PRIME MINISTER VISITS NORTHERN ADRIATIC CITY OF RIJEKA

RIJEKA, March 8 (Hina) - The "3. maj" shipyard, in which $56 million from the budget were invested last year, is a good example that financial rehabilitation was cost-efficient and that the government invested well in a promising production, Prime Minister Ivica Racan said in Rijeka on Thursday. Visiting the northern Adriatic city, Racan, his deputies Goran Granic and Slavko Linic, and several government ministers held talks with the shipyard's management. Expressing satisfaction with what he saw and heard, the prime minister said Croatia's shipbuilding had gone through a revival over the past year, when conditions were created for its further development. "3. maj" has signed contracts for the building of ten ships worth $277 million. If another five are signed, the shipyard's schedule will be full until early 2004. With 53 ships ordered and a 2,395,000 gross tonnage, Croatia is fifth on the world market. The prime minister and the government officials today also visited the Rijeka harbour. Racan said the government would soon discuss its role in the harbour's development, particularly in the building of the road network and the renovation of the railways, better connections with Central Europe, and a faster renovation, modernisation and privatisation of the harbour. (hina) ha sb