ECONOMY MINISTER PRESENTS CROATIAN ECONOMY IN NEW YORK

NEW YORK, Feb 12 (Hina) - In 2001 Croatia wants to attract 1.2 billion dollars of direct foreign investments, which is almost twice last year's value of investments, Croatian Economy Minister Goranko Fizulic told Croatian and US reporters in New York on Monday. The statement was made at a presentation of Croatia's economic potential for US business people. The country's economic potential should soon be presented in Canada as well. According to Fizulic, Croatia expects its GDP to increase by 4.1 percent and the inflation rate to rise by four percent this year. The main current privatisation project in Croatia is the privatisation of the Croatian Telekom, he said. Croatia hopes to attract more foreign investments into its shipbuilding, wood-processing and textile industries, the minister said. He also spoke about the privatisation of insurance companies, Adriatic oil pipeline, and Croatia's power industry HEP and oil company INA. US reporters were particularly interested in the safety of investments and the country's political stability. Asked about Croatia's agreement with the International Monetary Fund, Fizulic said the agreement was important as it confirmed the government's economic policy but Croatia would probably not draw the approved funds. The presentation was organised by the Croatian Economy Ministry, the Croatian consulate in New York and the Solomon, Smith and Barney firm. (hina) rml