EBRD PREPARES COOPERATION STRATEGY WITH CROATIA

ZAGREB, April 7 (Hina) - Deputy Croatian Economy Minister Neven Mimica on Friday held talks with representatives of the European Bank for reconstruction and Development (EBRD) who are visiting Zagreb to gather macroeconomic and other information necessary for the drawing up of the future strategy for cooperation between Croatia and the EBRD, the Economy Ministry said in a statement. According to EBRD representatives, the final version of this strategy is expected by the end of this year. BY the present amount of granted loans for Croatia and provided technical assistance, the EBRD has become (beside the World Bank) one of the mot important foreign financial sources. Thirty-six projects have been granted so far, 29 of which are in the private sector and seven in the public sector. Seven new projects worth a total of Euro 247.7 million, are under preparation. Mimica informed EBRD representatives with the situation in the Croatian economy and about the privatisation of the remaining state-owned companies. EBRD representatives were also acquainted with the draft law on the stimulation of investments, the statement said. (hina) lml mm