ATHENS ATHENS, Feb 27 (Hina) - Croatia's Prime Minsiter, who is on a two-day official visit to Greece, on Tuesday evening attended the presentation of the Croatian economy in the chamber of commerce and industry in Athens.
ATHENS, Feb 27 (Hina) - Croatia's Prime Minsiter, who is on a two-
day official visit to Greece, on Tuesday evening attended the
presentation of the Croatian economy in the chamber of commerce and
industry in Athens.#L#
On this occasion, Croatian business people, who arrived in the
Greek capital together with Racan, met their Greek counterpatrts.
Commenting on his country's ambitions, PM Racan said the task of the
incumbent government was to show that Croatia was not only a good
political but also a good economic partner. In the last year his
cabinet took a series of measures to achive that goal. Some of those
measures are unpopular but necessary, Racan said informing the
participants in the presentation that some steps were the cut in
public spending, the restriction of the growth in salaries, the
slashing of taxes as well as steps which created a favourable and
stable climate for foreign investent.
Economy Minister Goranko Fizulic notified the business people of
the Croatian government's economy policy and the basic economic
indicators from last year such as the Gross Domestic Product, the
industrial output and export.
Athens business people were happy to host Croatia's government
officials and big companies' managers.
They asessed that the economies of the two countries were
complimentary, and expressed belief that they could promote
cooperation in industry, agriculture and tourism.
Greeks are willing to set up a special information system which can
facilitate the contacts between the business people of the two
countries.
During the meeting in the chamber, representatives of the Split
shipbuilding company 'Brodosplit' and ELKA European Navigation
signed a contract on the construction of two plus two ships, worth
144 million dollars. The shipyard in the Croatian biggest coastal
city is already building another six ships for the same ordering
party.
Today in Athens, another Croatian shipbuilding company - the
Rijeka-based "3. Maj" - signed a contract on the construction of a
$27-million-worth ship.
Economy Minsiter Fizulic announced the contracts for four more
shuips to be signed in the next month.
Croatia's governmental delegation led by PM Racan was received by
Greek President Konstantinos Stephanopoulos and the parlaiment's
head Apostolos Kaklamanis this evening.
(hina) ms