NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR INDUSTRIAL DISTRICTS IN CROATIA

(AGI) - Rome, Italy, Feb 6th - Deputy Minister for Productive Activities in charge of foreign trade Adolfo Urso is due to meet with Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader and senior officials of the newly-appointed Croatian cabinet in Zagreb on Monday Feb 9th and Tuesday Feb 10th. After the election in November last year, the Croatian cabinet is led by an Hdz Party minority. Also attending the meeting will be Managing Director of Unicredito Bank, Alessandro Profumo, and chairman of Save Aeroporti of Venice, Enrico Marchi. On February 10th Mr. Urso and Croatian Secretary of State will take part in a meeting on industrial districts. The meeting will also be attended by leading trade union members of the three production sectors which will benefit from the 'Memorandum of Understanding' submitted by the Italian Ministry for Productive Activities to the Croatian government namely, Anci, representing Italian shoe manufacturers, Federlegno representing wooden furniture manufacturers and Smi representing textile and clothing industries. Representatives of Simest and Finest enterprises will attend the meeting joined by some of their Croatian share-holders. We are extremely satisfied with the improvement in bilateral economic relations with Croatia, Mr. Urso said. Italy has been the main commercial partner of Croatia since the year 2000. With regards to exports, Croatia is the second importer of Italian goods in South-Eastern Europe and the Balkans after Romania. Our direct investments in Croatia in the first 10 months of 2003 amount to nearly 20 million Euro. Italy has a leading role in the Croatian banking sector and in industrial gas distribution, Mr. Urso continued. Our enterprises are now aiming at creating new industrial districts specialising in the fashion and furniture sectors.
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061904 FEB 04

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