ZAGREB, Jan 23 (Hina) - Representatives of some 60 Croatian and 24 Austrian manufacturers of plastic discussed cooperation at the Croatian Chamber of Crafts (HOK) in Zagreb on Thursday.
ZAGREB, Jan 23 (Hina) - Representatives of some 60 Croatian and 24
Austrian manufacturers of plastic discussed cooperation at the
Croatian Chamber of Crafts (HOK) in Zagreb on Thursday. #L#
This is the first such meeting of Austrian and Croatian craftsmen
and business people to take place in Croatia with the aim of
establishing links between producers and buyers, increasing
export, and securing contracts on finishing jobs and the purchase
of production material and equipment.
The head of the government office for economic development of
Austria's Styria province, Josef Hochfellner, said that over the
past years, Styria's government had done a lot to boost cooperation
between the two countries. Small and medium-sized businesses
account for 97% of all businesses in Styria and the situation in
Croatia is similar, Hochfellner said, calling for similar business
meetings.
The head of the HOK's rubber and plastic industry sector, Vladimir
Ferdelji, said the domestic industry of plastic faced a number of
problems, such as obsolete equipment, reduced production and the
closing down of small companies. In 1990, Croatia produced 162,000
tonnes of plastic and rubber, while in 2000 production dropped to
64,000 tonnes, Ferdelji said.
The latest data on Croatian-Austrian trade show that Croatia's
exports to Austria in the first 11 months of 2002 totalled 337.7
million US dollars, which is 37% more than in the same period of
2001. At the same time, imports from Austria rose by 12.2% to 653.7%
million dollars.
Today's meeting was organised by the HOK, the Croatian Chamber of
Commerce, the Croatian-Austrian Chamber of Commerce and the
government office of the federal province of Styria.
(hina) rml