I expect the gloomy numbers to continue in April and May, however, I also expect and firmly believe the trends will completely reverse at the end of May, which gives a reason for optimism, First Deputy Prime Minister and Economy Minister Radmir Cacic said in the northern Adriatic resort of Opatija on Monday evening.
Answering a reporters question about when Croatia can expect a turnaround in negative trends, Cacic said he was confident trends would reverse by the end of May when the number of the unemployed would be 350,000.
By June we need to return to positive trends and never again during this government's term these gloomy numbers must recur, Cacic said adding that the number of the jobless would further be reduced to 320,000 by May 2013 and that this trend would continue in the years to follow.
Cacic took part in the second Brown Forum, organised in Opatija by the US Embassy in Croatia, the Office of the President, the Croatian government, the Croatian Chamber of Commerce and the Croatian Employers' Association.
On April 2-3, municipal and local government and business leaders from the region and the U.S. gathered at the forum in Opatija to discuss how local entities can promote economic growth, provide support to local businesses and market municipalities' resources and benefits to potential investors.
The event in Opatija was also attended by Croatian foreign and European Affairs Minister Vesna Pusic, who told the press when asked about economic diplomacy that Croatia was only now creating an investment climate and that Cacic was entrusted with the task of coordinating some ten ministries which are eliminating what was believed to be obstacles to investments,
The foreign ministry has already called a meeting to discuss the visa regime, residential permits and other issues and to define way which could facilitate the arrival of investors and their stay and business in Croatia, Pusic said.
