Slovakia's GDP growth forecast at 4 percent in 2018

Gross domestic product (GDP) should grow by 4 percent this year, 4.5 percent next year, and slow down to 4 percent in 2020, TASR learnt from the mid-term prognosis of the Slovak central bank (NBS) as presented on Tuesday by NBS governor Jozef Makúch, with NBS vice-governor Ľudovít Ódor in attendance. "This year the Slovak economy should grow by 4 percent. In terms of forecasting it's expected to see a pro-growth influence of public investment driven by faster growth in the drawing of EU funds and households' consumption, which should be boosted thanks to salary hikes. The exports should benefit from the production launch in the automotive industry," said Makúch. According to the NBS governor, Slovakia's economy is in "good shape" and therefore it's necessary to use these "good times" to implement structural reforms aimed at increasing the growth potential of the economy and creating scope for setting fiscal policies to cover future risks.