ZAGREB, May 23 (Hina) - An International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission on Thursday held an introductory talk with senior Croatian National Bank (HNB) officials. The mission has arrived in Croatia for regular annual consultations held
with this financial institution's members, as envisaged by the IMF Statute.
ZAGREB, May 23 (Hina) - An International Monetary Fund (IMF)
mission on Thursday held an introductory talk with senior Croatian
National Bank (HNB) officials. The mission has arrived in Croatia
for regular annual consultations held with this financial
institution's members, as envisaged by the IMF Statute. #L#
It is expected that during the two-week visit, talks will be
launched on the possibility of a new Croatia-IMF arrangement, the
central bank said in a statement, but added that no final agreement
was expected.
HNB deputy governor Boris Vujcic and associates briefed the mission
about the latest economic and monetary movements. Mission leader
Hans Flickenschield was interested in the prospect of Croatia's
continuing to maintain the achieved macroeconomic stability and if
there was danger the high growth of bank loans might spur a growth in
prices.
The central bank maintains that this year's inflation should be 3-4
percent. Achieving this projection could be jeopardised only by a
higher increase in the prices of oil and other power sources, the
bank says.
As for bank loans, the HNB closely follows its effects and, in case
of need, the HNB would take the measures at its disposal. The fact
that the share of capital goods in the structure of import grows is
encouraging. This indicates that a hefty share of loans is directed
into long-term investments which should contribute to higher
production and employment, the bank says.
(hina) ha sb