December 28 (SeeNews) - Trade unions are eager to receive a final answer whether Croatia's government wants to rescue the country's ailing shipbuilding sector, the chairman of the Union of Autonomous Trade Unions (SSSH), Mladen Novosel, has said, local media reported on Friday.
The cash-strapped shipyards Uljanik and 3 Maj can survive by joining forces with a strategic partner - a model which will allow them to manufacture vessels competitive on both the European and global markets, HINA news agency quoted Novosel as saying ahead of a meeting on the future of Uljanik and 3 Maj held at the Ministry of Economy.
The government must finally say within the next 30 days whether it has found a strategic partner or not, Novosel added.
If no partner is found, the Commercial Court will come up with a final decision whether to launch bankruptcy proceedings for 3 Maj.
On December 13, economy minister Darko Horvat said that two companies have expressed interest in entering the data room of Uljanik shipbuilding group and have pledged to make "a very serious offer within five weeks". He revealed no further details.
On December 21, the supervisory board and the management board of the group decided to revoke the selection of Kermas Energija as a strategic partner. Uljanik picked Kermas Energija as its strategic partner in March, under its call for recapitalisation.
Uljanik has been in financial trouble for some time due to the adverse effects of the global financial crisis on the shipbuilding sector in general which has led to a drop in orders for new vessels.