital, employees, tools and materials?” – was the question asked in an INE PAN questionnaire. The most effective businesses were named the Ppearls of the Polish Economy.

“The Pearls of the Polish Economy ranking is in line with our mission statement” Krystyna Woźniak-Trzosek, editor-in-chief and publisher of “Polish Market” magazine said opening the Grand Gala. “It is a true barometer of Polish economy which shows companies which best fulfil economic criteria.”

“Promoting and supporting modern forms of economic activity, taking into account the economic and social interest of Polish people, is extremely important”, President of the European Parliament, Prof. Jerzy Buzek, member of the Honorary pearls Chapter, said in a message. Honorary Pearls have been awarded at the Grand Gala in recognition of merit in particular fields of activity for four years. This year Honorary Pearls went to: Polish Minister of the Environment Prof. Maciej Nowicki, in the “Economy” category, chemist Prof. Bogdan Marciniec and transplant specialist Prof. Maria Siemionow, in the “Science” category; Poland’s first non-communist Prime Minister Tadeusz Mazowiecki, in the “promoting Polish traditions and patriotic values” category, Jerzy Owsiak, organiser of Poland’s most successful charity in the “promoting social values” category, artists Anna Maria Jopek, Łukasz Kuropaczewski and Marek Torzewski in the “Culture” category. In addition, a Special Pearl was awarded to the National Bank of Poland for undertaking effective actions stabilising the Polish financial market.

The sponsors of this year’s gala were: Apart Ltd., BSH – Household Appliances, Fiat Auto Poland, Impact Automotive Technologies Ltd., Kłos – Modern Banking Technologies Ltd., PGNiG and Stalprodukt.