Athens News Agency: News in English, 07-10-01

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] FinMin tables 2008 draft Budget in parliament

[01] FinMin tables 2008 draft Budget in parliament

Alogoskoufis said that it was a "very critical budget" as it was the first budget following Greece's exit from the EU's excessive deficit procedure "to which we had been led by the wrong choices of the past". He said it was also the budget that "signals the second stage of the economic streamlining the country needs so as to face the huge problems of the public sector debt and in order for us to be consistent with our European obligations".

Sioufas, in turn, said that the tabling of the budget was "a very important parliamentary event" and expressed wishes for the achievement of its targets.

Presenting the draft to the parliamentary committee later, Alogoskoufis said that the 2008 budget provided for a 4 percentage point rise in GDP, with a 10.5 percent increase in investments, 7.3 percent increase in the export of goods and services, and a 7.8 percent rise in imports.

The budget further anticipates a 1.9 percent increase in employment, while unemployment will be contained at 7.4 percent from 8.3 percent in fiscal 2007.

According to Alogoskoufis, achievement of the 4 percent rise in the growth rate will result mainly from the private sector.

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