IRISH TRADE MINISTER ON BUSINESS COOPERATION WITH CROATIA

ZAGREB, Sept 4 (Hina) - Ireland's State Minister of Trade, Industry, and Employment, Tom Kitt, on Saturday promised representatives of Croatian companies assistance in finding adequate partners in Ireland. Kitt, who is visiting Croatia, addressed a conference at the Croatian Chamber of Commerce in Zagreb which focused on possibilities of Croatian-Irish business cooperation. The conference was organised by the Croatian-Irish Chamber of Commerce, and was attended by numerous Croatian businessmen and representatives of financial institutions. According to Kitt, cooperation between the two countries lies in projects in infrastructure, agriculture, food-processing, and especially tourism. He also said Croatian experts could come to Ireland for education in high technology. Despite the very modest Croatian-Irish trade, US$80 million last year, Kitt said economic cooperation could be increased through a higher exchange of knowledge and experience. Croatian Assistant Economy Minister Neven Mimica said today's conference was an opportunity for Croatia to use Ireland's model to further its own development in economy. Croatia sees Ireland as a significant partner, Mimica said. (hina) ha