CRAFTS FAIR "POZEGA 2002" STARTS

POZEGA, Sept 5 (Hina) - Ninety craftsmen and entrepreneurs from Croatia and Slovenia on Thursday gathered in Pozega for the crafts fair "Pozega 2002". #L# Assistant Small and Medium Enterprises Minister Drago Katalenic said that 2.6 billion kuna (EUR351.3 million) had been given to entrepreneurs in the form of loans over the past two and a half years. Speaking about new credit lines for tourism and export, which are to be granted with exceptionally favourable interest, similar to European credit lines, Katalenic announced a set of measures aimed at helping craftsmen. Those include the establishment of a bank for small entrepreneurs to provide even more favourable loan conditions, as well as efforts by the Agency for Small Businesses. The state must continue paying attention to the crafts sector because it accounts for as much as 63 percent of all workers, Katalenic said. Loans worth more than 60 million kuna (EUR8.1 million) have been granted to craftsmen and entrepreneurs in Pozega-Slavonski Brod County through four credit lines. By the end of the year another 35 million kuna (EUR4.7 million) will be allocated in the form of loans. (hina) rml sb