PM SAYS GOVT. IS CONSIDERING SEVEN PERCENT ECONOMIC GROWTH RATE

ZAGREB, Feb 12 (Hina) - The Croatian government is seriously considering models of realising a seven percent economic growth projection, Prime Minister Ivica Racan said on state television on Tuesday evening. A growth rate of seven percent, as against last year's 4.4 percent, would enable a more effective battle against unemployment, Racan said. January saw 411,000 people registered as unemployed. The PM conceded the government was dissatisfied with the results of the struggle against unemployment. To increase the rate of economic growth, Racan announced new incentives for bolstering export and tourism, and a series of measures which would remove obstacles hindering faster investing. The government is working on two more programmes aimed at making a step forward in development. One refers to tourist expansion and the other to northern Croatia. Racan declined to disclose details, but said the government would do so as soon as the programmes were ready. The PM stressed the government was open to all ideas which can contribute to the achieving of the seven percent growth rate as soon as possible, and called on all to cooperate. He announced the formation of a competitiveness council which should provide a space for development-oriented progress. (hina) ha