ZAGREB, March 25 (Hina) - Croatian Economy Minister Ljubo Jurcic on Tuesday spoke with an Italian business delegation headed by Assistant Italian Minister of production activities in charge of foreign trade, Adolfo Urso, about
possibilities of Italian investments into four so-called industrial districts in Croatia.
ZAGREB, March 25 (Hina) - Croatian Economy Minister Ljubo Jurcic on
Tuesday spoke with an Italian business delegation headed by
Assistant Italian Minister of production activities in charge of
foreign trade, Adolfo Urso, about possibilities of Italian
investments into four so-called industrial districts in Croatia.
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Italian partners have been offered to invest into the wood and metal
production industry in Bjelovar-Bilogora County, the wood industry
in Lika-Senj and Primorje-Goski Kotar counties, and leather and
footwear industry in Varazdin County.
In these regions, Croatia is offering the complete infrastructure
and labour force, about which precise specifications have been
drawn up for each district, said Jurcic. These districts, similar
to free zones, would be areas relieved of customs and tax, and
depending on the amount of investments in production, Italian
investors could expect additional relief from the finance
ministry.
The Croatian legislature does not favour either domestic or foreign
investors, Jurcic stressed.
The realisation of the "industrial districts" project should begin
as soon as April, when a joint Croatian-Italian working group will
also begin functioning. The working group should make it possible
for investment projects to start being realised as soon as this
summer.
The investment proposal at this time is impossible to assess, said
Jurcic, but stressed that Italy had two laws which provide EUR200
million for technical assistance and infrastructure investments in
countries of the region. Some of this money will for sure end up in
Croatia, he said.
(hina) lml