CROATIAN PRESIDENT OPENS ZAGREB'S INTERNATIONAL AUTUMN TRADE FAIR

ZAGREB, Sept 11 (Hina) - Croatia's President Stipe Mesic on Monday opened Zagreb's annual International Autumn Trade Fair, the biggest economic exhibition in this part of Europe. The 76th edition features 1,811 exhibitors from 36 countries, with Hungary as Croatia's partner country.#L# This year's exhibits come from the fields of construction, metal- working industry and mechanical engineering, the food-processing, chemical and electric industry, agriculture, consumer goods, transportation and telecommunications, textile and leather. In his opening speech, the Croatian President recalled the changes and issues Croatia faced in the past period and which resulted in serious economic and social problems. President Mesic said the need of introducing order in public finances and bringing total spending within the real frameworks of the Gross National Product was a difficult task for Croatia's democratically elected government and ruling coalition. The difficulty lies in the fact that putting things back in order continues to reduce expenditure and employment, results in bankruptcies, and delays the speed of growth and recovery, the President said. All this deepens the feeling of poverty and lack of prospect among our citizens, he added. President Mesic said that in view of the world's opening toward Croatia, Croatia had to establish which factors were going to make it attractive for foreign capital so as to strengthen its economy and make it competitive on the foreign and domestic markets. As this year's partner country, Hungary will present 62 of its companies which will acquaint interested businessmen with their potential. This year's autumn trade fair features two specialised events, Intertekstil - the 55th international fair of the textile and ancillary industries, and CroMoney - the second finances and business possibilities fair. (hina) ha