FREE ZONE OPENED IN WESTERN CROATIAN TOWN

BUJE, May 6 (Hina) - A free zone was opened in Buje, a town in the northern Adriatic peninsula of Istria, on Saturday. The local Robni Terminal company was granted a 25-year concession.#L# On premises of 54,000 square metres, the Buje Free Zone accommodates buildings of the Digitron electronic company and eight Croatian-Italian companies dealing in production and services. The government stimulates potential investors in the free zone's production plants by exemption from profit tax during the first five years of business, provided they invest a minimum one million kuna (approx. $120,000) in the production plants. "Istria is not only a tourist region but one capable of production and export," Economy Minister Goranko Fizulic said opening the zone. Pointing to the economic significance of free zones, he said they encouraged the opening of new jobs, increased export and the standard of living. The Buje Free Zone currently employs 188 people, but another 200 should be employed by year's end, according to Dino Debeljuh of the ruling coalition's Istrian Democratic Assembly. Buje mayor Valter Dragolin said he expected the free zone would "stop the young from going to work abroad." The Buje Free Zone is the third in Istria County and the 11th in Croatia. (hina) ha