TOKYO/ZAGREB, Nov 7 (Hina) - Japan is interested in participating in the privatisation of Croatia's state-owned companies, especially the oil giant INA and tourist capacities, and is also interested in the Rijeka port and the
financing of ecological projects in the Plitvice Lakes National Park, Foreign Minister Tonino Picula told Hina on Thursday.
TOKYO/ZAGREB, Nov 7 (Hina) - Japan is interested in participating
in the privatisation of Croatia's state-owned companies,
especially the oil giant INA and tourist capacities, and is also
interested in the Rijeka port and the financing of ecological
projects in the Plitvice Lakes National Park, Foreign Minister
Tonino Picula told Hina on Thursday. #L#
On the first day of his trip to Japan, Picula met his counterpart
Yoriko Kawaguchi, the deputy governor and executive director of the
Japanese Bank for International Cooperation, Kojiji Tanami, and
the president of the Japan-Croatia Parliamentary League, Shozaburo
Nakamura.
"Japan is interested in investing in faraway places and can be of
help because we can hardly complete the transition process without
foreign capital and knowledge," Picula said over the telephone.
He recalled that Croatian exports to Japan in the last 2-3 years had
increased considerably, from a symbolic US$2 million to 36 million
today, primarily owing to the export of tuna. Croatia has not only
filled its own quotas but is using others' for the manufacturing and
export of tuna, he said.
Picula said his talks would focus on sea production Japan was
interested in, and announced the possibility of establishing joint
ventures for that purpose.
Two significant agreements have to be signed to improve relations
in this area and make it easier on business partners - on the
avoidance of double taxation and on the stimulation and protection
of investments, Picula said.
Picula and Foreign Minister Kawaguchi also addressed demining. To
date Japan has helped Croatia in this field, including with a
US$300,000 donation.
The two ministers also discussed cooperation in science and
culture. Croatia wishes to open a Japanese language and literature
department at either the Zagreb or Rijeka Universities.
Also addressed was Japan's wish to become a permanent UN Security
Council member, in which it has Croatia's support, and North Korea,
whose nuclear development is of great concern to Japan.
Tomorrow Picula will deliver a lecture as part of a seminar on the
possibilities of direct Japanese investments in Southeast Europe.
(hina) ha sb