WASHINGTON, D.C.-(February 13, 2002) The U.S. Trade and Development Agency (TDA), in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Commerce (USDOC), cosponsored a full-day business briefing on the energy sector in Croatia. This briefing featured presentations on the upcoming privatization of three Croatian state-owned energy firms. TDA Director, Ms. Thelma Askey, and Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Europe at USDOC, Ms. Susanne Lotarski, opened today’s meeting before a packed audience of U.S. business representatives. The featured Croatian delegates included: Mr. Ivo Covic, President of HEP, the national electric company; Mr. Tomislav Dragicevic, President of INA, the national oil company; and Ms. Vesna Trnokop-Tanta, President of JANAF, the national oil pipeline company. Mrs. Maja Brinar, Deputy Minister of Economy in Croatia, briefed the audience on challenges and prospects presented by the energy sector. Representative George P. Radanovich (R-CA) also addressed the attendees regarding his experience on the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

The Government of Croatia is working to substantially reform the national energy sector in order to increase competition and create regulatory oversight in line with the accession rules of the European Union. This briefing advertised the attractive opportunities created for U.S. energy companies with the progress of such energy sector reforms. Plans for refinery upgrades, as well as transmission and distribution network improvements offer significant areas for U.S. industry involvement. TDA is active in this sector and recently approved a $410,000 feasibility study to assess the modernization of INA’s two refineries at Rijeka and Sisak.

The U.S. Trade and Development Agency promotes American private sector participation by helping U.S. companies pursue business opportunities in developing and middle income countries. Through the funding of feasibility studies, orientation visits, specialized training grants, business workshops, and various forms of technical assistance, we help American businesses compete for infrastructure projects in emerging markets. In addition, the agency promotes capacity building initiatives and supports U.S. government trade, economic policy and development objectives around the world. Since 1993, TDA’s activities in a variety of sectors in Croatia have resulted in over $66 million in U.S. exports.

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