French PM says economy "more efficient", 2016 growth target in reach
Xinhua, August 25, 2016 Adjust font size:
Growth in France, eurozone's second largest power, is getting stronger with unemployment falling, French Prime Minister Manuel Valls said on Thursday, maintaining an unchanged 2016 growth target.
In an interview with BFMTV news channel, Valls painted a rosy picture of a "more efficient economy," with the falling monthly unemployment rate further proving it.
"We keep the target of 1.5 percent growth in 2016. For that aim, we need to record growth in the third and fourth quarters. But we feel that it's here," he said.
The country's high unemployment rate, which stands currently at 9.9 percent, was start lowering thanks to the government's package of measures aimed at stimulating recruitment, according to Valls.
"Unemployment rate is down. It's going in the right direction and means that we must continue the effort to support the competitiveness of our companies," he said.
"The French economy is creating new jobs. French companies have created 140,000 jobs in recent months. This is the result of strong growth and of all adopted measures that offer more investment opportunities," he added.
Valls also announced that the government would "continue cut income tax" in 2017 in order "to restore purchasing power." Enditem