BERN, May 20 (Hina) - Croatian Foreign Minister Tonino Picula on Monday arrived in Bern for an official working visit to Switzerland, where he and his counterpart Joseph Deiss will discuss the promotion of political and economic
relations.
BERN, May 20 (Hina) - Croatian Foreign Minister Tonino Picula on
Monday arrived in Bern for an official working visit to
Switzerland, where he and his counterpart Joseph Deiss will discuss
the promotion of political and economic relations. #L#
"The two ministers will discuss concrete cooperation programmes,
particularly the possibility of economic cooperation. They will
also talk about the situation in the region and Croatia's progress
in drawing closer to Euro-Atlantic associations following its
admission to NATO's Membership Action Plan," the Croatian Foreign
Ministry said in a statement.
Croatia is not satisfied with its trade with Switzerland, which in
2000 accounted for 1.53 percent of overall foreign trade, with a
trend of further decrease.
Trade between the two countries in 2001 amounted to USD191 million,
of which Croatian exports accounted for 41 million and imports for
150 million. In the first three months of 2002, Croatia's exports to
Switzerland dropped by 39.7 percent and imports rose by 16.8
percent in relation to the same period last year.
Croatia is particularly interested in increasing direct Swiss
investments into its economy.
(hina) rml sb