In a statement yesterday, Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković highlighted Croatia's remarkable economic performance in 2023, affirming one of the highest GDP growth rates in the European Union. With GDP growth reaching 2.8 percent, Plenković emphasized this as the twelfth consecutive quarter of growth, showcasing a resilient upward trajectory. Notably, Croatia's real GDP surged by 15.5 percent compared to the pre-pandemic fourth quarter of 2019, marking the EU's third-strongest growth after Ireland and Malta.

Plenković attributed this success to various factors, including robust household consumption, wage growth, and substantial investments from domestic and European sources. He commended the government's effective economic policies, accurately forecasting a 2.8 percent growth rate, significantly outpacing the EU and euro area's projections of 0.5 percent.

He proudly noted Croatia's position as the EU's second-fastest-growing economy in 2023, trailing only Malta, with the highest economic growth in the fourth quarter.

And Croatia’s GDP growth in 2023 outperformed some major global economies, for example the USA saw a 2.5 percent growth and the UK only 0.1 percent.

Looking ahead to 2024, Plenković anticipates sustained GDP growth at a rate surpassing the EU average. He credited the government's prudent economic and fiscal policies during the Covid-19 pandemic for fostering economic resilience. Additionally, he acknowledged the contributions of Croatian entrepreneurs and workers, underscoring the government's measures to mitigate inflationary pressures, injecting 7.2 billion euros into the economy, bolstering purchasing power and personal consumption.