"Preliminary data show we can expect a sustained recovery in the final quarter. I have no reason not to believe forecasts by Banka Slovenija or other institutions," he told participants of a central bank workshop on the restructuring of bad loans.

The last forecast by the central bank, made in October, predicts a 0.7% contraction for this year, but the government's forecaster, IMAD, revised its estimate to 0.5% growth after the Statistics Office released better-than-expected Q4 2013 figures.