State Secretary Bianca Matković met with South African Deputy Foreign Minister Sue Van Der Merwe

State Secretary Matković thanked Deputy Minister Van Der Merwe for the visit, expressing conviction that it would further deepen both the political and economic relations between the two countries. She pointed out that Croatia, as a politically stable and infrastructurally well-developed country, can economy- and transport-wise represent a doorway to Europe. In that regard, she expressed satisfaction with the interest expressed by South African businessmen to use a part of the Rijeka Port zone, as well as with the meeting held so far with Croatian businessmen. For the purposes of further developing the economic, tourist and cultural-scientific co-operation, State Secretary Matković invited the South African ministers of culture and tourism, as well as the representatives of South African tourist operators and other interested business parties to officially visit Croatia and familiarize with the Croatian economy.

Deputy Minister Van Der Merwe expressed a wish for mutual strengthening of the economic relations and trade, as well as for a co-operation between the South African Republic and Croatia, as non-permanent UN Security Council’s members, in the global peacebuilding processes. Agreeing with that, State Secretary Matković reminded that Croatia is already taking part in 16 peacekeeping missions throughout the world and thanked the South African Republic for its support for Croatia’s UN Security Council membership.

State Secretary Matković also familiarised Deputy Minister Van Der Merwe with the process of Croatia’s NATO accession and the EU membership negotiations. Deputy Minister Van Der Merwe pointed out that the South African Republic fully supports Croatia in these endeavours.