Weekly Review of Slovenia's Economy from 27 October to 2 November

Ljubljana, 4 November - The Government Institute for Macroeconomic Analyses and Development (IMAD) this week downsized Slovenia economic growth for the year by 0.6 percentage points to 3.6 percent. Following IMAD estimates of a 3.7-percent growth next year and 4.9 percent in 2003, the government is expected to send to Parliament next week amended budget bills for 2002 and 2003. There will be no lack of funds for the companies Istrabenz, Intereuropa and Port of Koper, however, as they have signed this week an agreement on the sale of their shares in Slovenia's fourth largest bank, Banka Koper, to the Italian banking group SanPaolo IMI. Contrary to expectations, there seems to be no end to the ban of Slovenia's exports of electricity to Austria, however, as the Austrian Agency for Energy extended the ban on the imports of electricity from 20 countries, including Slovenia.