CROATIAN P.M. PRESENTS INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES TO GERMAN BUSINESS PEOPLE

PEOPLE FRANKFURT, Oct 15 (Hina) - Croatian Prime Minister Zlatko Matesa met in Frankfurt on Wednesday with representatives of Deutsche Bank and several leading German companies to discuss possibilities of direct investment in the Croatian economy. Matesa told reporters after the talks that the Croatian delegation informed the German companies, which are Deutsche Bank's major clients, about the economic and political situation in Croatia in order to encourage their investments. Matesa stressed that they did not talk about loans but about "a higher form of cooperation." Last year nearly DM 800 million was invested in Croatia, which was the third largest investment in a transition country, after Hungary and the Czech Republic, in relation to gross domestic product. "Croatia is becoming increasingly attractive," Matesa stressed. The meeting involved representatives of companies from the area of tourism, industry, construction, and others, he added. "That is what Croatia needs most - increasing the quality of Croatian tourism and tourist services and investment in the infrastructure, motorways and the industry," Matesa said. A member of the Deutsche Bank management board, Michael Endres, expressed satisfaction with the visit of the Croatian government delegation. The Croatian delegation included National Bank Governor Marko Skreb and Economy Minister Nenad Porges. The meeting brought together representatives of leading German companies, including Walter Bau, BASF, Siemens, ARAL, Touristik Union, and Hailderberger Zement. (hina) vm jn 152152 MET oct 97