CROATIAN-HUNGARIAN BUSINESS FORUM TAKES PLACE IN BUDAPEST

( Editorial: --> 2007 ) BUDAPEST, Mar 24 (Hina) - Representatives of more than 40 Croatian and more then 100 Hungarian companies Tuesday took part in the Croatian-Hungarian Business Forum taking place in Budapest as part of the week-long manifestation "Croatian Days in Budapest". The forum was organised by the Croatian and Hungarian Chambers of Commerce. Businessmen of the two countries held talks about concrete joint business projects and possibilities of increasing mutual exchange of commodities. In her introductory speech, Biserka Paukovic, a representative of the Croatian Chamber of Commerce, said it was very important to sign a Croatian-Hungarian agreement on free trade as soon as possible. That document will increase Croatia's export to Hungary, she said, as current Hungarian tariffs are considerably higher which, Paukovic pointed out, is one of the causes for the disproportionate commodity exchange to Croatia's expense. Today it was also said that after a two-year hiatus, the Hungarian oil company Mol was again greatly interested in the purchase of 12.5 per cent of shares of Croatia's Jadranski Naftovod. Hungary's Midepito, a bridge-construction company, will take part in the renovation of one part of Ploce Harbour, southern Croatia. Negotiations on the participation of Hungarian company Ganz in the renovation of derricks in Rijeka Harbour, northern Adriatic, are progressing well, it was said at the forum. (hina) ha jn 241629 MET mar 98