BUSINESS FORUM HELD AT ZAGREB TRADE FAIR

ZAGREB, Sept 17 (Hina) - Low inflation, a stable exchange rate, a budget deficit not exceeding three per cent of GDP and the restructuring of the biggest public companies will be the basis of the government economic programme for the next year, Deputy Prime Minister Borislav Skegro told a Croatian business forum on Tuesday. The forum, held as part of the Autumn International Trade fair in Zagreb, brought together more than 300 business people who discussed economic trends with Skegro, Finance Minister Bozo Prka, Economy Minister Davor Stern and Chamber of Commerce President Nadan Vidosevic. In the last 11 months, Croatian industrial output had been growing at a rate of above seven per cent, Skegro said, predicting that a GDP increase would be much higher than seven per cent. Prka said that in the next three years government spending should be reduced from the current 53 per cent of GDP to 46 or 47 per cent. Regulated financial relations with the Paris and London clubs of creditors would make it possible for Croatia to get a favourable credit rating, he said. (hina) vm jn 171601 MET sep 96