ZAGREB, April 16 (Hina) - The topic of this year's Crafts Forum, which gathers representatives of the Croatian Chamber of Crafts and the government, is "New Markets, New Products", with highlights on issues relating to finding new
regions to present crafts' products, improving exports and government incentives to find new markets.
ZAGREB, April 16 (Hina) - The topic of this year's Crafts Forum,
which gathers representatives of the Croatian Chamber of Crafts and
the government, is "New Markets, New Products", with highlights on
issues relating to finding new regions to present crafts' products,
improving exports and government incentives to find new markets.
#L#
Deputy Prime Minister Slavko Linic said the government had already
done the most difficult work - structural changes in the economy,
where 'company giants' are no longer the main focus but rather small
and medium-sized businesses. Croatia is now faced with opening
markets where it will not only increase the inflow of foreign
products on the domestic market, but allow for domestic products to
exit on to the world market as well.
While the economic growth rate of 7 percent is still just a 'dream
for the government', small and medium-sized businesses have marked
a growth rate of 9 percent, the Minister of Crafts, Small and Medium
Businesses, Zeljko Pecek, said.
Just a year ago, according to Pecek, 27,000 new jobs were opened,
while a series of loans gave craftsmen an opportunity to access the
cheapest capital amongst transition countries, and exports were
stimulated and innovations promoted, as was the introduction of new
technology. The government will continue along this line with one
objective - to find a Croatian product with which to conquer new
markets.
(hina) sp sb