AMERICAN-CROATIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ESTABLISHED IN NEW YORK

NEW YORK, March 13 (Hina) - The founding assembly of the American- Croatian Chamber of Commerce was held in New York on Friday. The aim of the newly-established chamber is to promote economic ties, investments and trade between the two countries. The chamber, founded at the initiative of Croatia's Consulate General in New York, is currently including some 24 American businessmen, most of whom are of the Croatian descent, living in the federal states of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. Ante Kusturic was elected for its first president. Besides, 11 members were chosen for the supervisory board. The head of the management of the Croatian Bank for Development and Reconstruction (HBOR), Anton Kovacev, addressed Friday's founding meeting. He acquainted the businessmen with HBOR credit programmes. After the Diaspora offered great help, particularly humanitarian aid, to Croatia when it was most necessary, we should now begin developing economic cooperation to the mutual interest, Kovacev told businessmen interested in investing into Croatia. A similar American-Croatian chamber of commerce has already been operating in Los Angeles. Last year, it helped organise the successful promotion of the Croatian economy and investment possibilities in California. (hina) ms