Energy, tourism, and transport are the main areas of interest for establishing or deepening cooperation between Croatia and Azerbaijan, it was stated after today’s meetings of the delegation of the Republic of Azerbaijan with representatives of the Croatian Government.
Today, Croatian Prime Minister Zoran Milanović met with the Azerbaijani delegation led by Minister of Economic Development Shahin Mustafayev, after which the first Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Radimir Čačić and Minister of Maritime Affairs, Transport and Infrastructure Siniša Hajdaš Dončić also held meetings with the delegation.
In statements to reporters after the meeting, Čačić said that numerous areas of possible cooperation were discussed, such as railways, the refurbishment of locomotives and wagons, participation in gas corridors, tourism, and energy projects.
Among other things, the Azerbaijani delegation was presented with the LNG terminal project in Omišalj as an investment opportunity, and discussions were held about cooperation in participating in the Adriatic-Ionian gas pipeline, which would connect to the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) and provide Croatia with a new ‘Caspian’ gas source, Čačić said.
He also announced that details of 15 prepared energy projects worth 4 billion euros would be presented to them, as well as investment opportunities in tourism projects, and the Azerbaijani delegation would also visit the Port of Rijeka today, which is of interest to them due to oil transport possibilities.
So far, the foundation of cooperation between the two countries, Čačić said, has been shipbuilding, primarily through the Uljanik shipyard, which has delivered seven ships for the local market and continues cooperation with that and neighboring countries.
After the Croatian delegation, led by President Ivo Josipović, visited Baku in March this year, a legal framework was established to strengthen economic cooperation and expand it to other areas. For example, the Zagreb company Geofoto is soon expected to sign a contract worth 96 million dollars for mapping and cartography work in Azerbaijan, said the first Deputy Prime Minister Čačić.
Among the specific projects offered to the Azerbaijani delegation, Minister Hajdaš Dončić highlighted the projects of Osijek and Rijeka airports, for which a strategic partner is sought for management and potential expansion for new facilities, as these airports currently do not have sufficient traffic to be profitable.
Thus, in Osijek, it is planned to strengthen cargo traffic, and at Rijeka Airport both cargo and passenger traffic, in cooperation with a strategic partner through concession or partial privatization, while retaining a controlling stake of 25 percent ownership in the hands of the state and local government.
They were also offered services from HAC, which will become a design and engineering company in road construction after restructuring, as well as cooperation with companies for the production and maintenance of railway vehicles, such as TŽV Gredelj, Đuro Đaković Holding, and Končar, said Hajdaš Dončić.
Minister Mustafayev also emphasized the necessity of diversifying economic cooperation between the two countries, stating that Croatia is attractive to Azerbaijan for investment due to its geopolitical position, but also due to its imminent entry into the EU, considering that cooperation with European countries is a priority for Azerbaijan.
This country already has experience investing in neighboring countries of Croatia, and today’s visit to Croatia is an opportunity to explore and determine where cooperation can be accelerated and developed, and where to establish collaboration on projects of mutual interest, Mustafayev emphasized.
