CROATIA, HUNGARY ECONOMY MINISTERS OPEN BUSINESS CONFERENCE

ZAGREB, Dec 11 (Hina) - Croatia's and Hungary's economy ministers opened direct business talks between some 20 Hungarian and a dozen Croatian companies at the Croatian Chamber of Commerce in Zagreb on Wednesday. #L# Hungary and Croatia enjoy excellent political and economic relations and today's business meeting is an attempt to advance economic relations even further, said Croatian Economy Minister Ljubo Jurcic. He added trade between the two countries was constantly improving since a free trade agreement was signed earlier last year, but that it was time to step up cooperation in terms of investments. Stronger cooperation is possible in industry, the power sector, transport, telecommunications, the food and agricultural industries, and tourism, he said. Hungary's Economy and Transport Minister Istvan Csillaga, speaking of concrete cooperation projects, said Hungary's oil industry MOL was willing to invest and share its experience in privatisation and restructuring with Croatia's INA with the ultimate goal of creating a strong Central European oil corporation. Hungarian companies are also interested in participating in the privatisation of Croatia's agribusinesses, especially those in the border areas. Hungary is also very interested in investing in Croatia's Rijeka port. Csillaga said the two remaining problems in connection with this issue, getting a concession and building the infrastructure, would probably be resolved next year, when concrete investments would be made. Both ministers stressed the importance of the two countries' participation in a project leading to the integration of the Druzba and Adria pipelines. An agreement to that end will be signed in Zagreb next week. Jurcic said Hungary was Croatia's ninth biggest partner in terms of trade. Croatia's exports there in this year's first ten months increased by more than 40 percent, to US$66.7 million, while imports from Hungary increased by more than 30 percent, to US$259 million. (hina) ha