Spanish gov't announces measures to deal with economic downturn in 2009

Special Report:Global Financial Crisis

MADRID, Dec. 26 (Chinese media) -- Spain's Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero on Friday announced a series of measures to deal with the effect of the ongoing international financial crisis in the coming year.

The measures include requesting the Spanish banks to open credits for small- and medium-sized companies, as well as families, Zapatero told a press conference at Madrid's Moncloa palace.

Zapatero pledged that nobody would be left unprotected in the face of the crisis, while insisting that helping the economy ride through the downturn would be a major priority of the government.

He also stressed the importance of achieving consensus with the political forces in the country, of listening to the voices of the citizens and using the state's all possible resources to overcome the economic crisis.

Last month, Zapatero approved 11 billion euros (14 billion U.S. dollars) for combating the current financial crisis, 80 of which would be used in public investment.

A total of 300,000 jobs would be created through 2009, and the auto industry would get a financed integral plan of 800 million euros (about 1 billion dollars) to avoid job losses, he said.

Meanwhile, the Spanish government on Friday raised the minimum wage to 624 euros monthly in 2009, 4 percent higher compared to the level of 600 euros in 2008.

"2009 will be a year with economic difficulties, especially in terms of employment, but there will be encouraging signs of improvement in the second half of the year," Zapatero said.