ZAGREB, Sept 30 (Hina) - Croatian Deputy Prime Minister Slavko Linic stated during Monday's talks with the Rijeka and Primorje-Gorski Kotar County business people that the fact the market for Croatian goods is considerably larger than
a decade ago was one of the government's greatest achievements. Some markets have completely abolished import restrictions for Croatian products, while a part of domestic production will still be protected from competition in the next few years, he said. Linic said the government managed to define tax policy and contribute to the administration becoming of service, and not a hindrance to economic development. We cannot be satisfied with what has been done in the grey economy prevention, however, and we intend to introduce heavy fines for violations, he said. Speaking of the government's efforts to stimulate the economy, he reminded a large portion of
ZAGREB, Sept 30 (Hina) - Croatian Deputy Prime Minister Slavko
Linic stated during Monday's talks with the Rijeka and Primorje-
Gorski Kotar County business people that the fact the market for
Croatian goods is considerably larger than a decade ago was one of
the government's greatest achievements.
Some markets have completely abolished import restrictions for
Croatian products, while a part of domestic production will still
be protected from competition in the next few years, he said.
Linic said the government managed to define tax policy and
contribute to the administration becoming of service, and not a
hindrance to economic development.
We cannot be satisfied with what has been done in the grey economy
prevention, however, and we intend to introduce heavy fines for
violations, he said.
Speaking of the government's efforts to stimulate the economy, he
reminded a large portion of the job has been done by merging
portfolios and making the privatisation process public.
He added the government was working on diminishing the number of
government-owned companies, and would support new ownership and
new businesses with over 25 billion kuna ($3 billion).
From now on, only shipbuilding and agriculture would receive
government subventions, with the government control of the export
industry, he added.
Linic pointed out the kuna exchange rate would not be tampered with,
mostly because Croatia has a high foreign debt, and most loans had
been paid in foreign currency.
County Chamber of Commerce president Josip Stankovic said almost
all economic indicators in the area for this year were positive, and
pointed out the revenues had been 9 percent higher, and spending 4.6
percent lower than last year.
The business people wanted to know what could be done to change the
situation where, for instance, shipbuilding industry suffers a
lack of workers, while there is a high number of unemployed people
in the country.
Answering a question whether it was possible for the government to
lower the retirement and social security benefits tax, deputy prime
minister said that was hard to even contemplate while two to three
pensions for more than a million 52-year old retirees per year were
being paid from the state budget.
He also said the Croatian forest service was "a disorganised and
outmoded service, where 100,000 people spend everything the
forests provide," which is an unacceptable and needs to be
changed.
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