EXPERTS ON POSSIBILITIES OF & RESISTANCE TO FOREIGN INVESTING IN CRO

ZAGREB, Sept 17 (Hina) - It is necessary to eliminate obstacles to foreign investing into Croatia, which is the only way the country can progress, the participants in the "Foreign Investments in Croatia - Possibilities and Resistance" round table concluded in Zagreb on Friday. The round table was held at the 75th International Zagreb Autumn Fair as part of CroMoney, the first fair on finances and business possibilities. According to Velimir Sonje, executive director at the Croatian National Bank's Research and Statistics Sector, Croatia's position in view of foreign investments is not bad. To date, direct investments reached US$2.2 billion. Foreign investments in Croatia are unavoidable and Croatia is intensifying its efforts in that direction, Sonje assessed. He reminded of the impending sale of 35 percent of shares of telecommunications company Hrvatske Telekomunikacije, the privatisation of insurance company Croatia Osiguranje and of the banks Privredna Banka Zagreb, Splitska Banka, and Rijecka Banka. Experts at the round tables agreed that foreign capital, foreign technology, and domestic potentials were Croatia's only path to success. Mato Crikvenac of the Zagreb Faculty of Economy believes Croatia is undergoing a "structure crisis". It is necessary to turn towards an economy and progress oriented policy. (hina) ha jn