ZAGREB, Dec 16 (Hina) - The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development has so far invested approximately 700 million euros in Croatia through various loan programmes. Of it, over 150 million euros have been given this year. On
the occasion of the signing of the probably last loan contract in this year - which was concluded with the 'Nasicecement' company at the end of this week- the EBRD directors for South East Europe, Alain Pilloux said Croatia was the first-ranked country in this part of Europe according to the amount of allocated means from this bank.
ZAGREB, Dec 16 (Hina) - The European Bank for Reconstruction and
Development has so far invested approximately 700 million euros in
Croatia through various loan programmes. Of it, over 150 million
euros have been given this year.
On the occasion of the signing of the probably last loan contract in
this year - which was concluded with the 'Nasicecement' company at
the end of this week- the EBRD directors for South East Europe,
Alain Pilloux said Croatia was the first-ranked country in this
part of Europe according to the amount of allocated means from this
bank.#L#
Until the end of June 2000, EBRD means were used for financing 33
different projects (total value of 596 million euros), of which 26
(or 79 percent) were in the private sector.
In the private sector which received 326.9 million from those loans
there were 11 banks that had opened 17 credit lines with these means
to finance small and medium-sized businesses, agriculture and
tourism. Besides, some bigger companies - EBRD credit
beneficiaries - are leading pharmaceutical and food-processing
factories Pliva and Podravka and the VIP NET telecommunications
company.
Until 30 June 2000, the public sector received 242.1 million euros
and the means were used for the reconstruction of railway lines,
power supplies industry, tourism, environmental protection
projects and agriculture. One of more significant projects is the
allocation of 48.8 million for the building of a garbage
incinerating plant in Zagreb.
During the last four week, the EBRD, owned by 59 countries, the
European Investment Bank and the European Union, signed four major
contracts on loans to be granted to Slavonska Bank, Pliva, Agrokor
and Nasicecement.
The EBRD's intensified engagement in Croatia is a part of this
bank's new strategic plan adopted since the political changes which
took place in the country at the very beginning of 2000.
The new strategy places the importance to the support to a
privatisation process, the infrastructure construction,
stimulation of the financial sector's development, assistance to
small and medium-sized businesses and promotion of inter-state
projects.
EBRD experts see 2000 as a year of economic recovery in Croatia.
Good results in the tourist season have contributed to it. Besides,
new authorities have accepted a platform of economic reforms which
may pave the way for the country's accession into European
integration processes.
Pilloux has announced stronger activities of this bank in projects
in relation to power industry and infrastructure in Croatia for
2001.
(hina) ms