The Institute of Macroeconomic Analysis and Development has improved its economic outlook forecast for this year to 1.8%. There will be less uncertainty and more optimism, in spite of a significant slowdown from the last year’s growth of more than 5%. Growth this year is now expected to be 1.8%. In the first half of the year, indicators will remain weak, but they are expected to improve in the second half. The value of domestic GDP will climb to EUR 65 billion this year, which represents around EUR 30,000 per capita. The growth in exports will be halved compared to last year, while investment will slow. The rate of unemployment will decrease and private consumption will grow solidly. Energy prices will further stabilise and the same is expected of food prices.

After the Government’s session, finance minister Klemen Boštjančič commented on the economic outlook, saying that they were cautiously optimistic but that risks and uncertainties remained. The Government has now adopted its capital market development strategy, which aims to place Slovenia among the countries where regulated markets are recognised by investors as an investment opportunity.

Vera Jourova, Vice-President of the European Commission for Values and Transparency, has concluded her two-day visit to Slovenia. She stressed that Slovenia needed quality public media with stable funding.