Economic growth rate may exceed 3%, claims Finance Minister

During a press conference held on Tuesday, Finance Minister Andrzej Raczko, announced that, according to estimates, economic growth this year could surp ass 3%, compared to 1.4% in 2002. The statement was also supported by the de puty head of the National Bank of Poland, Andrzej Bratkowski, who referred t o the prognosis as being quite optimistic, but possible. "3% is within our r each. Economic growth could even be higher. The economic growth rate is to i ncrease by the end of the year, but will not reach what we planned earlier," said Raczko. Former Finance Minister, Grzegorz Kołodko, planned a GDP of 3.5 % for 2003. (www.onet.pl) A.K.