Kazakhstan expects 5% GDP growth in 2001

/IRBIS, Apr 23, 01/ - REUTERS informs, with the reference to the country's Deputy Prime Minister, Mr. Jandosov, that Kazakhstan expects 5% growth of GDP in this year (9.6% in 2000). Oraz Jandosov told reporters at the annual meeting of the EBRD that strong international demand for the oil-rich nation's products was helping to stoke growth. "We see growth for the year at five percent," he said. So far, Kazakhstan government has been more cautious stating 4% growth figure for 2001. In turn, the EBRD projections for 2001 is 6%. Expected industrial output growth, which was at 14.6% in 2000, to turn out at eight percent for this year. First quarter growth figures for GDP and industrial production equaled 10% and 11% correspondingly. Jandosov said that strong international prices for oil and good tax receipts from other parts of the economy would allow the country to forgo borrowing on international capital markets for the first half of the year.