In the first half of 2004, the budgetary revenue rose by 5.9 percent to 36.9 billion kuna as against the first half of 2003. The budgetary spending came to 40.9 billion kuna, rising by 9.5 percent which Suker ascribed to the payment of bills in arrears from last year.
Responding to objections about recurrence of illiquidity, Finance Minister said the number of insolvent companies was cut by 1,500 from the end of 2003 until the late June 2004.
Twenty one (21) state-owned companies recorded a profit of 1.47 billion kuna in 2003, which was by one fifth more than in 2002, according to figures released in a report on the business activities of said companies which the government adopted on Wednesday.
The report does not include data on the profit of the Croatian Telekom which earned a profit of 1.5 billion kuna.
Last year, the state-run companies carried out investments worth 12.4 billion kuna, although they planned to invest 15 billion.
(1EUR =7.37 kuna)