Speaking at the end of the 12th annual conference of the Croatian Economists' Society in the northern coastal resort of Opatija, Kalmeta said the revenues of the HC should be 1.5 billion kuna next year with the spending totalling 2.15 billion. The HAC is likely to earn 2.36 billion kuna and spend over 4.9 billion next year.
The greatest part of the deficit of these two companies will be covered by loans.
The Croatian Railways can expect some 2.9 billion kuna from the state budget.
According to recommendations of the European Union, countries candidates for EU membership are advised to invest some 1.5 percent of GDP annually in the transport infrastructure. This year Croatia has invested some seven billion kuna for this purpose, which accounted for about 3.5 percent of GDP. This level of investment in road and railway infrastructure will remain nearly the same in 2005, the minister added.
Kalmeta told the meeting that the building of a new passenger terminal at Zagreb airport would start next year. The value of this project is estimated at 140 billion US dollars.
(1EUR =7.5 kuna)