Croatian government to sell stake in Podravka and other "strategic" companies to reduce debt | Progresiv
The Croatian government decided to remove eight firms from the list of those having strategic interest with a goal to make them eligible for possible sale which, if implemented, would help reduce high public debt. 
It said that for the sale of stakes in those companies it was first necessary to adopt certain legal changes which are expected to take place soon.
The companies involved include national flag carrier Croatia Airlines, operator of sea marinas ACI, the port of the northern Adriatic city of Rijeka, a small local bank Croatia Banka and fertilizer producer Petrokemija. Also, it includes insurer company Croatia Osiguranje, major food company Podravka and electrical concern Koncar.
The government has various level of stakes in those companies and has yet to make separate decisions on when, how and what stake to sell.
Croatia, one of the weakest European Union economies, has a public debt of 87 percent of gross domestic product and the centre-right government, which took office in January, vowed to reduce it to below 80 percent before the end of its four-year term. (www.reuters.com)
