KOPRIVNICA, Sept 24 (Hina) - Croatian President Franjo Tudjman on Friday opened in Koprivnica a new industrial complex of the Belupo pharmaceutical plant. The plant is a part of the Podravka Group. Some DM72 million have been invested
into the new complex. The new pharmaceutical complex consists of a production plant for the production of new medication and ensuring their quality. Tudjman stressed the importance of investing into production, stressing that the success of Podravka and Belupo were proof that they had been placed on the summit of two thirds of Croatian companies who are developing successfully despite all the difficulties Croatia had to and has to overcome. Your success proves that the economy is moving onwards and that Croats can do everything the other can do, even better than the others, Tudjman said. We have proven this, he said, with our economic and political stability and the fac
KOPRIVNICA, Sept 24 (Hina) - Croatian President Franjo Tudjman on
Friday opened in Koprivnica a new industrial complex of the Belupo
pharmaceutical plant.
The plant is a part of the Podravka Group.
Some DM72 million have been invested into the new complex. The new
pharmaceutical complex consists of a production plant for the
production of new medication and ensuring their quality.
Tudjman stressed the importance of investing into production,
stressing that the success of Podravka and Belupo were proof that
they had been placed on the summit of two thirds of Croatian
companies who are developing successfully despite all the
difficulties Croatia had to and has to overcome.
Your success proves that the economy is moving onwards and that
Croats can do everything the other can do, even better than the
others, Tudjman said.
We have proven this, he said, with our economic and political
stability and the fact that we have shown in all areas what the
Croatian mind can achieve.
Tudjman added that at the EXPO fair in Lisbon, the Croatian pavilion
was the best among some 100 countries.
And in other areas where we met head to head with the rest of the
world, including sports, we have proven that the Croatian mind and
heart, void of shackles with which we lived for centuries,
especially during the past 70 years, have the ability to prove what
they can do, even better than others, Tudjman said.
Croatia is facing difficulties, Tudjman said, and asked which
country was not, from Sweden to the United States.
We are in a situation in which the Government is being criticised
for not solving problems, and other hand, for meddling too much. If
we have chosen a free society and free market, then we gave up
socialism which broke down and this means that now every individual
and every company must take care of themselves and their fate and
future, Tudjman stressed.
Such a path to a free market is not a path into heaven paved with
roses. It is a question of ability, diligence and capability of
people on this path. Requests for the state to solve everything mean
a step back into communism, which we cannot allow, Tudjman
stressed.
He added that the Croatian people -- from those in management, state
administration and public spheres -- must be aware of these two
tendencies Croatia is facing.
Only with conscious efforts of all of us can we remove obstacles and
ensure prosperity and the future of the sovereign and independent
Croatia, ensure freedoms and democracy and a path which will turn
Croatia into a country of prosperity, he stressed.
According to the chairman of the board of Podravka, Ante Babic,
Belupo was among the leading generic pharmaceutical companies in
this part of Europe, and was opening further possibilities not only
in the production of new medicines, but also new means of
cooperation with other pharmaceutical companies.
He stressed Podravka had completed the fiscal 1998 with net profit
of US$17 million, and that 74 per cent of the group was privatised
with the biggest number of stock-holders -- more than 20,000.
Investments are a part of Podravka's strategy, as well as the
internationalisation of business particularly in central and
eastern Europe.
Belupo director Berislav Zukovic said the plant holds 20 per cent of
the Croatian market and this investment makes it possible to take
over the production of licensed products by renowned
pharmaceutical companies all over the world.
Attending the opening were also Health Minister Zeljko Reiner,
Presidential Chief-of-Staff Ivica Kostovic, presidential
advisers Ivic Pasalic, Lidija Zoric and Franjo Kajfez, MPs and the
ambassadors of Great Britain, Slovakia, Macedonia and Bosnia-
Herzegovina.
(hina) lml