CROATIAN BUSINESS DELEGATION TO VISIT BELGRADE NEXT TUESDAY

ZAGREB, March 1 (Hina) - A Croatian business delegation, headed by Vice-Premier Slavko Linic, will pay a one-day visit to Belgrade on Tuesday, March 5. It is expected the Croatian officials and their hosts will discuss the possibility of increasing trade between the two countries, investment possibilities and the participation of Croatian companies in the privatisation process in Yugoslavia. The Croatian delegation also includes Economy Minister Goranko Fizulic and representatives of five leading Croatian companies - Podravka, Gavrilovic, Koncar, Lura and Ericsson Nikola Tesla. According to unofficial information, the delegation should start the visit with talks at the Yugoslav Chamber of Commerce. It will also meet Yugoslav Vice-Premier Miroljub Labus, Serbian Privatisation Minister Aleksandar Vlahovic, and Mining and Power Industry Minister Goran Novakovic. Economic relations between the two countries have intensified in the last two years, which is evidenced by data on trade. In 1997 trade between the two countries totalled US$27 million, a year later 35 million, and in 2000 137 million. Last year's trade amounted to US$186 million. Croatia has been registering a significant surplus in trade with Yugoslavia. Its exports in 1997 amounted to 20 million dollars and in 2000 they totalled 107 million. Last year, Croatian exports to Yugoslavia totalled US$146 million. Croatia and Yugoslavia have signed 19 agreements and have been negotiating around a dozen new ones, the most important one being a free trade agreement, which could be signed this autumn. (hina) sb rml