OPATIJA OPATIJA, Nov 18 (Hina) - The seventh symposium on Croatia's economic policy and plans for 2000, began on Thursday in the northern Adriatic resort of Opatija. The two-day event has been organised by the Croatian Association of
Economists. In his introductory speech, the Association's head, Vladimir Veselica, said Croatia must face the truth that it is being stricken by an economic crisis, but the country must also realise that there are potentials that can offer plans to overcome this situation. After it won its independence, Croatia did not adopt a modern political capitalism but the backward capitalism of the 19th century. Therefore in past year, Croatia's advantages, in comparison to other countries in transition, have already been melted away, Veselica added. He stressed that speedy economic growth is of the priority importance for the nation, and advocated the development of
OPATIJA, Nov 18 (Hina) - The seventh symposium on Croatia's
economic policy and plans for 2000, began on Thursday in the
northern Adriatic resort of Opatija.
The two-day event has been organised by the Croatian Association of
Economists.
In his introductory speech, the Association's head, Vladimir
Veselica, said Croatia must face the truth that it is being stricken
by an economic crisis, but the country must also realise that there
are potentials that can offer plans to overcome this situation.
After it won its independence, Croatia did not adopt a modern
political capitalism but the backward capitalism of the 19th
century. Therefore in past year, Croatia's advantages, in
comparison to other countries in transition, have already been
melted away, Veselica added.
He stressed that speedy economic growth is of the priority
importance for the nation, and advocated the development of a
market economy while the current dominant role of the state in the
economy should be dying out.
The head of the Zagreb-based Economy Institute, Djuro Njavro, said
the Croatian economy had inherited many problems from the past and
they reflected themselves mostly in not effective economic
structure. Problems of transition have additionally been
aggravated by war devastation. The successfully conducted
stabilisation programme has made it possible to reach relatively
high rates of the growth in recent years, Njavro assessed.
According to him, the only real prime mover of the long-term growth
is the orientation toward export.
Participants in the symposium forwarded a letter to Croatia's
President Franjo Tudjman wishing him a speedy recovery.
This event will revolve around privatisation, a reform of the
pension system, foreign investments and roles of commercial courts
in the construction of a modern model of the Croatian economy.
(hina) jn ms