700,000 TONNES OF ARTIFICIAL FERTILISER FOR VIETNAM MARKET

ZAGREB, Nov 2 (Hina) - After the visit of a Croatian economy delegation to countries of Southeast Asia, the export of 700,000 tonnes of artificial fertiliser to Vietnam is very probable, while in turn, we would import coal from this country, Economy Minister Goranko Fizulic told a news conference Thursday. The fertiliser business is worth US$100 million. #L# To the ten-day visit to Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore, accompanying the representatives of the Economy Ministry were representatives of nine Croatia's companies. Talks in Vietnam focused also on the possibilities of delivering equipment, including the construction of refineries, cooperation in the construction of infrastructure, ship-building, while the visit to Singapore was used to attract investors interested in investing into container terminals in the Rijeka Port. Fizulic handed the Thailand side a draft agreement on free trade. This will be the first such agreement with a country outside of Europe, he said. The Croatian delegation also called on Thai investors to invest into Croatian tourism, and the use of Zagreb's airport was offered to the Thai national air company. Thailand invited the Croatian side to participate in tenders for the construction of a line and electric energy network from China and Laos into Thailand. The visit to Malaysia was marked with the presentation of the Croatian economy, with about 100 Malaysian companies attending, which expressed exceptional interest in doing business with Croatia, Fizulic stressed. Contacts were established and further negotiations on cooperation in the oil, wood processing and metal industries agreed on. Unless all get involved in the promotion of the economy, Croatia's exports will grow at very small rates, employment will increase at even greater rates, and there will be no foreign investments, Fizulic ascertained. (hina) lml jn