CRO TOP OFFICIALS' VISIT TO U.S.A. TO STIMULATE INVESTMENT

ZAGREB, Aug 3 (Hina) - Croatia's President Stjepan Mesic and Premier Ivica Racan who pay a visit to the United States from 7 to 10 August, will try stimulate the completion of the bilateral legal regulations necessary for the furtherance of the US-Croatian economic cooperation, said a spokeswoman for the Croatian Government in Zagreb on Thursday. "Croatia's aim is to create a favourable, secure and reliable legal and tax climate for investment," the spokeswoman Aleksandra Kolaric told reporters. Last year the trade between Croatia and the United States amounted to 320 million dollars. This was just two percent of Croatia's trade with the world. Of the above-mentioned sum, Croatia exported goods valued 86.4 million to the American market, and those were mostly pharmaceutical and medical products. Croatia imported commodities worth $242 million from the U.S.A. The intention of both countries is to increase the trade. For this purpose the United States has set up two branches of its state agencies in Croatia. The agencies are OPIC (Overseas Private Investment Corporation) and PDA. From 1993 to 1999, US companies invested one billion dollars in Croatia, and this made up one third of total foreign investments. Therefore the United States is the biggest investor in Croatia. This year the US party has earmarked 20 million of assistance for Croatia. Considering the political field, the Croatian delegation is expecting from the U.S. hosts to support to Zagreb's bids to enter Euro-Atlantic integration processes. Mesic, Racan and the U.S. officials will also consider the situation on south-east Europe. During their stay in Washington, the Croatian President and PM will be received by U.S. President Bill Clinton, the Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, Defence Secretary William Cohen, other officials and American businessmen. (hina) ms