ZAGREB, March 9 (Hina) - One of the priorities of the government's programme is Croatia's economic development with emphasis on the stimulation of export-oriented production, the development of small and medium-sized companies, and
the promotion of investments in Croatia, Croatia's Economy, Labour and Entrepreneurship Minister Branko Vukelic said at talks with U.S. Ambassador Ralph Frank in Zagreb on Tuesday.
acija
ZAGREB, March 9 (Hina) - One of the priorities of the government's
programme is Croatia's economic development with emphasis on the
stimulation of export-oriented production, the development of small
and medium-sized companies, and the promotion of investments in
Croatia, Croatia's Economy, Labour and Entrepreneurship Minister
Branko Vukelic said at talks with U.S. Ambassador Ralph Frank in
Zagreb on Tuesday.#L#
Vukelic voiced satisfaction with bilateral economic ties and the
rising trade, as well as with US investments in Croatia. He was also
glad to see that Croatia's exports to the USA were rising, said a
press release issued by the Economy Ministry.
Ambassador Frank informed the minister of activities pertaining to the
US Administration's assistance to Croatia and projects in Croatia his
country was taking part in.
Compared to 2002, last year's trade between Croatia and the USA
increased by 34 percent to 529.4 million. Croatia's exports climbed
by 89.5 percent to 163 million, while US exports to Croatia increased
by 18.4 percent to 365 million.
Croatia's exports include jewelry, drugs and other pharmaceutical
products. Croatia imports from the USA telecommunications equipment,
machines for the automatic processing of data, as well as medical and
pharmaceutical products.
According to figures released by the Croatian National Bank (HNB),
from 1993 to the third quarter of 2003, the USA was the third biggest
investor in Croatia, following Austria and Germany. The US share in
foreign direct investments in Croatia in the said period was 16.90
percent, totalling 1.5 billion.
(Hina) ms sb