Addressing a traditional annual conference of Croatian economists in Opatija, Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor said that the backbone of the Croatian economic policy in 2012 would be based on subsidies and stimulating measures, investments, as well as on making economies and removing administrative barriers.
This government will not introduce new taxes, but we will introduce stimulating measures for employment and keep pursuing cost-cutting in the state budget and countering corruption, she said at the 19th annual meeting organised by the Croatian Economists' Association (HDE).
She said that her cabinet would propose adopting a constitutional law on the reduction of the deficit and the public debt.
We know what should be done, and we are sure that we can do it and that we can do it on our own, without outside interventions, the Croatian PM said.
She announced the launching of projects such as a railway from the biggest Croatian seaport of Rijeka to the Hungarian border, the continuation of the construction of a bridge connecting the peninsula of Peljesac with the mainland and investments into sea and river ports.
As for the economic results in 2011, she said that negative trends would be halted this year, presenting figures about a 7.4-percent rise in Croatia's exports in the first nine months and a rise in arrivals of guests and their overnight stays this tourist season.
She said that foreign investments in Croatia in the first half of 2011 were EUR 485.3 million, twice as much as in the entire 2010.
The premier said that the government's Economic Recovery Programme was being implemented.
The government has demonstrated resolve and strength and the two basic directions of its activity are public finance stability and encouragement of business activities and investments, she said.
