Expert-Grup GDP growth forecast is more optimistic than Government’s

The forecast of the Independent Analytic Center Expert-Grup for GDP growth is 6.6%, which is more optimistic than the IMF's and Government's 5%, Info-Prim Neo reports. According to Expert-Grup, the growth will come as a result of higher consumption and investments. Companies will try to make the most of the remaining months while the zero-rate tax on reinvested corporate income is still applied. The experts predict a lower inflation rate of 8%, compared to the BNM forecast of 8.4%. Expert-Grup expects industrial production to increase by 5% and agricultural production by 1.1% compared to last year. Import and export growth will vary between 20% and 25% until the end of the year. According to analysts, this year’s prospects aren’t that bad. In order to maintain the growth tendency, the Government must focus on scheduled structural reforms. This is the only way to implement a new economic model of development based on attracting investments, increasing and diversifying exports. Such a model would help reduce the unemployed rate, predicted by Expert-Grup at 7.7%. In September, the Government and IMF will revise the main macroeconomic indexes for Moldova for the current and next year.