BASQUE BUSINESS PEOPLE VISIT CRO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

ZAGREB, April 4 (Hina) - A delegation of Spain's Basque Country, the Bilbao Chamber of Commerce, and Basque business people on Monday held talks with Croatian Chamber of Commerce (HGK) officials about cooperation possibilities between Croatian and Basque companies. Speaking about the potential of Basque economy, the delegation said the Basque production of special ferrous metals, machines, equipment and industrial electronic equipment accounted for 70 percent of such production in Spain, whereas automobile and aircraft industry and paper industry accounted for 30 and 25 percent respectively of Spain's production. Bilbao is Spain's second industrial centre. The Basque delegation also spoke about the Agency for Industrial Restructuring which 20 years ago conducted the restructuring of metallurgy, shipping industry and other industrial branches. The Basque representatives said the restructured industry has been oriented toward new investments in technology and the establishment of links and promotion on the international market. The Basque delegation also spoke about an export consortium which stimulates exports of smaller and medium-sized companies and which is interested in establishing cooperation with the Croatian tourism sector. The head of the HGK sector for international relations, Dunja Konjovod, said the Croatian government's priority was for Croatia to integrate into the World Trade Organisation and European associations. Also, the start of talks on Croatia's joining the European Union and the completion of talks on free trade with CEFTA member-countries is expected in the second half of this year, she said. Another priority is an increase in exports, Konjovod said, adding a bill on stimulating foreign investments in export production was in the adoption procedure. The head of HGK's industry sector, Miljenko Babic, spoke about the role of Croatia's shipbuilding industry in establishing links with Spanish and Basque industries, and interest in cooperation with the Spanish automobile industry. (hina) rml ,