Sanader said in his speech that one of major tasks of his cabinet would be to put an end to a decades-long practice of exporting logs, semi-final products and timber raw material, while the country imported furniture made of that material.
"We must deal with that lobby (that exports timber)," Sanader said.
He announced the shift to production focusing on final products, the introduction of up-to-date technology, cooperation among domestic manufacturers, investments in design and marketing strategies so as to improve the situation in the timber sector and wood-processing industry in Croatia.
The fair, called Ambienta 2005, is being held from 12 to 16 October in 14 pavilions of the Zagreb Fair at an exhibition space comprising some 40,000 square metres with participation of over 600 exhibitors, more than a half of which from 28 foreign countries. Some 50,000 visitors are expected at the fair.
The fair also features many professional and accompanying events, such as round table discussions and business clubs. Apart from furniture manufacturers the fair has also gathered exhibitors of interior decoration products, manufacturers of supporting industries, especially producers and traders of production materials and wood industry machines, who regard wood and furniture exhibitors as key business partners and potential