ZAGREB TRADE FAIR EXCEEDS ALL EXPECTATIONS - GENERAL MANAGER

ZAGREB, Sept 21 (Hina) - This year's Autumn International Trade Fair in Zagreb has exceeded all expectations and, according to the number of exhibitors, it has set a new record in its 72-year- long history, Zagreb Trade Fair general manager Jurica Pavelic said on Saturday. Pavelic told a news conference that an estimated 230,000 people, of whom 90,000 businessmen, would have visited the week- long event due to close on Sunday. It involved 2961 exhibitors from 51 countries, mostly from Croatia and Slovenia, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Italy and Macedonia. Recalling that this year's partner country was Spain, Pavelic said that 33 seminars, attended by more than 6,000 business people and experts, had been held. The event, opened by Croatian President Franjo Tudjman, was visited by many foreign government delegation, he said, adding that more than 50 percent of business meetings were held at international level. Presenting results of a survey, Pavletic said that 96 percent of 627 exhibitors surveyed had expressed satisfaction with the event; 69 percent had closed major deals with domestic partners and 15 percent with foreign partners; more than 70 percent respondents said their expectations had been met. A separate survey which covered 963 business visitors showed that 86 percent of them had closed more deals than expected, Pavletic said. (hina) vm 211612 MET sep 96