CRO ECONOMY MINISTER PRESENTS CROATIA AT CONFERENCE IN NEW YORK ( Editorial: --> 9287 )

( Editorial: --> 9287 ) WASHINGTON, Nov 8 (Hina) - Croatian Economy Minister Nenad Porges on Saturday described the Conference on Investments into Central and Eastern Europe and Russia which took place in New York as a good opportunity to present Croatia's potentials and to expand the interest in investing in Croatia through direct contact. "This was a good opportunity to present Croatia before a number of representatives of American companies, almost a hundred of them," Porges said. The conference was organised on Thursday and Friday by the leading British investment bank "Robert Flemings". Presented were the potentials of Croatia, the Czech Republic and Hungary, as well as about 15 companies from central Europe and Russia. Accompanying Porges was the director of Croatia's oil company INA, Davor Stern. The conference drew representatives of almost one hundred leading American investment companies and banks, from "Merill Lynch" and "Prudential" to "City Bank". Porges held talks with the chief advisor of the Czech President, Jirzhi Vajgl, about bilateral relations and Croatia's efforts aimed at being admitted into CEFTA. Talks with representatives of the conference's organisers focused on placing INA and a Croatian food processing company, "Podravka" on the international market. Porges also held talks with representatives of several American companies interested in opportunities of investment into Croatia. (hina) lm 081655 MET nov 97