THE ECONOMY AND THE INFRASTRUCTURE:
Economic Overview: Before the current war, the republic of Croatia, after Slovenia, was the most prosperous and most industrialized area of the former Yugoslavia, with a per capita output about one third above the Yugoslav average. Croatia was especially strong in tourism, with its Dalmatian coast representing the most important Yugoslav attraction for foreign visitors.
The war, including the seizure by Croatian Serb separatists of approximately one third of Croatia's territory, including the road and rail links to coastal tourist sites, had a devastating effect on the Croatian economy. Some of this damage is being repaired since the recapture of the Krajina in August 1995. Other sources of Croatia's economic problems include the legacy of inefficiencies in the former economic system; large foreign debt; war damage to bridges, power facilities, factories and other buildings, and housing; a large refugee population, both from areas of Croatia and from Bosnia; and disruption of former economic ties to Serbia and other areas of former Yugoslavia.
The Bosnia Peace Agreement and prospects of a peaceful return of the last territory still held by Croatian Serbs present the best opportunity of the last four years for economic revival. However foreign assistance for infrastructure rebuilding is probably still needed, and substantial progress is still required in the rationalization of economic organization, before an economic turnaround can be expected
Urban Centers:
| City | Population (1991 Census) |
|---|---|
| Zagreb | |
| Split | |
| Rijeka | |
| Osijek |
Operational Movement: The islands and Dalmatian coast are connected by a number of ferries for passengers and cars. Croatia had an extensive road system, built partly to support the tourist industry.
Roads: As of 1991, Croatia had 27,368 km of roads, of which 22,176 are paved (including 302 km of expressways). The Zagreb-Slavonski Brod expressway, and the main routes between Zagreb and the central coast have been reopened since the Summer 1995 offensives against the Croatian Serbs.
Ports: These include Dubrovnik, Omis, Ploce, Pula, Rijeka, Sibenik, Split and Zadar.
Railways: There are 2,699 kilometers of 1.425 mm gauge railway track in Croatia. They are under the control of the Croatian State Railways (HZ). Repairs of war-damaged track are in progress. The Zagreb-Split line, cut by Croatian Serbs in 1991, was reopened for traffic already in mid August 1995.
Airports: There are a total of 76 airports. Two of these have paved runways over 3,047 meters, six have paved runways from 2,438 to 3,047 meters, two paved runways from 1,524 to 2,437 meters, one paved runway from 914 to 1,523 meters, and 55 paved runways under 914 meters. Ten runways are unpaved. More important airports include Zagreb, Rijeka-Krk, Split, Zadar, Dubrovnik, Pula, Osijek and Vrsar (in Istria). Croatian Airways flies Boeing 737-200/300s and ATR 72s.
Natural Resources: Most of Croatia's sources of oil and natural gas are located in the section of eastern Slavonia still under Serb occupation in December 1995. Croatia has mining operations that produce coal (brown coal and lignite), bauxite, iron ore, and china clay. Croatia is well-forested, has an ample and well-distributed supply of fresh water, and its agriculture normally produces a food surplus. Croatia's electricity is produced by both hydroelectric and coal-powered plants. Croatia has shared the output of the Krsko nuclear power plant in Slovenia, and has been disputing Slovenia's decision to close the plant for technical reasons.
Traditional Industries: Pre-war Croatian industry included chemicals and plastics, machine tools, fabricated metal, electronics, pig iron and rolled steel products, aluminum reduction, paper, wood products (including furniture), building materials (including cement), textiles, shipbuilding, petroleum and petroleum refining, food processing and beverages.
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