Lithuania’s GDP Growth Exceeds Forecasts

Faster Lithuania’s economic growth has made experts review their forecasts. Some experts may increase the country’s expected GDP growth to 5.7% for 2002. Lithuania’s faster economic growth is stimulated by the recovering European economy and by the growing internal market. “The recovering European economy should stimulate Lithuanian exports to the EU. Exports eastward should also increase”, said Gitanas Nauseda, Adviser to the President of Vilniaus Bankas. Reviewed forecasts have also taken into account increasing internal investment in Lithuania. In the first quarter of the year business loan portfolio grew by over EUR 290 million compared to the same period of the previous year. It is forecast that total internal investments will increase by 15% this year and by 13% in 2003.