Statement of the Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister, Mr. Igor Lukšić, PhD, on the occasion of reviewing the role of the banking sector in implementing Economic Policy measures for 2010

I guarantee success in achieving our objectives, i.e. to provide for the balancing of loans - by increasing loans to decrease to achieve the credit growth. Aforementioned represents a prerequisite for implementing optimistic scenario, or realistic scenario if we fail to generate credit growth of at least 3 to 5% next year then we can talk about recession. Commercial banks in cooperation with the Central Bank must focus on passive interest rates, being one of the reasons why the active output interest rates significantly increased or are considered to be high. It is agreed with commercial banks to increase the use of cash from international financial institutions for lending to small and medium - sized business. It is expected that the lending will spur the adoption of the Law on Development Investment Fund, for which is being estimated that will additionally or significantly assist in providing incentives to lending, because the Fund will dispose funds that may be used as a guarantee in a manner that the Fund will be in position to issue guarantees for up to 50% for certain loans. If the banking sector is entrusted to the Central Bank to be the regulator, than the Central Bank should entail moves for which considers that will provide proper financial sector stability operating on the basis of adopted rules...