Czech GDP growth for 2005 is likely to come in at 5% and the economy will maintain the same growth pace in  2006  when  GDP  is  expected to increase by 5.1%, Industry and
Trade Minister Milan Urban told a Friday press conference.
"GDP growth for 2005 will reach some 5%, three times more than is the EU average," Urban said, adding that 5.1% GDP growth in 2006 is realistic.
As a result of increasing exports, foreign trade could show a CZK 80 bln surplus in 2006, Urban said.
"The Czech economy has healthy foundations," Urban said.
Analysts  are  believed to be generally optimistic about growth in 2006.
This is  in  contrast  to the Czech National Bank (CNB), which expects a moderate slowdown in the growth against 2005.