ISTANBUL, Nov 7 (Hina) - Croatian Prime Minister Ivica Racan who was on a two-day official visit to Turkey, on Tuesday gave a speech before the Turkish committee in charge of promotion of economic ties with foreign countries (DEIK),
The committee was established within the Turkish Chamber of Commerce 14 years ago to help stimulate foreign investments in Turkey and facilitate Turkish companies' appearance abroad. At the meeting Racan was accompanied by Ministers of Maritime Affairs and Transport, Alojz Tusek, and Construction and Public Works, Radimir Cacic. Present at Racan's lecture were representatives of 18 big Turkish companies, some of which have already been engaged in Croatia. "Croatia would like to show that it can be not only a good political but also economic partner to democratic countries of Europe," Racan said on that occasion. Therefore the Croatian Government has adopted a series of
ISTANBUL, Nov 7 (Hina) - Croatian Prime Minister Ivica Racan who was
on a two-day official visit to Turkey, on Tuesday gave a speech
before the Turkish committee in charge of promotion of economic
ties with foreign countries (DEIK),
The committee was established within the Turkish Chamber of
Commerce 14 years ago to help stimulate foreign investments in
Turkey and facilitate Turkish companies' appearance abroad.
At the meeting Racan was accompanied by Ministers of Maritime
Affairs and Transport, Alojz Tusek, and Construction and Public
Works, Radimir Cacic. Present at Racan's lecture were
representatives of 18 big Turkish companies, some of which have
already been engaged in Croatia.
"Croatia would like to show that it can be not only a good political
but also economic partner to democratic countries of Europe," Racan
said on that occasion.
Therefore the Croatian Government has adopted a series of
provisions about the stimulation of foreign investment, such as
reduced tax rates depending on the amount of an investment and the
number of the employed thanks to the investment, he added.
In the first eight months of 2000 Croatia registered positive
trends in the economy such as a cut in the public spending, an
increase of three percent in export and an increase of over three
percent in the industrial output despite of the closing of some
parts of the manufacturing capacities, Racan said adding all of
this happened in stable conditions with the enhancement of his
country's credit rating.
Croatia has completed a procedure of its entry to the World Trade
Organisation (WTO) and will become officially its full member-
state on 30 November. At the end of this month, during the Zagreb
summit, Croatia and the European Union will commence their official
negotiations, Racan said expressing hope that those negotiations
with the EU would be finished in the first half of 2001.
The negotiations with the EU will pave the way for the signing of
treaties on free trade with CEFTA and EFTA member-states and other
countries, and in the coming two years 80 percent of the Croatian
foreign trade should be performed within a regime of free trade, the
PM stressed.
After his speech at the DEIK, Racan told reporters that he had
presented reasons for counting on Croatia's economy in the
forthcoming period and he used this opportunity to explain to
Turkish business people possibilities and capacity of the Croatian
economy in working together with Turkish companies.
He voiced hope that the meeting of Croatian officials and
businessmen with Turkish committee would result in concrete
agreement.
"Croatia is doing its best to be a good economic partner to others,
i.e in this case, to firms and financial institutions from Turkey,"
Racan concluded.
Istanbul Mayor Ali Mufit Gurtuna and Governor Erol Cakir gave a
dinner in honour of Premier Racan.
The trade between Croatia and Turkey amounted to 38.6 million
dollars in 1999. Croatia's export accounted for only 8.5 million.
The strong Turkish economy with $205 billion of Gross Domestic
Product (GDP) in 1999, the annual growth rate between 6 and 8
percent and with the market with 57 million people offers great
possibilities to Croatian exporters. Very good political relations
should be used for the improvement of the economic cooperation
between the two countries.
(hina) ms