Progress in implementation of Croatian exporters support measures

The eight session of the Commission for Internationalisation of Croatia's Economy, led by Joško Klisović, the Commission’s coordinator and Deputy Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, was held 30 January 2015

The eight session of the Commission for Internationalisation of Croatia's Economy, led by Joško Klisović, the Commission’s coordinator and Deputy Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, was held 30 January 2015. The Commission discussed the achievement in the implementation of the 19 measures from the 2014-2015 Export Support Action Plan, outlined the measures for the first quarter of 2015 as well as presented the report on the Commission’s activities and the report on the implementation of the Action Plan.

In order to improve the effectiveness of promoting Croatia’s economy, following the interests of Croatian business people, events abroad are being identified which could see the introduction of national stands featuring a unique visual identity. The Croatian Chamber of Commerce (HGK) is drawing up criteria and gathering information about priority markets where fair participation model could be improved.  The HGK is also preparing a publication on the “Internationalization and Financing Prospects”, providing introduction into the internationalization of doing business, present the 2014-2015 Export Support Action Plan and unify information about the existing instruments and models of export financing as well as useful information about future programmes.

In response to requests by companies, the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs offered 85 pieces of information in 2014 regarding antidumping, VAT and certificates, tariff suspensions and quotas, as well as information on access to third-country markets. The Ministry also contributed to eliminating or reducing trade barriers with the neighbouring non-EU member states: Macedonia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Serbia.  

It also ensured the implementation of trade agreements that the EU had signed with third countries: Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Tunisia, Chile, Korea, Moldova and Georgia. It advocates Croatia’s interests in the EU’s ongoing talks with third parties: the US (TTIP), Vietnam, Thailand, Japan, India, Singapore and Mercosur. The negotiations with Canada, Kosovo and Ukraine are already completed.

Furthermore, most of the groundwork has been laid for increasing the number of locations where visas for Croatia will be issues. An agreement is expected to be signed soon encompassing 35 visa centres in 25 countries.

During 2014, three agreements on avoiding double taxation were signed – with India, Luxembourg and the UK, and the following priority markets/countries have been selected for agreement signing: UEA, Iraq, the US, Libya, the Philippines, Kazakhstan, Algeria, Nigeria, Pakistan, Vietnam, Cyprus and Kosovo. In September 2014, the Ministry of Finance submitted a proposal for opening the negotiations with Algeria, Nigeria and the Philippines, and agreed on the date for launching the talks with Cyprus.

Efforts are continuously put forth to alleviate parafiscal charges, of which there were 178 by end-2014. The Ministry of Finance is currently working on reducing burdens in the agricultural and health sector. The webpages of the Center for Monitoring Business Activities in the Energy Sector and Investments now feature an e-register containing 146 public investment projects, with monthly updates.

The Commission also presented 10 measures from the Action Plan scheduled to be implemented in the first quarter of 2015. 

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