AUTUMN INTERNATIONAL ZAGREB FAIR TO BE OPENED ON 16 SEPTEMBER

ZAGREB, Sept 11 (Hina) - Some 2,961 exhibitors from 51 countries of the world, out of which 1,246 from Croatia, will participate in the Autumn International Zagreb Fair which is to take place from 16 to 22 September. The presentation will be opened by Croatian President Franjo Tudjman, and Spain will be presented as the partner country. #L# Stressing that the Fair is to be held for the 40th time, the Zagreb Fair general manager Jurica Pavelic told a news conference that this year's show would be by far more successful than any of those held in the last five years. The total number of exhibitors is 15% larger than last year, the number of foreign exhibitors has increased by 31 percent and more than 250,000 visitors are expected to show up, a third of which business people. Pavelic stressed that for the first time after many years, a waiting list of exhibitors had been introduced, because the whole of the available space of 142,500 metres squared had been sold. Nineteen countries are to present their business at collective exhibitions, and six countries are to be presented for the first time since 1990 - China, Canada, Greece, Egypt, Chile and Portugal. One of the customs of the International Autumn Zagreb Fair is presenting the partner country. This year it is Spain, whose total exchange of goods with Croatia amounts to 72 million dollars. A Spanish exhibition would be opened in the presence of President Tudjman and a Spanish-Croatian business seminar was planned, as well as the week of gastronomy, the week of Spanish film and a book exhibition at the National and University Library, the trade advisor with the Spanish Embassy in Zagreb, Alejandro Nieto, said. (hina) lm jn 111636 MET sep 96