ROUND TABLE ON GOVT ECONOMIC POLICY, ENTREPRENEURS

ZAGREB, May 15 (Hina) - A round table, entitled "The Government's Economic Policy - Are Croatian Entrepreneurs Enterprising?", was held within the 6th Financial Forum in Zagreb on Tuesday. The event, which gathered representatives of the government, the central bank and businessmen, focused on problems hampering the development of businesses and foreign investments. Deputy Finance Minister Damir Kustrak said the government wanted to establish a stable fiscal policy, cooperate well with the bearers of the monetary policy and adjust the legislation to European standards, as well as protect the competitiveness of the Croatian market. Deputy Economy Minister Maja Brinar said the government should contribute to an investment-stimulating atmosphere and secure political, economic, legal and customs stability. The liquidity of the banking sector is high, there is enough money, a further decrease in interest rates is expected, but there are no good programmes and that is what entrepreneurs are expected to offer, Brinar said. Many participants in the round table pointed to the problem of a "disastrously low level of education of Croatian managers." Foreign guests at the event pointed to the problem of "political banking," which they nevertheless admitted was disappearing, to the tax policy which was discouraging entrepreneurship and to corruption, crime and the complicated and slow administrative procedure. (hina) sb rml