ZAGREB, 23 Sept (Hina) - The Croatian President Franjo Tudjman and Turkey's President Suleyman Demirel on Tuesday addressed the members of the Croatian-Turkish business council, which held its second session in the Croatian Chamber of
Commerce in Zagreb.
ZAGREB, 23 Sept (Hina) - The Croatian President Franjo Tudjman and
Turkey's President Suleyman Demirel on Tuesday addressed the members
of the Croatian-Turkish business council, which held its second
session in the Croatian Chamber of Commerce in Zagreb. #L#
Tudjman recalled Croatia's economic achievements and the
course of the restructuring of its economy. Croatia was one of the
least indebted countries in transition and the planned rate of
growth of the gross national product in 1997 would be between six
and seven per cent, with a possibility to maintain that level in the
next medium term period, Tudjman said.
The existing 40 to 50 million dollars of the annual goods
exchange between Croatia and Turkey are not satisfactory, because
there is mutual interest and there are possibilities for the
widening of cooperation, Tudjman said.
The agreement on the avoidance of double taxation, signed
yesterday, would have a strong influence on the Croatian-Turkish
cooperation, he said.
It could enable large joint projects, especially in the
construction of infrastructure, cooperation on third markets,
tourism, transport etc, Tudjman said, calling on Croatian and
Turkish business people to cooperate on joint projects of
reconstruction and economic development of the Croat-Muslim
Federation and its economic linking with Croatia.
Turkey's Demirel said that the time had come for the economic
cooperation to be lifted on the level of political cooperation,
which he judged excellent.
Speaking about the possible areas of cooperation, Demirel
singled out the construction of infrastructure and construction
works, reconstruction, power industry, banking and tourism. Joint
participation on the market of Bosnia-Herzegovina and in third
countries is possible, Demirel said.
It had been agreed that Turkey be presented as a partner-
country at the Zagreb International Autumn Trade Fair in 1998,
Demirel said.
The heads of the Croatian and Turkish Chambers of Commerce
Nadan Vidosevic and Fuat Miras, respectively, spoke in their
introductory speeches about the current indicators of economy in
both countries.
They estimated that the current trade, amounting currently to
40 million dollars, of which Croatia's export to Turkey amounts to
12,7 million dollars, was not enough for Croatia's potential.
Turkish business people conveyed the interest of the Turkish
Exim bank to support Turkish and Turkish-Croatian investments into
Croatia.
They proposed the establishment of free zones, adding that
more intense exchange of information on products, companies and
their possibilities would contribute to the improvement of trade.
The session was attended by the Croatian, Bosnian and Turkish
business people and presidents of chambers of commerce.
The Croatian Premier Zlatko Matesa, Finance Minister Borislav
Skegro, the Presidential Chief-Of-Staff Hrvoje Sarinic and the
President of the Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina Vladimir Soljic
attended the session to a part .
Representatives of some 40 Turkish and 60 Croatian and Bosnian
companies this afternoon held business talks on possible
cooperation.
(hina) jn rm
231529 MET sep 97