During official visit to Norway, Minister Jandroković opened Norwegian-Croatian Economic Forum at Oslo Chamber of Commerce

Accompanying Minister Jandroković is a delegation of Croatian businessmen, which have also participated in the Forum

Expressing satisfaction with the organization of this gathering which offers an opportunity to explore business possibilities and strengthen the economic cooperation between the two countries, Minister Jandroković pointed out that since the establishment of economic relations in 1992, the interest for cooperation among Croatian and Norwegian businessmen had been growing steadily, especially in the last few years.

Among the numerous economic potentials he pointed out both countries’ long-standing naval tradition, making up a large part of their identities. In that regard, he said that the Norwegian side had already recognized the expertise of Croatian shipbuilders, which contributed to the founding of the Croatian-Norwegian Maritime Innovation Centre in Šibenik. It should further strengthen the commercial and institutional cooperation, with an emphasis on the development projects and maritime innovations.

Minister Jandroković also expressed a wish for the Croatian companies to be included to a larger extent in Norway’s infrastructure projects. In light of the importance of increasing the share of renewable energy sources, he also expressed hope in the cooperation regarding the transfer of Norway’s related know-how technologies.

Minister Jandroković invited the Norwegian businessmen to use the competitiveness and special characteristics of the Croatian economy, as well as its geographic position in South Eastern Europe. He stressed the need for opening the Zagreb-Oslo air route, saying it would further benefit business contacts and increase the number of Norwegian tourists visiting the Croatian Adriatic.

On the Norwegian side, remarks were delivered by Pål Julius Skogholt, Secretary of State at the Norwegian Ministry of Trade and Industry, and Bjørn Bjørnsen, Director for Central Europe and Baltic at Innovation Norway.

Later on in the Forum, the representatives from the Croatian Chamber of Economy, the Export and Investment Promotion Agency and the Croatian Tourist Board presented Croatia’s various investment and business potentials. The Croatian and Norwegian businessmen also exchanged experiences and discussed the possibilities of further cooperation.

The Croatian companies participating in the Forum were the Jadranbrod shipbuilding group (Uljanik, 3. Maj, Kraljevica, Brodosplit, Brodosplit BSO, Brodotrogir, Viktor Lenac), the shipbuilding cluster Pastor Inženjering, the Small-Size Shipbuilding Cluster, Dalekovod Group, Montmontaža Group, Geofoto Group, Mardesign Ltd., Barfun Ltd., Elma Kurtalj Ltd., Verdispara, Ruđer Bošković Institute, the Association of Croatian Travel Agencies, and Zagreb Airport.

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