ZAGREB, Oct 7 (Hina) - The Croatian government on Thursday forwarded to parliament a draft transport development strategy, the aim of which is to ensure a quality connection among all Croatian regions and a more effective connection
of Croatia with Europe. According to Transport Minister Ivan Pavlovic, the strategy envisages an annual investment of approximately five percent of the Gross National Product (GNP). This, with a planned GNP growth rate of six percent per year, would reach US$20 billion by 2010, he said. The strategy tackles investments in road-building, and envisages that about 700km of highways should be built by 2011, and a further 780km by 2019. The government places special attention on the Adriatic-Ionic highway. The focus in rail transport is on reconstruction and modernisation, in maritime transport the strategy prioritises connections between islands and the coast,
ZAGREB, Oct 7 (Hina) - The Croatian government on Thursday
forwarded to parliament a draft transport development strategy,
the aim of which is to ensure a quality connection among all
Croatian regions and a more effective connection of Croatia with
Europe.
According to Transport Minister Ivan Pavlovic, the strategy
envisages an annual investment of approximately five percent of the
Gross National Product (GNP). This, with a planned GNP growth rate
of six percent per year, would reach US$20 billion by 2010, he
said.
The strategy tackles investments in road-building, and envisages
that about 700km of highways should be built by 2011, and a further
780km by 2019. The government places special attention on the
Adriatic-Ionic highway.
The focus in rail transport is on reconstruction and modernisation,
in maritime transport the strategy prioritises connections between
islands and the coast, whereas in river transport, top priority is
the modernisation of existing routes, as well as the construction
of a Danube-Sava canal.
Minister Pavlovic reminded of the World Bank's serious
reservations regarding the amount of Croatian investments in the
transport system and plans to intensify highway-building. The
World Bank maintains Croatia has enough transport infrastructure
capacities, and has urged raising investments in the maintenance of
the existing infrastructure.
Premier Zlatko Matesa commented by saying the transport
development strategy could effect lasting changes to transport
routes and give Croatia the place it must have in transport. The
strategy's fundamental significance lies in the integration of
Croatian space, he said.
In view of creating conditions necessary to ensure the presence and
competitiveness of Croatian companies on the world, in this case
the German, market in the future, the government today revoked a
decree on the payment of fees for the use of work permits for
Germany.
The government today adopted a report on Croatian Guarantee Agency
business in the first six months of this year, during which period
the Agency granted 212 guarantees in the amount of US$8.4 million.
This helped open 462 new jobs.
The government forwarded into parliamentary procedure a bill on the
execution of the prison sentence, which tackles the prisoners'
rights, and introduces the institute of the execution judge.
(hina) ha jn