These are the results of a study carried out by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) "Economic Growth in Croatia: possibilities and restrictions" the presentation of which formally marked the closing of the IMF Office in Zagreb, which is to take place in June.
The IMF wanted to present the result of the study so that they be available to all and I hope that the analysis of what is to be done will help Croatia to raise its economic growth above the projected 4.5 percent, said the head of the IMF Mission in Croatia, Robert Feldman.
A state secretary in the Central Office for Development Strategy, Martina Delic said that the study showed what the government had been doing. She said that the three priorities of the Ivo Sanader cabinet were the judicial reform, improving the business climate and reducing administrative barriers, and reducing the public sector.
Croatia is going through a similar period as Slovakia, the Czech Republic or Baltic countries were going through three or four years prior to their joining the European Union, a state secretary in the Finance Ministry, Ante Zigman said.
Delic stressed that the process of Croatia's associating with and membership of the European Union would create new windows of possibilities for investors and new opportunities for the market.
The IMF study on possibilities and restrictions of the economic growth also underlined an unfavourable business climate, microrisks and problems concerning ownership rights, the size of the state, administrative barriers, notably on a local level, and corruption.