ZAGREB ZAGREB, Dec 21 (Hina) - The future of Croatia's economy depends primarily on companies which should take their destiny into their own hands. Companies must get rid of the illusion that the state can take care of everything,
especially that it can do it immediately, said Zarko Primorac of Price Waterhouse Coopers at the presentation of the traditional opinion poll "Business Expectations", held in Zagreb on Tuesday. The event was organised by the Zagreb-based 'Poslovni tjednik' (Business Weekly). Forty-five renown businessmen from the most important sectors of Croatia's economy participated in the opinion poll. According to Primorac, the poll shows that illiquidity is still a dominant problem in Croatia. According to official data, about one half of the total number of active companies have been blocked, of which more than 65 have been blocked more than 360 days. Business people em
ZAGREB, Dec 21 (Hina) - The future of Croatia's economy depends
primarily on companies which should take their destiny into their
own hands. Companies must get rid of the illusion that the state can
take care of everything, especially that it can do it immediately,
said Zarko Primorac of Price Waterhouse Coopers at the presentation
of the traditional opinion poll "Business Expectations", held in
Zagreb on Tuesday.
The event was organised by the Zagreb-based 'Poslovni tjednik'
(Business Weekly). Forty-five renown businessmen from the most
important sectors of Croatia's economy participated in the opinion
poll.
According to Primorac, the poll shows that illiquidity is still a
dominant problem in Croatia. According to official data, about one
half of the total number of active companies have been blocked, of
which more than 65 have been blocked more than 360 days.
Business people emphasised that the state has become the hotbed of
illiquidity and that it frequently participates in the
rehabilitation of companies or business chains of "staggering
tycoons" without any criteria, programmes or feasibility studies.
Another problem is the Croatian inefficacy and expensiveness,
which is becoming more and more obvious both in exports and on the
domestic market.
The continued shutting down of companies and industrial branches is
taking on worrying dimensions, Primorac stressed. A large number of
companies of vital importance in transport, production and
services, which had enjoyed good standing until recently, are
facing bankruptcy and the shipping industry is practically
disappearing from the business scene.
Croatian Chamber of Commerce (HGK) director Nadan Vidosevic told
the gathered there were no simple solutions and the way out of the
recession was a long-term process. Vidosevic sees a general
national consensus as the way out of the current situation.
Economy Minister Nenad Porges, who shared Vidosevic's opinion,
said a consensus was necessary for creating a new economic policy as
well as the politics. Also, intellectual capital, including
knowledge, vision, motivation and will, is of extreme importance
for companies today, Porges said, adding production and
investments and not spending were a priority.
(hina) mm rml