CROATIA, GERMANY HOLD CONFERENCE ON ECONOMIC COOPERATION

ZAGREB, Sept 20 (Hina) - The future of Croatian-German economic cooperation lies in intellectual services, tourism and direct partnership between the two countries' companies, without the mediation of the authorities, a German official has said. German companies are willing to step up investments, Herman Joerissen, a representative of the German economy and technology ministry, said on Thursday at a conference on Croatian-German economic cooperation. It was held at the Zagreb Fair, pooling 40 Croatian and 28 German small and medium-sized companies, and representatives of various ministries, chambers, and employers' associations. According to Joerissen, Croatia must expedite the adjustment of its legislation to European union standards, especially pertaining to small companies. Cooperation is stagnating, said Crafts, Small and Medium-sized Business Minister Zeljko Pecek. In this year's first six months, Croatia's export to Germany amounted to $348 million as against $770 million worth of import, mostly cars. Cooperation could intensify in the car industry, the minister said. He informed the participants about six credit lines which have been launched to encourage small business throughout Croatia. (hina) ha sb