CROATIA ATTENDS TEL AVIV TRADE & INDUSTRY EXHIBITION

( Editorial: --> 9606 ) TEL AVIV, April 26 (Hina) - The international trade and industry exhibition "Europa-Israel 98" was opened on Sunday in Tel Aviv, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Israeli state. The event has gathered 150 exhibitors from 12 countries. The president of the Croatian Chamber of Commerce (HGK), Nadan Vidosevic, is heading a Croatian delegation. Thirty Croatian exhibitors are participating in the event. Their presentation was organised by the HGK, Economy Ministry, Croatian Embassy in Israel and Zagreb Fair. Israeli business people have shown interest in Croatia's agriculture and food processing industry, as well as in high technology. According to Croatia's Ambassador to Israel, Svjetlan Berkovic, negotiations on several agreements between Croatia and Israel - such as those on cooperation in investment protection and stimulation, tourism, air traffic and economy - are being brought to an end. Some of these agreements are expected to be signed in May, during Foreign Minister Mate Granic's visit to Israel, Berkovic said. A valuable contribution to the cooperation between the two countries is an Agreement on Cooperation between the HGK and the Federation of Israeli Chambers, signed on Sunday by HGK president Vidosevic and the president of the Federation of Israeli Chambers, Joseph Bahat. (hina) rm 261622 MET apr 98