ZAGREB, May 21 (Hina) - Increasing productivity and efficiency of the economy is exceptionally important for improving living standards and making it less necessary for stores to work Sundays, Croatian Economy Minister Ljubo Jurcic
said during Tuesday's meeting with Caritas representatives who informed him about a national campaign to close stores on Sundays.
ZAGREB, May 21 (Hina) - Increasing productivity and efficiency of
the economy is exceptionally important for improving living
standards and making it less necessary for stores to work Sundays,
Croatian Economy Minister Ljubo Jurcic said during Tuesday's
meeting with Caritas representatives who informed him about a
national campaign to close stores on Sundays. #L#
The economy ministry is constantly following and analysing the
situation in domestic trade and suggests measures to consolidate
its competitiveness on the liberalised marked in times of
globalisation, the ministry says in a press release Wednesday.
It also says that trade has the key role in Croatian economy. The
share of trade in GDP has been increasing and in 2002 was ten
percent. The number of employees in trade last year was 207,000,
which is a 16% growth from 2001.
Overall revenue in distribution in 1999 was 144.8 billion kuna, and
in 2002, 108.9 billion kuna, which is a 25% increase.
Such trends are the result of market liberalisation and increased
competitiveness and market offer, says the ministry.
All this has resulted in a reduction of rebates and prices, while
increased domestic consumption has resulted in less people doing
their shopping abroad. Now, citizens from neighbouring countries,
such as Hungary, Slovenia and Bosnia, are coming to Croatia to do
their shopping, especially during the weekend, the ministry says.
(hina) lml sb