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Post by CroatianSerbAbroad on May 17, 2005 23:49:47 GMT 1
Ohh dear thats a shame we wont become the new Israel for the US in the region, i am gutted!!.
I say good for Mesic for standing up to the US on this policy, so what if we dont become the new US puppy dog in the region.
And before people start replying about the anti-US and pro EU position, I would far more trust the EU than the US.
Remember Saddam was once a big friend of the US, look what happened to him and his country.
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Post by star on May 18, 2005 0:35:25 GMT 1
And being tied to the US would almost certainly involve sending troops to Iraq. Not an easy sell to the Croatian public given the horror stories coming out of there. The US is desperate for more allies to help in Iraq so they can move on to the next target. Still, looks as if the EU isn't about to help Croatia anytime soon either. I forget who said it on this forum awhile back but Croatia is in "the wrong place at the wrong time as usual".  |
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Post by EMIZ on May 18, 2005 14:25:29 GMT 1
Yes I agree isolating yourself from the world's super power is a wonderful idea  |
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Post by CroatianSerbAbroad on May 18, 2005 16:48:06 GMT 1
Emiz it is not about isolation, you can have "alliances" with these countries without engaging to the levels where you become the "puppy dog" of that country.
It is all about trade and what is reciprocal and to the benefit of countries, is the death of 100 Croatians in Iraq worth a few hundred thousand dollars in aid. These sort of actions are exactly what the nationalists and extremists want, it would make them more powerful and then those 100 deaths could become a new war involving 100,000 deaths? - all for a bit of EU and US aid.
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Post by EMIZ on May 18, 2005 17:23:52 GMT 1
Speaking of aid does anybody have any figures of foreign aid into this country?
Croatia has very little to export that USwould want.
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Post by Ghost Writer on May 18, 2005 21:43:27 GMT 1
I don't think that is true that there is little that the US would want from Croatia.
I know this is small but it still could work for Croatia.
Food & Agriculture export to US.
When you are in American markets they have products from all over the world.
There are or at least in my experience seen in on the shelfs in america these items.... and why would america need these items when they make them themselves.
I have seen:
Cookies & pastries from Mexico
Soda from mexico
Jams & jellies from Grmany, Belgium, Greece, Turkey, Spain.
Soda water from Italy, france, germany.
Olive oil from Spain, Greece, Italy.
Vinager from Italy
Pastries & cookies from Germany, Belgium, Denmark, S.Africa, England, Scotland
Choclate from Germany, Belgium, Turkey, Australia, England,
Tea & Coffee from around the world.
Wine from around the world
;D So why can't Croatia export the same kind of stuff?
For sure we could sell dried fruits like figs & Cherries & our jams & jellys are great.
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Post by EMIZ on May 19, 2005 8:54:31 GMT 1
Because most of the stuff produced here is ****, its also very expensive, Croatia production techniques of food stuffs is old fashioned which means the food has a very short shelf life. Companies do not use starches that will enhance their shelf life.
Cookies and pastries here- terrible, hey go stale after one day.
Sodas, Cedevita is probably the best, but i can't see granule drinks making a splash stateside.
Jam- It is easy to buy good jam here, but not at good prices so by the time it got to the us, it would be far too expensive.
Olive oil.....Croatia produces fantastic olive oil, here is an area that they could export to usa, the problem is a lot of the producers are too small, to offer good prices.
Vinegar, not sure about this one..anyone else??
Chocolate, I don't know of a good chocolate maker in Croatia.
tea and coffee...hmm.
Wine...Croatia has some good wines, but its not easy to suddenly sell large enough quantities to make shipping to the states cost efficient.
Croatia companies generally produce over priced products of poor quality.
You also have to take into consideration shipping costs to the states, and the world move to local for local products in certain areas.
One market that Croatia is an expert in is shipbuilding, I know some very important people in this industry and they tell me that Croatia new buildings (vessels) are the best in the world, the only problem is the state control which is hindering development.
Croatia basically produces asphalt carriers, time to expand. China wants more ships than the world can produce.
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Post by Ghost Writer on May 19, 2005 18:34:55 GMT 1
Ship building good idea but I have heard that they can't get enough Croatians to work at ship building that they are bring in labor from other countries.... has anyone else heard about this?
I think alot of Croatian products are good. I have sent stuff to family in USA they loved it. The only problem is it is so expensive to mail to usa.
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Post by star on May 19, 2005 20:43:36 GMT 1
I see alot of croatian products here on supermarket shelves. Ajvar and Kras cookies seem especially popular.
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Post by EMIZ on May 19, 2005 22:03:42 GMT 1
Kras cookies are not bad, there were a customer of mine when I was I was importing modified starch.
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Post by star on May 19, 2005 22:29:12 GMT 1
I think Ajvar is ready to explode as a condiment in North America. I never tried it before I visited Croatia some years back. Much better than ketchup to me! Anyone up for a business venture? ;D
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Post by Ghost Writer on May 20, 2005 3:09:56 GMT 1
I think Ajvar is ready to explode as a condiment in North America. I never tried it before I visited Croatia some years back. Much better than ketchup to me! Anyone up for a business venture? ;D Hey sounds good.... I will send you products in turn you sell them to the americans... Do you think Americans will like Ajvar. We make our own homemade stuff. |
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Post by star on May 20, 2005 3:39:15 GMT 1
I don't know to tell you the truth. It does seem to be very popular around here, though I live in a slavic neighbourhood. The Polish and Russian stores are selling them too. I tried the Macedonian one but it tasted awful. Too much eggplant I think. |
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Post by EMIZ on May 20, 2005 8:29:21 GMT 1
Ahh that's how importing works, somebody buys it from a store and posts it in the mail...and then the person at the other end..sells it in another store.....wow it seems so easy  |
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Post by Mark Cognevich on May 20, 2005 16:29:35 GMT 1
The store where I live in Louisiana carries Ajvar and a few other Croatian products Cookies, candy, Mineral water, spices and a few others but like star said we have many Croatians live here so they sell very well.
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