OSIJEK OSIJEK, Oct 3 (Hina) - The economic forum of a working community of Danube River basin regions began in the eastern Croatian town of Osijek on Tuesday. The two-day forum will feature presentations of the countries and regions -
members of the working community, a round table on the possibilities and role of local regional authorities in stimulating direct foreign investment, and the Osijek Autumn Fair. A cultural forum with a variety of programmes will be held in Osijek, and the nearby Vukovar and Ilok. Opening the economic forum, Croatia's Economy Minister Goranko Fizulic said the aims of the conference were to contribute to better ties among the communities' regions and facilitate a faster adjustment to European Union standards "because only economic prosperity can result in political stability." Speaking about the economic programme of Croatia's government, particularly
OSIJEK, Oct 3 (Hina) - The economic forum of a working community of
Danube River basin regions began in the eastern Croatian town of
Osijek on Tuesday.
The two-day forum will feature presentations of the countries and
regions - members of the working community, a round table on the
possibilities and role of local regional authorities in
stimulating direct foreign investment, and the Osijek Autumn Fair.
A cultural forum with a variety of programmes will be held in
Osijek, and the nearby Vukovar and Ilok.
Opening the economic forum, Croatia's Economy Minister Goranko
Fizulic said the aims of the conference were to contribute to better
ties among the communities' regions and facilitate a faster
adjustment to European Union standards "because only economic
prosperity can result in political stability."
Speaking about the economic programme of Croatia's government,
particularly opening domestic economy to the global market and
integration processes, Fizulic said he expected parliament to
ratify Croatia's full-right membership in the World Trade
Organisation by November at the latest.
Croatia's goal is to increase by 2004 export per capita from the
current $1,000 to the level of other transition countries, Fizulic
said, adding negotiations on a free trade agreement with Hungary
and Poland were nearing completion. Croatia is expected to sign the
agreements with other Central European Free Trade Agreement
countries: Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, and Romania.
Fizulic said preparations were in progress to start negotiations on
a free trade agreement with the European Free Trade Association,
namely Switzerland, Norway, Liechtenstein, and Iceland.
The Croatian government is hoping more than 80 percent of its
exchange with the world will fall under free trade by 2001 at the
latest. This requires signing agreements with countries whose
preferential trade regime with the EU is regulated, Baltic
countries, Turkey, Israel, Albania, Egypt, and Morocco, and that
Croatia become a full-right CEFTA member.
The economy minister said the government is "resolute to create
political and economic conditions" necessary to make Croatia ready
to become a full-right EU member by the end of 2006.
In the 2001-2004 period, Croatia intends to attract more than $6
billion in direct foreign investments by means of a special
investment stimulation policy. This should be made possible via
legal provisions giving foreign and domestic investors significant
benefits in accounting income tax, tariff benefits in the import of
equipment and new technology, by facilitating business in free
zones and increasing their number.
(hina) ha jn