Kosor: Croatia Offers a Range of Advantages to Global Investors

The Republic of Croatia offers a range of advantages and opportunities to global investors such as infrastructure readiness, an exceptional geopolitical position, a quality and educated workforce, and a competitive and attractive system of incentives and support for direct investments, emphasized the Prime Minister of Croatia, Jadranka Kosor, who today opened the “Croatian Investment Forum” with the President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Thomas Mirow.

At the forum, which is held a day before the EBRD Annual Meeting in Zagreb, Croatia presents its market and investment opportunities to representatives of international financial institutions, business banks, and investors. Today’s event is an opportunity to take a deeper look at the investment potential of the Croatian economy in order to strongly step into a new investment cycle, emphasized Prime Minister Kosor. She reminded that the recently adopted government program for economic recovery includes measures for the improvement and strong promotion of investment. From 1993 until the end of last year, total foreign direct investments in Croatia amounted to 24 billion euros, stated Kosor. EBRD President Thomas Mirow emphasized that the institution has invested more than two billion euros in Croatia since 1994.

“We will continue to support Croatia,” said Mirow, noting that the EBRD invested 242 million euros in small and medium-sized enterprises in Croatia in 2009. He highlighted that the EBRD has recently adopted a new strategy for Croatia, which is focused on supporting the corporate, financial, and investment sectors, aimed at enhancing the competitiveness of companies and increasing energy efficiency. He emphasized that the EBRD will support Croatia in its final steps towards EU accession.  As part of the Croatian Investment Forum, three panels will be held – investment potentials of Croatia, infrastructure and environmental protection, and investment opportunities in tourism, and an “Economic – Tourism Exhibition” will also be opened, which will last until the end of the EBRD Annual Meeting. (H)