ITALIAN COMPANY INVESTS 7.5 MIL DM IN NEW RIJEKA SUPERMARKET

( Editorial: --> 1003 ) RIJEKA, July 31 (Hina) - Rijeka World Trade Centre and leading Italian food retail group PAM on Friday signed an agreement in which a supermarket would be built in the future retail centre at a cost of 7.5 million German marks. The long-term business cooperation agreement means PAM will buy 7,500 square metres of retail space within the northern Adriatic port city's WTC, which should be completed in the second half of 2000. More than 20,000 food items and consumer goods will be available within the supermarket at competitive prices. It is planned most of the products on offer will be produced from the Rijeka region and in Croatia. Rijeka WTC director Davor Mihovilic said the agreement with PAM, which employs 11,000 workers and realises annual sales of at least 5.5 billion DM, was a chance for Croatian products to be sold in Italy. PAM plans to employ about 120 locals for the supermarket. Also present at the agreement signing was Gruppo PAM president Giovani Paolo Giol and director Mario Guarini, Italy's general- consul in Rijeka Mario Musella, Rijeka Mayor Slavko Linic and Rijeka WTC president Marijan Kljucaricek. (Hina) mbr 311459 MET jul 98