ZAGREB, Feb 15 (Hina) - Croatia exported goods worth 4.279 billion US dollars in 1999 or 5.8 percent less compared to the export in 1998. Last year the country imported goods worth $7.777 billion or 7.2 percent less than in 1998.
Although a deficit in commodity trade was reduced by 8.9 percent last year as against two years ago, it was still high coming to $3.498 billion, and only 55 percent of the imports was covered by exports. Croatia's new Government has pointed to these worrisome figures and a four-year programme of the Government, presented recently by Premier Ivica Racan, underlines the importance of the support to Croatian exporters and the development of an export strategy as an incentive to the economic growth and the creation of such Croatian economy that can be competitive and attract foreign investors. According to the National Statistical Office,
ZAGREB, Feb 15 (Hina) - Croatia exported goods worth 4.279 billion
US dollars in 1999 or 5.8 percent less compared to the export in
1998. Last year the country imported goods worth $7.777 billion or
7.2 percent less than in 1998.
Although a deficit in commodity trade was reduced by 8.9 percent
last year as against two years ago, it was still high coming to
$3.498 billion, and only 55 percent of the imports was covered by
exports.
Croatia's new Government has pointed to these worrisome figures and
a four-year programme of the Government, presented recently by
Premier Ivica Racan, underlines the importance of the support to
Croatian exporters and the development of an export strategy as an
incentive to the economic growth and the creation of such Croatian
economy that can be competitive and attract foreign investors.
According to the National Statistical Office, main foreign trade
partners of Croatia were European Union member-states. Almost a
half of the Croatian export went to the EU, and over 56 of import
came from the European bloc.
Croatia has an unfavourable balance in trading with the EU. Of the
total deficit, 65.7 percent goes for the unfavourable trade balance
with the EU.
Last year, Croatia exported 2.1 billion dollars in the EU, or 3.4
percent less compared to the export in 1998, while the import from
the EU reached 4.4 billion dollars (but it was by 11.8 percent less
than in 1998).
The most important partner for Croatia's export was Italy which
imported commodities worth $772 million from Croatia. On the other
hand, Italy exported here $1.2 billion goods in 1999.
Croatia's export to neighbouring Slovenia climbed by 4.9 percent to
453 million. There was an increase by seven percent to 264.6 million
in the Croatian export to Austria.
The export to another neighbouring state - Bosnia-Herzegovina -
fell by 16.3 percent to 547 million. The import from Bosnia dropped
by 24 percent to 117 million.
While reading these data on foreign trade, expressed in U.S.
dollar, readers should bear in mind the fact that dollar rose by
12.1 percent against kuna last year, according to the average
rate.
(hina) ms