Popijač: We Want to Create a Favorable Environment for Investors

Croatia aims to create a favorable atmosphere and environment for foreign investors and needs foreign investments, especially in industry and manufacturing, said Croatian Minister of Economy, Labor and Entrepreneurship Đuro Popijač on Wednesday at the annual assembly of the Croatian-Austrian Chamber of Commerce in Vienna.

Croatia needs new investments, particularly in industry and manufacturing, as well as in economic sectors that open new production facilities and stimulate employment growth, said Minister Popijač before nearly a hundred representatives of Austrian economic and financial institutions. "Austria is one of the largest foreign investors in Croatia, and we must do everything to continue increasing trade exchange, especially exports from Croatia to Austria," said Popijač. According to him, Croatia wants to be at the top of the priority list for all foreign investors, particularly from European Union countries, which are already the largest investors in Croatia. Popijač expects that economically recovered Europe will enter a new investment cycle. Reminding of the traditionally good Croatian-Austrian relations, Popijač thanked Austria for its support to Croatia in negotiations with the European Union. "There are several areas where cooperation can be improved. These are energy, tourism, and the environment. At the same time, these are the areas that currently interest Austrian investors the most," said Popijač.

 
Croatia ranks first in direct investments, but trade exchange during the crisis has decreased by about 26 percent. However, the participants of the meeting assessed that there are great opportunities for improving economic cooperation. Popijač stated that he expects the Croatian government’s economic measures program to stop negative trends, that seasonal effects will have a beneficial impact, and that the third and final quarter will be a time for improvement in economic activities. He expressed confidence that the Croatian government’s measures program will reduce costs for the economy, unleash its creative potential, and make Croatia an attractive destination for foreign and domestic investments. The Chairwoman of the National Committee for Monitoring Croatia’s Negotiations with the EU, Vesna Pusić, warned the participants of the meeting about the situation in the neighborhood. "Our region is a European issue; if we do not take responsibility, someone else will," Pusić told the participants. The President of the Croatian-Austrian Chamber of Commerce, Markus Mair, stated that the chamber will strive even more to increase Croatian exports to Austria and investments in Croatia. (H)