EVENT PRESENTING CROATIA OPENS IN CHICAGO

CHICAGO, April 7 (Hina) - A three-day event presenting Croatia opened in Chicago on Tuesday. This is the first economic, political and cultural event of its kind to be held in the United States. The event will include the presentation of about 20 leading Croatian companies, and several representatives of the Croatian Government, state agencies and the Chamber of Commerce will speak about investment possibilities in Croatia. The first Croatian presidential mission, led by Vice Premiers Mate Granic and Borislav Skegro, arrived in Chicago on Tuesday afternoon to attend the event. Business people from the two countries will discuss cooperation and business experience of leading US companies such as Bechtel, Enron and Parsons. The climax of the event will be a concert of the famous Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the renown piano player Ivo Pogorelic, who will perform works by Chopin, Coplad and two Croatian composers - Gotovac and Sorkocevic. The concert has been announced as a special musical experience in the April issue of Chicago's tourist publication. The US public, as well as numerous Croatian emigrants from all over the United States and Canada will be able to see an exhibition of the famous Croatian sculptor Ivan Mestrovic on Wednesday. A folklore festival will be held in Daley Plaza in downtown Chicago as well. The offices of the Croatian general consulate in Chicago will be officially opened on Thursday. (hina) jn rml