KOMIZA, May 10 (Hina) - Croatian Reconstruction and Development Ministry Council for Islands, on Friday held a session at which were present Croatian Premier Zlatko Matesa with associates.
KOMIZA, May 10 (Hina) - Croatian Reconstruction and Development
Ministry Council for Islands, on Friday held a session at which
were present Croatian Premier Zlatko Matesa with associates. #L#
The session focused on the final discussion of the "National
Program of Reconstruction of Islands" document, which the
government is to forward to the Parliament for a discussion in
June.
Reconstruction and Development Minister Jure Radic said that
the document was of strategic government importance for the
development of islands.
"We are proud in saying that Croatia is a country of a
thousand islands, there are exactly 1185 of them. They are of great
value, but have not been exploited or known enough. In order to get
something out of the islands, we have to invest in them. They
encompass 3,300 squared kilometres of Croatian territory. Some
110,000 people live on the islands, " Radic said.
The main problem was an ever decreasing number of residents on
the island, Radic said, adding that there were no young people, no
experts, and the infrastructure was in an alarming state.
"The national program encompasses a number of incentive plans
for settling on the islands. The islands will be divided into three
priority groups. The main goal of the program is to establish basis
conditions for the return of people to the islands and their
settling. Apartments will be given, as well as tax benefits for
entrepreneurs on the islands, which will attract investors," Radic
said.
Around 15 million kunas had been invested in the development
of islands last year and this year it would amount to 35 million
kunas, Radic said.
Matesa supported the open market business on the islands.
Beside areas damaged in the was, the government would provide
care for islands, Matesa said.
However, He added, without a good quality of life of
residents, there could be no development.
The government would plead for the program to be adopted at
the next Parliament session and that an act is passed, Matesa said.
Present at the meeting were also Transport and Communication
Minister Zeljko Luzavec, Administration Minister Davorin Mlakar,
Assistant Tourism Minister Velimir Simicic, members of the Island
Council, the Split County Prefect Kruno Peronja and Admiral Sveto
Letica.
(hina) lm
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