The government is examining exempting profits reinvested from taxes and permitting money utilized for job creation to be tax deductible. No time frame is given for the proposed reforms. Outlines Economic Framework Croatian government ministers met with trade union leaders at Plitvice Lakes National Park and vowed to create more jobs. Finance Minister Mato Crkvenac described the framework of the government's budget plans over the next three years and its proposals on tax reform and economic development. Crkvenac stated that the government will freeze wages for ministers and legislators while guaranteeing that workers are paid.
Residents can now access the Internet through a direct dial-up number in their homes.
The IMF mission chief Emmanuel Zervoudakis has joined the mission in Bucharest to hold fact-finding meetings, with the Finance Minister Remes and National Bank officials. The IMF mission and Romanian officials will discuss higher than predicted inflation and arrears. Higher inflation is blamed on international prices of oil, a severe drought in Romania, and the weakness of the euro. Despite inflation the economy is viewed as relatively healthy due to export led growth. The discussions will also focus on the budget, pension system, and the privatization and restructuring of state-owned companies.