ZAGREB, Oct 23 (Hina) - Today trade is a generator for new production, a promoter of economic activities and new jobs, and is becoming an activity with an increasingly important share in the Croatian Gross Domestic Product, Assistant
Economy Minister Olgica Spevec said at Wednesday's session of the Croatian Chamber of Commerce's Trade Group.
ZAGREB, Oct 23 (Hina) - Today trade is a generator for new
production, a promoter of economic activities and new jobs, and is
becoming an activity with an increasingly important share in the
Croatian Gross Domestic Product, Assistant Economy Minister Olgica
Spevec said at Wednesday's session of the Croatian Chamber of
Commerce's Trade Group. #L#
In 1998 trade made up for eight percent of GDP, while today it
accounts for 12 percent, and will continue to grow until the end of
the year, because the situation in the economy is very much
different today than what it had been three or four years ago,
Spevec said.
Data for the first six months of this year indicate that the number
of employed in trade has exceeded 200,000 people, which is a 13.5
percent increase in comparison to the same period last year.
Turnover has increased by the same percentage in this year's first
eight months.
The number of shops is increasing as well, she said.
Croatian trade was the fastest to react to changes which occurred
with the country's opening towards the world by its admission into
the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and after the conclusion of free
trade agreements, especially after the signing of the
Stabilisation and Association Agreement with the EU.
The Trade Group's representatives said that legal frameworks
should be created as soon as possible to support domestic trade and
production. They also believe that new forms of selling should be
encouraged and the categorisation of retail stores carried out in
line with European trends.
It is necessary to precisely regulate conditions for the revival of
trade, that is, to pass regulations relating to the protection of
consumers, conditions for trade with sensitive products and a fair
market race.
Amendments to the Trade Law are, therefore, in preparation, as is a
new law on consumers, a law on electronic trade and a law on
electronic signature, which will partially be applied in trade.
All the above are activities with which the government is trying to
improve conditions in trade and make them more transparent, Spevec
said.
(hina) lml