PREFECT SAYS SISAK IRONWORKS SALE CONTRACT TO BE SIGNED FEB 6

SISAK, Feb 4 (Hina) - Sisak-Moslavina County Prefect Djuro Brodarac stated at a session of the county Economic-Social Council (GSV) in Sisak on Tuesday that "a contract on the sale of the Sisak Ironworks to Russia's Mecelj, that is, Conares trading from Switzerland, which act as its representative, should be signed on Thursday, February 6, in Sisak". #L# "Conares trading, which acts on behalf of Mecelj, will keep all 1,700 ironworks employees and take over their work contracts, as well as increase the company's stock capital by eight million US dollars and guarantee investments in the modernisation of company plants, the steel-works and rolling mills, which will secure production, the company's survival and the existence of its workers," Brodarac said. "The Russian partners are buying the entire company," the prefect said, adding that Mecelj would re- start production on March 1 and that raw materials had already been purchased. Brodarac informed members of the GSV of the course of negotiations, stating that along with Mecelj, whose offer was selected as the best, other companies bidding for the Ironworks were Slovakia's Podbrezova, Switzerland's Duferc, Italy's Zinchitalia and Austria's Olmaxaimao. Mecelj and Ugljemet holding, of which Mecelj and Conares trading are part, are successful companies with good financial stability and business references, Brodarac said. (hina) rml sb