Not only do we have an interest, but we have also initiated concrete discussions

In complete silence, without any official media announcement, Igor Ivanovich Sechin, one of the most powerful figures in the global oil business, arrived in Zagreb yesterday, reports Večernji list.

Sechin, a former deputy of Putin and the current head of Rosneft – the largest oil company in the world whose shares are traded on the stock exchange – held a meeting in Zagreb with Prime Minister Zoran Milanović and Minister of Economy Ivan Vrdoljak, and was also received by President Ivo Josipović.
In an interview with Večernji list Sechin stated that now is the best time for Croatian-Russian business cooperation and that the current approach of the Russian and Croatian state leadership is undoubtedly open to this.
– There are three essential prerequisites. We must find mutual interest, have mutual trust, and formulate projects that are long-term. I just discussed this with the Prime Minister today and I have the impression that the meetings were very high-quality and operational – said Sechin.

When asked by journalists what Rosneft’s interest in Croatia is, he stated that they are very active in the Mediterranean market and recognize Croatia’s great potential, not only due to its imminent entry into the European Union.

– Croatia is located at the crossroads of the Balkans and developed European countries, which is an exceptional geographical position. Therefore, Croatia is an interesting market for Rosneft in itself, but it has all the development perspectives to become a transport and energy hub for all countries in the region. Thus, we not only have an interest in developing business in Croatia, but we have also initiated concrete discussions about possible projects on which we would collaborate – announced the head of Rosneft to Večernji list, explaining that this primarily concerns the storage of oil and oil derivatives, the segment of supplying aircraft with fuel, and projects in the oil refining and petrochemical segments.