During official visit to Finland, Minister Gordan Jandroković opened Croatian-Finnish Economic Forum at European Commission’s Helsinki Office

After the opening words by Head of the European Commission’s Office in Finland Eikka Kosonen, Minister Jandroković delivered a speech before the present Croatian and Finnish businessmen

After the opening words by Head of the European Commission’s Office in Finland Eikka Kosonen, Minister Jandroković delivered a speech before the present Croatian and Finnish businessmen. Giving a short overview of Croatia’s recent history, the minister said that the Croatian state and people had endured far-reaching reforms that had led to the establishment of democracy, free market, and the rule of law. Pointing out that Newsweek had recently listed Croatia as 28th among the world’s best countries to live in, the minister gave individual macroeconomic indicators: GDP at 64% of the European average, stable kuna exchange rate, low inflation and low unemployment percentage.

As Croatia is one of the Mediterranean’s most attractive destinations, with its cultural and natural wealth, tourism is one of the most perspective branches of the Croatian economy, said Minister Jandroković. In the recently presented Croatian Government’s investment plan, tourism plays a prominent role, alongside energy and transport sector, drinking water management, and the strengthening of small and middle-sized entrepreneurships through Greenfield investments in production, said the minister, inviting Finnish companies to explore business opportunities within said investment plan.

The minister also pointed out that Croatia could be an attractive investment destination not only because of its EU-harmonized legislature and skilled workforce, but its position as a focal point for doing business in South Eastern Europe as well. Croatia can serve as an entry point for the markets of Middle and Far East, while its geostrategic position, as well as its port and transport infrastructure potential, make it an important destination for foreign investment. In that regard, the minister called for the strengthening of the Croatian-Finnish business cooperation in science, research and high technology, pointing out the already established cooperation in construction, energy and shipbuilding industry.

The Croatian business delegation at the Forum consisted of the companies Alveus, Brodosplit-Brodogradilište, Drvoproizvod, Đuro Đaković Montaža, Felis Produkti, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Radež, Vulkan Nova, Viševica Komp, Studio 6 Dof, and Zagreb Airport.

Speeches were also delivered by State Secretary at the Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pertti Torstila and International Relations Director at the Croatian Chamber of Economy Sunčanica Skupnjak Kapić.

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