ZAGREB, Sept 16 (Hina) - The formulation of a clear export strategy is imperative as the model of Croatia's economic development, President Stjepan Mesic said on Monday, opening the 78th annual Zagreb International Autumn
Fair.
ZAGREB, Sept 16 (Hina) - The formulation of a clear export strategy
is imperative as the model of Croatia's economic development,
President Stjepan Mesic said on Monday, opening the 78th annual
Zagreb International Autumn Fair. #L#
Zagreb Fair's largest event this year has pooled 1,750 exhibitors
from 39 countries. China is this year's partner country.
Croatian economy is quite globalised, with a 23-percent share of
export and import in Gross National Product in 2001, Mesic said,
adding that over the past decade Croatian export movements were
relatively stagnant and those of import dynamic.
Understanding the close connection between export and economic
growth should result in a strategy, a set of concrete measures to
achieve that goal, said Mesic.
"All available instruments of the macroeconomic policy in 2003 and
later should be put to the realisation of that goal - the growth of
Croatia's export of goods and services," he said.
Croatia today needs a new combination of political and economic
competitiveness, to become oriented to the development of good
economic relations as part of favourable bilateral political
relations, Mesic said. He pointed to the need of a model of Croatian
economic diplomacy which will turn political advantage into
economic gain.
The chief obstacle to higher exports is the insufficient
international competitiveness of the domestic economy, the
President maintained, recalling that Croatian export growth rates
were considerably higher than those of Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
and import. This is the only way of achieving an economic growth
which will make it possible to reduce unemployment, he said, adding
that the GDP growth rate should be higher than interest on foreign
indebtedness, so that the debt could be serviced regularly.
In the first phase of the realisation of a national export strategy,
businessmen should encourage foreign trade, and later focus on the
export of capital and direct investments, Mesic said. This "capital
and entrepreneurial approach" will help the longevity of Croatian
export and keep relative shares in new and old markets, he added.
Zagreb Fair director Davorin Spevec said the international autumn
fair was one of the 40 biggest world fairs, as evidenced by the
number of exhibitors. He announced new events and new service and
offer packages within current events.
Mayor Vlasta Pavic said Zagreb would help and encourage the Zagreb
Fair, which she added must bolster its role in the region.
This year's partner country is China, a global economic power which
chose the Zagreb Fair to present itself in central and south-
eastern Europe.
Ambassador Zhi Zhaolin recalled this year was the tenth anniversary
of the establishment of Croatia-China diplomatic relations.
Relations between the two countries today are good, based on mutual
respect, equality, and mutual benefit and confidence, and are
constantly deepening, he said.
Zhi stressed that over more than 20 years of reform and opening to
the world, China had gone through huge historical changes. Starting
in 1979, GDP has been growing by an average eight percent annually,
foreign investments in China are close to US$400 billion, and
foreign trade in 2001 reached US$509.8 billion, he said, adding
that China would continue with further reforms and a sustainable
and sound development.
(hina) ha sb