ZAGREB, Oct 10 (Hina) - At the beginning of 2004, the National Competitiveness Council will present the government with measures aimed at improving Croatia's competitive ability, the council chairman, Zeljko Covic, announced on Friday
after a joint closed session of the council and the government.
ZAGREB, Oct 10 (Hina) - At the beginning of 2004, the National
Competitiveness Council will present the government with measures
aimed at improving Croatia's competitive ability, the council
chairman, Zeljko Covic, announced on Friday after a joint closed
session of the council and the government. #L#
The government has identified eight development projects, and in
January 2004 it is going to propose measures that can enhance
Croatia's competitiveness, Covic told reporters after today's
session.
The projects refer to education, the rule of law in accordance with
European standards, the development of inventions and new
technologies, regional development, small and medium-sized
enterprises, and cost and price competitiveness.
Premier Ivica Racan agreed that consensus should be reached on
broad and far-reaching objectives.
Said council began working in February last year, and a month ago it
presented the first Croatian report on competitiveness.
On the scale of global competitiveness, covering 80 countries,
Croatia is ranked 58th. It is below Slovenia and Hungary, for
instance, but higher than two transition countries, Bulgaria and
Romania.
According to the council, Croatia's advantages are a simple tax
system, macroeconomic stability, a consolidated banking system,
and simple procedure for establishing companies.
Weak spots are high costs of business and the entire tax burden,
high public debt, inefficient state administration and judiciary
and poor links between research institutions and economy as well as
outdated technology.
(hina) ms