HONG KONG BUSINESSMEN VISIT CROATIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

ZAGREB, Nov 8 (Hina) - A delegation of Chinese investors from Hong Kong interested in business cooperation with Croatia on Tuesday visited the Croatian Chamber of Commerce (HGK) in Zagreb. The visit was organised by Susan Smith Feaster and Dale R. Weiss, eminent businessmen from the United States. The Chinese industry, trade, telecommunications, banking, and tourism businessmen are interested in cooperation with Croatian companies, and possible investments into certain economy sectors. They expressed special interest in Croatia's tourist potentials, and attractive tourist destinations, like the southern port of Dubrovnik. The director of HGK's Trade Sector, Rudjer Friganovic, acquainted the Chinese businessmen with HGK's work, the basic macroeconomic and economic indicators, and possibilities of investing in Croatia. Friganovic pointed to Croatia's expected access to the World Trade Organisation, and the traits of the customs, tax, and foreign trade system, and asserted Croatia was at a favourable position for investments and approach to countries in Central and Eastern Europe. Speaking about investments to Croatia to date, Friganovic said US$2.2 billion had been invested between 1993 and 1998, into the pharmaceutical industry, banking, and the oil industry, mainly from United States, Austria, Switzerland, Germany, Sweden, and The Netherlands. (hina) ha