ZAGREB, Sept 17 (Hina) - "The consolidation of economy and the reconstruction of economic 'ruins' are nearing the end, while at the same time, we are showing that we are creating adequate infrastructure for economic development,"
Croatian Premier Ivica Racan said at an economic forum which is being held at the International Zagreb Autumn Fair on Tuesday.
ZAGREB, Sept 17 (Hina) - "The consolidation of economy and the
reconstruction of economic 'ruins' are nearing the end, while at
the same time, we are showing that we are creating adequate
infrastructure for economic development," Croatian Premier Ivica
Racan said at an economic forum which is being held at the
International Zagreb Autumn Fair on Tuesday. #L#
At the traditional meeting of representatives of the Croatian
government and economists, the prime minister presented investment
plans for the power industry, road construction, railways, the
continuation of reconstruction in war-torn areas and socially
stimulated housing construction.
Strong and developed infrastructure is crucial for a long-term
sustainable economic development and it is a condition for direct
investments and encouragement to regional development, Racan
said.
Presenting power industry projects, Racan pointed out the
construction of the Ernestinovo transformer-station (investment
worth about 380 million kuna or EUR52 million) and the Zerjavinec
transformer station (270 million kuna or EUR37 million).
The prime minister said he expected that gas pipe lines would be
constructed in most of Croatia over the next several years.
A total of 460 million kuna (EUR63 million) will be invested in the
gas system, namely in the building of the Pula-Karlovac gas pipe-
line, a gas pipe-line to Dalmatia and the modernisation of the
existing gas network in central and eastern Croatia.
Strategic development projects in the construction of highways
were enabled by a new financing model, no longer from the budget,
but from the prices of oil products, Racan said
A total of 1,365 kilometres of highways are currently being or will
be built and by 2005, 2.4 million euros will be invested in the
highways.
The prime minister also spoke about a decision on the extension of
the construction of the Zagreb-Split highway.
Racan also presented investment plans for the railway worth about
2.6 billion kuna (0.35 billion euros) and the continuation of the
reconstruction project in war-torn areas worth 1.9 billion kuna
(0.26 billion). The 2002 budget earmarked 131 million kuna (17
million euros) for socially stimulated housing construction, while
the 2003 budget will earmark 232 million kuna (31.7 million euros)
for the same project.
He said the government's priority tasks were the reforms of the
state administration and judiciary. "This will not happen
overnight and both us and the future government must persist in
that," Racan said.
The prime minister informed numerous businessmen of macroeconomic
indicators and said this year's economic growth is expected to
reach 4.5 percent. The government is aware of a certain imbalance in
the exchange of goods, Racan said, and announced the government
would try to achieve a balance of export and import.
Also present at the traditional meeting at the Zagreb Autumn Fair
were numerous businessmen, vice premier Slavko Linic, Economy
Minister Ljubo Jurcic, Maritime, Transportation and
Communications Minister Roland Zuvanic and Tourism Minister Pave
Zupan Ruskovic.
(hina) it sb