Belka meets EBRD head, predicts economic recovery in second half of 2002
During a meeting on Friday with president of the European Bank for Reconstru
ction and Development (EBRD) Jean Lemierre, Finance Minister Marek Belka off
ered reassurances that Poland's economy would pick up in the second half of
next year. "Now and in the first quarter of next year will be the low point
for economic growth...some recovery is expected in the second half of next y
ear," Belka said. He estimated that GDP growth this year would reach 1.2% an
d was likely to remain at a similar level next year. Aside from the conditio
n of the economy, Belka and Lemierre also discussed Poland's budget for 2002
and the coordination of fiscal and monetary policies, an issue that has prov
oked heated political debate in Poland. (Prawo i Gospodarka, p. 3; Reuters)
T.J.
