The two billion kuna dividend is the amount the Government envisaged in the revision of the 2004 national budget.
Speaking of Finance Ministry achievements this year, Suker singled out the drafting of two budgets and one budget revision, the adoption of the 2005 budget in November, the adoption of budgetary projections for 2006 and 2005, and numerous significant laws.
The minister mentioned the Law on Interest on Arrears, which he conceded had not been sufficiently presented to the public, new laws on income and profit tax, and the law on compulsory contributions which reduces contribution payments in self-employment from 1.1 to 0.65 percent.
Suker said the ministry also coordinated and drafted the Pre-Accession Economic Programme, which he added was a very important document in the European Union integration process.
The minister said another important decision was to accelerate the establishment of a State Treasury, which is expected to make all state finances transparent and public. He added the Government did have the political will to establish the State Treasury, which he said might start operating in late 2005 or early 2006.
Speaking of plans for 2005, Suker announced the adoption of new laws on accounting and auditing, the unification of the supervision of the non-banking and non-financial sectors, the continuation of the struggle against the grey economy, and activities in connection with EU entry negotiations.
Asked about a possible national pact for salaries in 2005, which International Monetary Fund Mission to Croatia chief Dimitri Demekas recommended to the Government, employers and trade unions, Suker said this did not refer to the limiting of salaries but to the limiting of the wage budget. He added the wage budget for 2005 was defined in the national budget, while the internal distribution was subject to negotiation.
As for the IMF's recommendation to accelerate the privatisation of shipyards, Suker said the Economy Ministry should prepare a strategy of future activities, after which the Croatian Privatisation Fund would draw up privatisation models.
He concluded by saying that the fight against the grey economy was a fight against tax burden.