EBRD GRANTS LOAN FOR NATIONAL WHOLESALE MARKET TO CROATIA

( Editorial: --> 6718 ) ZAGREB, 8 Dec (Hina) - A contract on an European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) loan for the project of the national wholesale market was signed in the Croatian Agriculture and Forestry Ministry on Monday. The loan is worth 33.5 million German marks. It is to be paid in 14 years with a grace period of four years and fixed interest rate of 6.44 per cent. The contract was signed by the head of the EBRD Agriculture Sector, Hans Christian Jacobsen, and Croatia's Agriculture and Forestry Minister Zlatko Dominikovic. The payment of the EBRD loan is guaranteed by the Government, whose share in the project amounts to US$6.5 million. The wholesale market project is aimed at the establishment of a sale centre for fresh products in Zagreb and five regional wholesale market centres in Osijek, Rijeka, Zadar, Split and Metkovic. The Agriculture and Forestry Ministry started the construction of the wholesale market centres in 1995, in line with guidelines from the Strategy of Agricultural Development. (hina) mm rm 081347 MET dec 97