The rating agency “Standard & Poor“ (Standard & Poor's) on Friday raised Croatia's credit rating from BBB+ with a positive outlook to A- with a positive outlook, the news portal dnevnik.hr reported, quoted by BTA.
Prime Minister Andrej Plenković reacted to the information by saying: “In my opinion, today is the best Friday the 13th we have had so far”.
He explained that thanks to the increased credit rating “citizens, companies and firms can expect lower interest rates when taking loans” and “better market conditions”.
According to employers, the new credit rating will increase foreign investment because it sends a message that Croatia is a stable and attractive country for investment. “The credit rating reflects on the financial stability of the country, on the sense of risk of a given economy. That is why we expect much lower interest rates for both citizens and the economy compared to many European countries, which 15 years ago we could only dream of, says Irena Weber, CEO of the Croatian Employers' Association.
However, she pointed out that in order for the rating to continue to grow, tax cuts and reforms must continue “especially in justice and healthcare”. “We remind you that health care contributions are 16 and a half percent, which is a huge burden on wages,”, Weber pointed out.