ANNUAL GDP GROWTH RATE IN CROATIA REACHES 6.5 PER CENT

( Editorial: --> 4172 ) ZAGREB, April 4 (Hina) - Croatia's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rate last year was 6.5 per cent in relation to 1996, according to preliminary data just released by the State Bureau of Statistics. GDP has been on the constant increase since 1994, but the 1997 level is still only 81.81 per cent of the base year 1990's figure. From among the so-called countries in transition - including the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary and Slovenia - Croatia had the highest GDP growth rate in the past year, according to facts provided by the International Monetary Fund publication World Economic Outlook released last October. The Bureau believes Croatia's GDP growth rate is very underestimated, because problems continue in the non-inclusion of the grey economy or unofficial trade in the calculation of general economic activities. (Hina) jn mb /ha 041556 MET apr 98