BERLIN: German Economy Minister Sigmar Gabriel said he was dissatisfied with the economic growth rate expected for this year, saying the country needed to improve its research and development programmes and speed up digitisation.
Gabriel is due to present the government's yearly economy report on Wednesday, which is expected to forecast 1.7 percent growth in 2016 compared to a previous prediction of 1.8 percent.
"In view of the good general conditions such as the low oil price and favourable exchange rate, economic dynamism should really be above present economic growth of 1.7 percent," Gabriel told the Rheinische Post newspaper.
He also said Germany could do more to promote electric cars.
Rock-bottom euro zone interest rates, a weak euro and ultra-low oil and energy prices are giving a strong boost to Europe's biggest economy.
But a slowdown in emerging markets, particularly in China - to which Germany is a major exporter - is posing a challenge.
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