State Secretary Pejčinović Burić participated at meeting of National Forum on EU Accession on subject of SMEs

The opening speeches were held by State Secretary Pejčinović Burić, county head of the Međimurska County Josip Posavec, and Assistant Minister of Economy, Labour, and Entrepreneurship Leo Begović. Assistant Minister Begović presented the Croatian Government’s activities and projects directed at the development of small and medium-sized enterprises in Croatia.

The Forum’s participants discussed the topics concerning small and medium-sized entrepreneurs, with a special emphasis on the challenges the Croatian entrepreneurship in facing within the context of Croatia’s EU accession. They pointed out the importance of small and medium-sized company mergers (the so-called clusters), investment in technology and continuous education, and the introduction of a quality management system as prerequisites for a greater competitiveness of Croatian entrepreneurs on the EU market. They also emphasised the need for a better harmonisation between education programs and market demands, preserving the traditional trades and crafts, and a more efficient informing of the existing and potential entrepreneurs about the possibilities and incentives at their disposal.

The National Forum in Čakovec gathered the representatives of state and public administration, local government and self-government, economic institutions, financial sector, academic community, media, all and medium-sized enterprises, and other groups and individuals interested in the subject.