Horvat: Today we will be ready for a final decision on Uljanik and 3. maj

Minister of Economy, Entrepreneurship and Crafts Darko Horvat stated on Thursday that the Government wants the survival of shipbuilding in Rijeka and Pula, but not in this manner, and that after today’s presentation to the Management and the strategic partner of the models within which solutions are sought, the Government will be ready for a final decision.

“After today, and the presentation to the management and then to the strategic partner of the modalities within which we are seeking a solution, I believe we will be ready for a final decision on what and how to do with Uljanik and 3. maj,” said Horvat as he entered Banski dvori.

He stated that the Government is currently considering and wants the survival of shipbuilding in Rijeka and Pula, but not in this way. “We want shipbuilding to become profitable. Evidence of this are Viktor Lenac and Brodosplit. In the privatization models that both Viktor Lenac and Brodosplit have gone through, we are seeking a solution for Pula and Rijeka as well,” Horvat stated.

>>> Workers of Uljanik Group in general strike: No one thinks about how we will feed our children, buy school books

In response to a journalist’s question before the start of the Government session about whether HBOR can help with Uljanik through a loan, Horvat stated that at this moment within the solutions that this development bank can offer, “there is simply no legal framework” based on which a loan or new credit could be issued to the strategic partner or Uljanik without any real collateral.

“So we will have to, if we find a modality, seek it outside of HBOR,” Horvat asserted.

When asked where the solution would be sought, he replied: “still within the framework of the Republic of Croatia.”

Workers of the Rijeka Shipyard “3. maj” and the Pula Uljanik, about 4,500 workers employed in all seven companies of the Uljanik Group, continued the general strike that they started on Wednesday morning because they have not yet received their salaries for July.