KOSTIC: Agrokor and MK Group should join forces

(Miodrag Kostic)

As soon as the opportunity for the privatization of Croatian hotels arises, we are ready and waiting. The situation is the same when it comes to Croatian sugar refineries, Serbian "king of sugar" and the owner of MK Group, Miodrag Kostic, said on Saturday at the Forum "Food - what lines us up, it connects us held within the 80th Novi Sad Agricultural Fair.

Speaking about necessary joining of companies in the region, Miodrag Kostic presented his picture of joint company of Agrokor, MK Group, Atlantic, Nektar and Podravka named AMANP.

There would be an unbelievable interest for a joint venture, which would generate about USD 7 billion revenue and have one management, Kostic, said, and added that it would not be just a collection of simple numbers, but a multiplier. If we come to our senses on time, we will be only spectators at the big European match, Kostic said.

Otherwise, Kostic, according to Vecernji list, said that his company is ready to privatize Croatian hotels as soon as the opportunity arises.

- We are ready and waiting - Miodrag Kostic said.

According to the Zagreb’s Vecernji list, Kostic said that the same goes when it comes to Croatian sugar plants. The main sugar producer in Serbia, which in 2001 bought three local sugar plants for three euro, bought and now has 70% stake at Serbian market and is the largest exporter of sugar in Europe, has already announced several times penetration to the Croatian market and investment of around EUR 100 mil.

But since Agrokor has taken all positions and that all below EUR 50 mil is too small an investment, he joked, he was developing his business in recent years in Ukraine, which has more than 42 million hectares of agricultural land, and in Russia and Belarus.

According to Vecernji list, buying hotels in Croatia remains a primary goal for Serbian tycoon, since in Croatia, he only took a shot of nautical tourism by renting an impressive yacht worth $ 30 mil EUR.

But Kostic did not specify which part of the Croatian Adriatic he was interested in.

- Croatian tourism will be what agriculture is in Serbia – Kostic said, answering questions about the scenario in the region after Croatia joins EU, leaving CEFTA membership.