Croatia Stands Out with Digital Leap Among OECD Candidates

On the second day of the OECD Council ministerial meeting, Minister of Economy Ante Šušnjar participated in discussions on digital transformation, circular economy, artificial intelligence, and responsible business practices, the ministry reported on Wednesday.

Šušnjar presented concrete results that Croatia is achieving on its path towards a sustainable and resilient economy.

– For Croatia, digital transformation is a national priority. Through the digitalization support program, 481 projects have been contracted so far, with a total of 27.3 million euros in support allocated. Concurrently, around 1900 vouchers for digitalization have been approved, with a total value of nearly 10 million euros in non-repayable funds,” emphasized Šušnjar.

The establishment of four European digital innovation centers was also highlighted, with over 13 million euros in support. The centers will provide small and medium-sized enterprises with the opportunity to test new technologies, develop skills, and access financing.

During the discussion on artificial intelligence, the minister pointed out that, among the few in the world, Croatia is introducing education on artificial intelligence into curricula starting from primary school.

As part of the two-day ministerial meeting, Šušnjar, together with Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Gordan Grlić Radman and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Marko Primorac, participated in a working dinner for candidate countries for OECD accession, led by Secretary-General Mathias Cormann.

During the dinner, significant progress made by Croatia in meeting membership criteria was highlighted, along with a clear political will and concrete results achieved in key areas. Strong support for the continuation of the process was expressed in discussions, with the belief that Croatia will fulfill all remaining obligations by the end of the year, thereby creating conditions for OECD membership, in line with the Government of the Republic of Croatia’s plan for 2026.

– In my conversation with OECD Secretary-General Cormann, I emphasized the strategic leap in the field of nuclear energy, particularly small modular reactors, as well as efforts to reduce administrative barriers. This strengthens the investment climate and enhances the long-term competitiveness of the Croatian economy,” said Šušnjar.