ZAGREB, March 27 (Hina) - The need for changes, complex solutions, constructive dialogue, and competitiveness as a permanent process were some of the most frequent messages heard at the "Day of Entrepreneurs" event, organised in
Zagreb on Thursday by the Croatian Employers' Association. The meeting focused on competitiveness as a precondition for economic growth.
ZAGREB, March 27 (Hina) - The need for changes, complex solutions,
constructive dialogue, and competitiveness as a permanent process
were some of the most frequent messages heard at the "Day of
Entrepreneurs" event, organised in Zagreb on Thursday by the
Croatian Employers' Association. The meeting focused on
competitiveness as a precondition for economic growth. #L#
Prime Minister Ivica Racan said the government was preparing a
project of a seven percent economic growth and measures to be taken
to achieve that goal. The project is aimed at doubling Croatia's
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) within the next 15 years, which
requires an average annual growth of five percent, he said.
Regulating public finances and introducing financial discipline,
reducing tax burdens, removing obstacles to foreign investments
and expanding the market are some of the tasks the government has
been implementing successfully, Racan said. All this is
accompanied by an intensified process of privatisation in the
public sector, he said. Once restructured, shipyards and the power
and metal industries will also be privatised, he said.
Final negotiations on Croatia's admission to the Central European
Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA) will start soon, Racan said, adding
that Croatia could become a CEFTA member in two to three months.
Not only were negative trends halted, but despite recession and an
unfavourable environment the country's GDP last year increased by
4.5 percent. At the same time, industrial production rose by six
percent and exports increased by 8.5 percent, he said.
These figures show that the government has been going in the right
direction towards a sound, development-oriented economy, Racan
concluded.
Deputy Prime Minister Slavko Linic said the regime of business
visas and work permits should be changed by the end of this month, as
part of a programme to remove obstacles to foreign investments in
Croatia. The programme also includes measures aimed at
accelerating and simplifying the registration of companies and
crafts, which should be finalised by the second half of the year, he
said.
Tourism Minister Pave Zupan Ruskovic said that Croatian tourism was
very competitive, particularly package tours, with demand
exceeding offer.
The head of the "Croatian Initiative for Competitiveness" project,
John C. Ickis, said an example of competitiveness in tourism was a
project which included small hotel owners from central Dalmatia who
offer holidays in restored authentic stone houses.
Petar Kraljic of the international consulting company McKinsey
said Croatia had competitive companies like Pliva, Koncar, and Ina.
Its shipyards are competitive as well and it has a competent work
force, he said.
Speakers at the event stressed the importance of social partnership
and dialogue. Labour Minister Davorko Vidovic called on social
partners to strengthen mutual trust.
The Day of Entrepreneurs, held at Zagreb's Opera hotel, was
attended by some 300 participants.
(hina) rml