ATHENS, Oct. 2 (Xinhua) -- The Greek government submitted on Monday the 2018 draft budget to the parliament, projecting 2.4 percent GDP growth next year up from 1.8 percent for this year, according to the Greek national news agency AMNA.
The draft budget which was e-mailed with a press statement by the Finance Ministry, also projects a 3.5 percent of GDP primary surplus for 2018, up from 2.2 percent forecast for this year.
Both estimates are above the targets set by the current three-year bailout program which expires in the summer of 2018, the Ministry noted.
"This is the last draft budget tabled in parliament while Greece is under a bailout program," Deputy Finance Minister Yorgos Chouliarakis told Parliament Speaker Nikos Voutsis, according to an e-mailed press release issued from the latter's office.
According to the draft budget, unemployment was expected to fall close to 19 percent in 2018, private consumption to increase by 1.4 percent and total private and public investment to rise by 12.6 percent.
Exports of goods and services were projected to be increased by 4.7 percent next year, while imports of goods and services by 4.4 percent.
Greek media, such as "Kathimerini" (Daily) newspapers, noted in articles that the goals outlined by the government's draft budget may be altered in coming weeks following the start of the third review of Greece's third bailout since 2010.
International creditors' representatives were due to visit Athens in late October to discuss with Greek officials the pending issues and targets for forthcoming months.
