PRESIDENT TUDJMAN OPENS ZAGREB AUTUMN TRADE FAIR (2ND VERSION)

( Editorial: --> 0312 ) ZAGREB, Sept 14 (Hina) - Croatian President Franjo Tudjman on Monday opened the 74th Zagreb Autumn Trade Fair (JMZV), the biggest international trade fair in Croatia and this part of Europe. This year the fair features 2,651 exhibitors from 42 countries. About 55 per cent of the exhibitors are from abroad, which proves that Croatia and the Zagreb Fair are places of high business interest for international entrepreneurs, Zagreb Fair managing director Jurica Pavelic said during the opening ceremony of the JMZV. President Tudjman pointed out to the basic directives of economic and social development. These include the further advancement and strengthening of a socially-orientated market economy system, and a further opening to the world and inclusion into international economic movements. Croatia's economic partner-country at this year's fair is the Czech Republic, whose Ambassador Jiri Kudela expressed a wish for even better economic relations with Croatia. Last year's partner-country was Poland whose Ambassador in Croatia, Jerzy Mieszyslaw Chmielewski, marked the exhibition as a significant contributor to the development of Polish-Croatian economic relations. The Polish Ambassador was given the Charter and the Gold Pin for his country's participation in the Zagreb Fair. The Autumn Trade Fair is followed by 20 expert groups which will gather about 3,000 scientists and entrepreneurs from Croatia and other countries. According to estimates, the fair will be visited by 200,000 people, of which 70,000 are business people. The International Fair of Textile Fabrics - Intertekstil will be held as a part of the Zagreb Autumn Trade Fair and it will present more than 210 exhibitors from 18 countries. Besides numerous business people, also attending the opening ceremony were members of the Croatian Parliament headed by the House of Counties President Katica Ivanisevic, members of the Croatian Government headed by Prime Minister Zlatko Matesa, the Croatian President's chief-of-staff Hrvoje Sarinic, members of the judicial authorities, high church dignitaries and representatives of the diplomatic corps. The 74th Zagreb Autumn Trade Fair is open until September 20. (Hina) it jn /mbr 141801 MET sep 98