The European statistics authority Eurostat is expected to confirm the Greece’s primary surplus for 2013 on Wednesday, which according to the statistics authority’s methodology is going to be 3.4 billion euros, while the troika estimates it will be about 1.5 billion euros.
After confirming the extent of the primary surplus discussions regarding the Greek public debt can begin, with announcements regarding talks expected at the upcoming Eurogroup session scheduled for the 5th of May.
Approval for the collection of a 8.3 billion euro loan installment is expected on Thursday’s Eurogroup Working Group. The largest part of the installment (6.3 billion euros) will be paid out in April, with two further installments worth 1 billion euros each being paid out in June and July. The President of the Council of Economic Advisors Panos Tsakloglou will also present the coalition government’s growth plans, ahead of the Eurogroup in May.
Regarding the national growth plans, the coalition government wants to focus on health funding, aside from lending, by supporting the banking sector and non-bank funding tools available through the NSRF. The focus will be in agricultural production, food manufacturing, tourism, shipping, energy, transports, research and innovation.
Other aspects of the government plans include improving welfare services and introducing tax breaks for business and taxpayers alike in order to encourage investments and stimulate further growth.
