Minister of Economy Doubts DZS Data on Inflation

The industrial development plan will be presented in a few weeks and will strongly support high value-added industries and the food industry, it was stated on Wednesday at the conference New Industrial Strategy: Technology. People. Capital, where Minister of Economy Ante Šušnjar and expressed doubts about the analyses and data from the Croatian Bureau of Statistics.

The conference was held at the Zagreb Fair, as part of the BIAM and Welding fairs, organized by Jutarnji List and the Zagreb Fair.

– The Ministry of Economy is preparing a new National Industrial Development Plan of the Republic of Croatia for the period from 2027 to 2034 with an action plan, focusing on high value-added industries, high-tech industries that are currently underrepresented in our industrial mix – said Minister Šušnjar.

He added that this includes the pharmaceutical and chemical industries, but that attention will also be paid to the food industry, which does not have high added value but is important for Croatian sovereignty and national security.

He announced the presentation of the new national industrial strategy in a few weeks.

Commenting on the economic forecasts of the IMF and the Croatian Employers’ Association, he said that much depends on global disruptions related to energy supply.

– However, when you look at our GDP growth, it has been continuous and stable for many consecutive quarters and is higher than the EU and Eurozone averages, so we can be satisfied with that, and we will certainly work on curbing inflation – emphasized Šušnjar.

When asked what he thinks about the Croatian Employers’ Association’s statement that one of Croatia’s biggest problems is the wage mass in the public and state sectors, or that the wage difference between these sectors and the private sector is about 600 euros, which private companies cannot match, he pointed out that HUP is an interest-based economic association that represents its theses. He believes that HUP presents statistics selectively and says that the Ministry of Economy often reassures employers at joint operational meetings.

He emphasized that the Government has adopted a series of measures aimed at reducing inflationary pressures.

Questionable DZS Data on Electricity Prices and Inflation?

In response to a journalist’s statement that the Croatian Bureau of Statistics announced that the inflation rate for March is at 4.8 percent, he replied that the same DZS had reported that Croatia has one of the most expensive electricity prices for the economy in the EU and Eurozone.

By analyzing this data, which the Ministry of Economy also pointed out, Šušnjar said that this has changed.

– Statistics is a very interesting discipline and how one interprets and calculates it – said the minister who expects a meeting with representatives of the DZS to see on what basis the bureau calculates inflation.

– We cannot get what is a component of the basket; it is someone’s copyrighted work – emphasized Šušnjar.

He did not respond to what will happen with fuel prices next week, saying that it is difficult to predict at this time.

Tomašević for a Strong Industrial Zagreb

Zagreb Mayor Tomislav Tomašević emphasized that in the last five years, the Croatian and European economies have been constantly shaken by various crises, adding that the key to overcoming them is a strong domestic industry.

– Zagreb, with one-fifth of Croatia’s population, generates a third of its GDP – noted Tomašević, adding that industry is key in many segments.

A strong industrial Zagreb is equally a strong Zagreb; a strong industrial Croatia is equally a strong Croatia, believes Tomašević.

He says that every industrial investment is important for Zagreb and hopes that there will be more of them.

Head of the European Commission Representation in Zagreb Zrinka Ujević said that the goal of the EC is to produce key industrial products more in Europe, i.e., to strengthen European industry.

According to her, Europe needs to build its own industrial capacities, improve supply security, and reduce dependence on imports.

– The common name for this approach is Made in Europe – said Ujević, adding that Europeans want accessible and affordable products, and they are also interested in who the manufacturer is.