CROATIAN, HUNGARIAN BUSINESS MEETING HELD AT ZAGREB FAIR

ZAGREB, April 26 (Hina) - The April 1 agreement on free trade between Croatia and Hungary will contribute significantly to increasing trade between the two countries and Hungary could become one of Croatia's five most important partners, Dunja Konjevod, head of the Croatian Chamber of Commerce International Relations Department, said on Thursday. Konjevod was speaking at the opening of a Hungarian-Croatian business meeting at the Zagreb Fair. Hungarian business people are participating in the Zagreb Fair in a traditionally large number and their collective exhibition has been financed by the Hungarian Agency for Investment and Trade Development Stimulation, said Tibor Suelt of the Hungarian Embassy in Zagreb. Representatives of some 50 Croatian companies are participating in the talks with Hungarian business people. The Croatian-Hungarian trade last year increased to USD 244 million, of which Croatia's exports accounted for USD 60 million, Konjevod said, stressing the importance of the turnover Croatia was realising from Hungarian tourist arrivals. Economic indicators show that Croatia's economy is stable despite many problems and the signing of the free trade agreement enables Croatian companies to prove that they are competitive, Konjevod said. In that process, Croatia should learn from Hungary, which has already completed the process of market opening and currently has one of Europe's fastest growth rates, she said. (hina) rml