CROATIAN ECONOMIC DELEGATION TO VISIT BELGRADE ON TUESDAY

ZAGREB/BELGRADE, March 4 (Hina) - A Croatian economic delegation headed by Deputy Prime Minister Slavko Linic will visit Belgrade on Tuesday to discuss possibilities of increasing Croatian-Yugoslav trade, investing, the participation of Croatian companies in privatisation in Yugoslavia, and a free trade agreement. The delegation will hold talks with Yugoslav Deputy PM Miroljub Labus, as well as Serbia's Privatisation Minister Aleksandar Vlahovic and Energetics Minister Goran Novakovic. The Croatian delegation includes resigning Economy Minister Goranko Fizulic and representatives of five large companies - Podravka, Gavrilovic, Koncar, Lura, and Ericsson Nikola Tesla. Ahead of the visit, the Belgrade media quoted the director of the Croatian Chamber of Commerce office in Belgrade, Mitica Kadic, who said Croatia was not interested only in boosting trade but in investing in Yugoslav companies. Major companies aspiring to become regional leaders are particularly interested, Kadic said, adding this type of partnership opened the possibility of joint presentations on third markets. Croatian-Yugoslav trade increased in the last couple of years, with Croatia's export reaching US$146.8 million last year, an increase of 36.9 percent as against 2000. Import from Yugoslavia rose by 28.2 percent, totalling US$39.2 million. (hina) ha sb