Croatian shipbuilders could build ships for Brazil, says FM

Brazil could have its ships built in Croatian shipyards as well as gas and oil platform parts, Croatia's Foreign and European Affairs Minister Vesna Pusic said in Brazil on Tuesday after meeting with Brazil's Deputy Foreign Minister Sergio Danese.

Croatia is interested, she said, in "projects to construct ships for Brazil in Croatian shipyards and possibly parts for Brazilian platforms for oil and gas sea exploration."

We also agreed on a final draft of a Memorandum of Understanding as well as on delegating active roles to deputy foreign ministers to implement that project, a press release from the ministry says.

That means, Pusic said, that Croatian shipbuilders would come to Brazil not just to sign a general cooperation framework in shipbuilding but to attend concrete talks with potential Brazilian customers, shipping companies.

"Brazil intends to build about 500 ships by 2020. It cannot do this alone and that is why Croatian shipbuilders are particularly interesting," said Pusic.

During talks with Defence Minister Jacques Wagner, Pusic spoke about the possibility of Brazilian helicopter pilots coming to Croatia for training and about possible cooperation in training for UN missions, considering that a training centre for peace missions exists in Brazil.

The two officials discussed Croatia's participation in a military fair to be held in April in Brazil and the possibility of having Brazilian army uniforms made in Croatia.

Pusic is set to continue her South American tour on Tuesday and Wednesday in Columbia.

(Hina) sp

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