REUTERS
The growth of the Ukrainian economy in 2017 will not exceed 2.4% with an inflation rate of 11.7%, and the hryvnia exchange rate at UAH 28 to the dollar, which is worse than government forecasts with the expected economy growth at 3%, an inflation rate of 8.1%, and the hryvnia exchange rate at UAH 27.2 to the dollar, according to the expert consensus forecast published by the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine.
The NBU discount rate will total 12.5% in 2017, while the average rate on credits in the national currency will amount to 15%, according to experts.
At the same time, the inflow of foreign direct investment is projected at $2.5 billion, imports at $50 billion, and exports at $48 billion.
Experts say the main risks to economic development are the low lending activity of commercial banks, the increase in the scale of insolvency of real economy, global economic slowdown, low prices for raw materials, decreased funding from international partners, as well as the escalation of the military conflict in the east of Ukraine.
Read alsoStatistics chief upbeat about GDP growth in Ukraine in Q4As UNIAN reported earlier, the government projected economic growth at 3% in 2017 amid 8.1% inflation, and an average annual forex rate expected at UAH 27.2 per dollar. Forecasts of the country's key lenders and international rating agencies are somewhat less optimistic: the growth of the Ukrainian economy in the current year is forecast at 2-2.5%, but it may continue to grow to 4% per year on the average.