SLOVENIAN BUSINESSMEN VISIT PORT OF PLOCE

PLOCE, Jan 26 (Hina) - A group of Slovenian businessmen, on return from Sarajevo, visited Croatian port of Ploce on Friday. The group which included managers of several major Slovenian industries toured around the port installations in company of port manager Ivica Pavlovic and other local officials. Linked to a railroad artery through Bosnia-Herzegovina, the Adriatic port of Ploce (southwest of Mostar), has paid an indirect, but heavy price for the war. The port's managers, workers and all citizens were thus anxious to see any sign of recovery. The same goes for their Friday's guests as Bosnia-Herzegovina was a very important market for Slovenia's industry before the war. "After Dayton accords Bosnia has come into the focus of our attention again," chairing manager of the Slovenian Railways Co. Marijan Rehar said, adding that business would not be possible without the port of Ploce. An international passenger ship line between Slovenian port of Kopar, Ploce and Bari, Italy has been already established recently -- first ship entered Ploce last Sunday. (Hina) bk 261408 MET jan 96