Record GDP growth questioned in Skopje

Record GDP growth questioned in Skopje

SDSM deputy Igor Ivanovski told the press that the state statistics office worked under government instructions and that it deliberately change the methodology for calculating the GDP in order to come up with more favourable results.

“The International Monetary Fund calculated 4.5 percent and the European Bank for Development calculated four percent GDP growth. These are respectable institutions and they show the real numbers,” Ivanovski said.

At a press conference on Wednesday, Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski and ministers from the economic sector announced seven percent growth of the GDP in the first four months of 2007, referring to official data from the state statistical office. 

Prime Minister Gruevski said that this is the biggest GDP rise seen over the past 17 years.

The vice prime minister in charge of economy, Zoran Stavrevski, added that industrial production in the last quarter has risen ten percent and that export has increased 43 percent, which means that Macedonian products are becoming more competitive in foreign markets.

"It is remarkable that the growth encompasses not one or two sectors, but is comprehensive and includes all areas. All indicators point to this being realistically-based growth, which we hope will continue in the next period," Stavrevski told the press.

According to the government, the trade sector marks the biggest growth with 13 percent, followed by banking services with 12 percent, and the industry, mining and communications sectors with 11 percent.

Vice Premier Stavrevski said that it is still too early to talk about an increase in Macedonia's standard of living.