Speaking to the press in a break of a two-day EBRD seminar for representatives of local authorities in Southeast Europe, Lemierre said the EBRD would appoint a new chief as well as additional personnel for its Croatian office.
He said the EBRD invested EUR115 million in Croatia in 2003, that a similar amount would be invested this year, while in 2005 investment was expected to be a minimum EUR200 million. Lemierre added those figures did not include the loans the EBRD granted together with the European Union.
This money is invested in projects in the infrastructure, the restructuring of the finance sector, and the development of small and medium-sized enterprise.
Speaking of priorities for the future, Lemierre mentioned a new credit line for the development of tourism, which he said was one of the key elements of Croatia's development strategy. He also mentioned privatisation and investing in roads, namely projects which bring strong development, create jobs, and reinforce Croatia's readiness to join the EU.
Speeches were also delivered by Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader and Finance Minister Ivan Suker, who said the fundamental goal of the fiscal policy in the macroeconomic programme up to 2007 was the stabilisation of macroeconomic risks, primarily the external and public debts. Suker added another fiscal policy goal was transparence in public finance.
Explaining the reasons for the accelerated privatisation, Suker said its purpose was not the sale of Croatian assets but the economic revival of ailing companies.
The finance minister said Croatia's economic development should not rely solely on borrowing abroad or the tapping of the national budget, but that opportunities should be created to make direct foreign as well as domestic investment account for economic growth.
Tomorrow, the seminar will focus on local government, fiscal decentralisation, adjustment to EU standards, support to the EU, mobilisation of capital, and strategic units.