Speaking to the press in Paris after meeting Emmanuel Besnier, the head of the French company which last week bought a majority interest in the Croatian dairy company Dukat, Polancec said the meeting had been open and that clear conclusions had been made.
He said it had been agreed that next week Lactalis would hold a presentation, including its development plans, notably those regarding Dukat, its integration activities and they way it integrated previous companies, notably in the context of the social clause for employees, and how it develops relations with suppliers and milk manufacturers.
Croatia will prepare its suggestions on how to intensify relations with sub-contractors, with the government's support, with a view to increasing national milk production and eventually exporting and not importing milk, said Polancec, adding that today's talks had also addressed Lactalis's plans.
Polancec said that he had asked where Lactalis saw Dukat's future HQ and that he was told in Zagreb, not only as the HQ in Croatia but also in the region.
Regarding Sirela, which is part of Dukat, Polancec said Lactalis felt this company was not on the desired technological level, so it will invest in Sirela so that the company can reach EU standards and ensure that Sirela cheeses can be exported on the EU market.
Polancec announced that Lactalis would place part of Dukat's products in its sales outlets in the EU and continue to develop the Dukat brand.
He said Dukat's sub-contractors could be sure of their future and that new prospects would open after next week's meeting with Lactalis leaders at the Agriculture Ministry.
At the Paris Chamber of the Economy, Polancec attended a conference on the Croatian economy which attracted potential French investors.
Croatian Party of Rights members of parliament Pero Kovacevic and Tonci Tadic urged the government to move to parliament a law on the protection of strategic agricultural production and submit the State Audit Office's findings on Dukat's privatisation, to say how Luka Rajic, who sold 90% in Dukat to Lactalis, had acquired Dukat, and who had helped the company monopolise the Croatian dairy market.
Kovacevic and Tadic told the press that Dukat's sale pointed to the misery and inconsistency of the incumbent and the former government with regard to agriculture.
Commenting on the Croatian Competition Agency's warning that the decision of the Konzum store chain to cancel cooperation with Dukat was monopolistic, Tadic wondered where the Agency had been when Dukat was gaining monopoly.