Chinese Interested in Investing in Croatian Infrastructure and Transport, Poles in Energy and Transport

Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković held a bilateral meeting on Saturday in Riga with the Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of the People’s Republic of China, Li Keqiang. Additionally, on the sidelines of the 5th meeting of the heads of government of Central and Eastern European countries and China, the Croatian Prime Minister held a meeting with his Polish counterpart Beata Szydło.

With his Chinese counterpart Keqiang, Plenković agreed to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on cooperation in the area of ports and port industrial parks, which will be signed on the Croatian side by the Minister of Economy, Small and Medium Entrepreneurship and Crafts, Martina Dalić.

– We believe this is a good and quality framework for potential Chinese investments in Croatia in infrastructure and transport. This is particularly important considering the Croatian Three Seas Initiative (Baltic, Adriatic, and Black Sea) alongside the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative. In this way, we want to open up opportunities for economic cooperation, which is especially important in the context of establishing a direct air connection between China and Croatia, which would also enable a greater influx of Chinese tourists to Croatia, said the Croatian Prime Minister on this occasion.

China has over 1.3 billion inhabitants and has a trade exchange with Croatia of one billion dollars, which, according to Plenković, who emphasizes that China is a “global player,” should be increased.

– Of course, our framework is determined by cooperation between the EU and China. Thus, it is a strategic partnership aimed at promoting broader trade cooperation, and it is certain that all our export-oriented companies have room to find ways to place their products on the large Chinese market, added Plenković.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on cooperation in the area of ports and port industrial parks, between the Chinese National Development and Reform Commission and the Croatian Ministry of Economy, Small and Medium Entrepreneurship and Crafts, is an agreement between the two states to promote cooperation between the companies of the states in the areas of investment, construction, modernization, and management of ports, as well as the development, construction, and management of port industrial parks, investments in projects, and the construction of railways, highways, logistics, and storage related to ports and port industrial parks, and other areas agreed upon.

With Poland to Strengthen Cooperation in the Sectors of Energy and Transport

Croatia and Poland have the potential for stronger economic cooperation, especially in the sectors of energy and transport, is the conclusion of the meeting between Prime Minister Plenković and Polish Prime Minister Beata Szydło. It was emphasized that there is potential for stronger economic cooperation, particularly in the sectors of energy and transport. Polish Prime Minister Szydło expressed her country’s great interest in the Croatian economy and tourism, as Poles are among the most frequent guests on the Adriatic. From January to August this year, Croatia was visited by 649,877 Polish tourists. The prime ministers also discussed the migrant crisis, and the Polish Prime Minister invited her Croatian counterpart to visit her country.