CROATIA EXPECTS IMF TO UNFREEZE LOAN - FINANCE MINISTER

LONDON, Oct 6 (Hina) - Croatia has fulfilled all conditions of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and expects the IMF to decide to unfreeze a loan on Friday, Croatian Finance Minister Borislav Skegro told reporters in London on Monday prior to a one-day business conference on trade and investing in Croatia. Answering reporters, Skegro said in 1997, Croatia expects a strong social product economic growth, a 3.5 percent inflation rate, a six percent deficit in the balance of goods and services of the social product, and a two percent budget deficit. The projection of economic indicators for 1998 starts with figures similar for 1997, he added. This year Croatia will not issue new bonds on the European market, Minister Skegro said, but one bond in the Japanese yen will probably issued next year. Croatia will previously ask Japanese agencies for the evaluation of the capacity to service debts to evaluate its credit rating, he added. Finance Minister Skegro is heading a Croatian delegation partaking in a business conference organised by the British Industries Association and the Institute for International Relations from Zagreb. The conference is chaired by Norman Wooding, who represents the British industries. The present volume of trade and investing between Great Britain and Croatia is unsatisfactory, he said, adding it does not reflect the real possibilities that "industrially- developed Croatia" can offer. Great Britain is strongly interested in conducting business with Croatia, Wooding said, adding the British businessmen's interest is visible in the big turn-out at today's conference. (hina) ha jn 061610 MET oct 97