"I am positive that we will prove that those who do not believe that Croatia will realise economic growth of 0.8% in 2012 are mistaken," Finance Minister Slavko Linic told reporters on Thursday in his comment on Croatian National Bank Governor Zeljko Rohatinski's projections that Gross Domestic Product will contract by 1% this year.
"We still have eight months to prove that HNB Governor Rohatinski is wrong. Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic has tasked all ministers with making sure that a rise of 0.8% is achieved in their sectors," Linic said after today's meeting of the Milanovic Cabinet.
The finance minister also contested the HNB projections of this year's inflation rate picking up to 3.5%, saying that the government's inflation estimate is 2.3%.
"Let us wait for the end of this year to see the inflation rate. After the increase of the Value Added Tax, food prices did not go up, nor did prices of other commodities," Linic said.
Price increases are mainly triggered by higher fuel and gas prices, but the government has included that factor into its projection of the 2.3% inflation rate, he said, adding that he was cooperating well with the central bank's governor.
Everyone is entitled to their own projections. There are no quarrels between the government and Rohatinski or any other analyst over different forecasts, the minister said.
