SPLIT, March 14 (Hina) - In the three years prior to entering the European Union, the Croatian government will help consolidate tourism and export-oriented companies to improve the export balance prepare that segment of the economy
for competition on the merciless free European market, Vice-Premier Slavko Linic said during Friday's meeting with business people at the Split County Chamber of Commerce.
SPLIT, March 14 (Hina) - In the three years prior to entering the
European Union, the Croatian government will help consolidate
tourism and export-oriented companies to improve the export
balance prepare that segment of the economy for competition on the
merciless free European market, Vice-Premier Slavko Linic said
during Friday's meeting with business people at the Split County
Chamber of Commerce. #L#
Other companies will be left to their own devices, but the state
will offer them a possibility to conduct business in the same
circumstances as their European competitors by reforming all
systems, from the tax to the legislative system.
Stressing that this year's investments of some two dozen public
companies totalled 19 billion kuna (EUR2.5 billion), Linic said
that an investment market had been created and called on Split's
business people to use that opportunity.
Speaking about the process of integration with the EU, Linic warned
that on the European market there would no longer be incentives in
the shipbuilding industry, subsidies for agriculture would
decrease, while those for employment would be cancelled.
The Croatian government can give incentives for three more years,
after which companies will be left to their own devices and
abilities, said Linic.
Market possibilities are widening, but for many this will be the
biggest obstacle if they don't prepare, he warned.
The biggest problem is the battle with the Croatian mentality,
administrative barriers which cause problems in obtaining the
simplest documents, he said. Those are the things which must be
solved this year, Linic added.
(hina) lml sb