Minister Gordan Jandroković delivered opening remarks at seminar entitled “Doing Business with Canada”

The seminar was organized by the Canadian Embassy to Croatia, the Canadian-Croatian Business Network and the Croatian Chamber of Economy, under the auspices of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration

Minister Jandroković praised the partnership between Croatia and Canada, unburdened by outstanding issues and seeing numerous highest-level visits. He singled out the visit by Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper to Croatia in May this year and the meetings with Lynne Yelich, the first Canadian minister of Croatian descent. He thanked Canada for its strong support for Croatia’s NATO accession, as well as for the support during the EU talks. As an important link between the two countries he pointed out the numerous Croatian community in Canada, as well as the industrious community of Croats who had returned from Canada and were now living in Croatia.

Minister Jandroković said that in the future, special attention needed to be paid to the economic cooperation. He emphasized that Croatia, who had become Canada’s number one partner in the region, wished to further deepen the economic partnership, intensify the trade, investment, energy and the overall economic relations, as well as become Canada’s strategic and economic partner for this part of Europe.

He expressed conviction that that would be augmented by the planned opening of the Canadian trade office in Zagreb as well. Along with the other advantages, the closing of the EU talks the next year will further increase Croatia’s attractiveness to the Canadian investors, said the minister. In that regard, he mentioned Prime Minister Kosor’s exceptionally successful meeting the day before with European Commission President Barroso and Vice-President and Justice Commissioner Reding, who had expressed strong support for the continuation of the reforms.

Pointing out the 30 projects from the Croatian Government’s new investment cycle, Minister Jandroković said he was convinced some of them would appeal to the Canadian investors as well.

Conclusively, Minister Jandroković told the attending businessmen they could always count on the support from the Croatian diplomatic and consular network, both in terms of offering information about the Canadian market, and assistance in presentation and establishing first contacts with the potential partners in Canada.

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