VIENNA, July 18 (Hina) - Participants in a ministerial conference of Southeast European countries, organised by the Austrian Economy and Labour Ministry and the OECD on Thursday in Vienna, signed a Declaration on Joint Principles of
Attracting Investments.
VIENNA, July 18 (Hina) - Participants in a ministerial conference
of Southeast European countries, organised by the Austrian Economy
and Labour Ministry and the OECD on Thursday in Vienna, signed a
Declaration on Joint Principles of Attracting Investments. #L#
The declaration was signed by the economy ministers of Albania,
Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Macedonia, Moldavia,
Rumania, Yugoslavia, Montenegro and Serbia, as well as Austrian
Economy and Labour Minister Martin Bartenstein, special co-
ordinator for the Stability Pact for Southeast Europe Erhard Busek
and OECD deputy secretary-general, Ricahard Hecklinger.
All the participants consider the document a significant first step
towards co-operation in attracting foreign investments to the
region.
The document amongst else contains principles related to
simplifying procedures and regulations to attract foreign
investments, transparency in policies, the fight against
corruption etc.
Country participants will meet at the ministerial level once a year
to investigate progress achieved in implementing the declaration.
"The declaration is principle, it does not contain concrete
measures, it is an expression of political will by countries in
Southeast Europe to co-operate in the field of subsidies and
investments in the region of Southeast Europe," Croatian Economy
Minister Hrvoje Vojkovic said.
At a press conference, he informed of the steps Croatia was taking
to attract foreign investments, highlighting especially the
significance of changes to the investment atmosphere in Croatia and
the need that the entire region be made more attractive as an
'investment destination'.
Vojkovic also said that a few days ago he sent to the government
procedure a package of legislative bills on stimulating
investments with the aim of improving the investment atmosphere and
creating competitiveness in Croatia's economy.
According to him, the conference which ended with the joint
declaration, met the expectations and was a step forward which
should be backed up with concrete projects.
(hina) sp ms