In addition to Josipović and his wife Tatjana, the Croatian delegation on this visit to Qatar also includes Foreign and European Affairs Minister Vesna Pusić, First Deputy Prime Minister and Economy Minister Radimir Čačić, and over 40 representatives of Croatian companies. The focus of the visit will be on developing bilateral economic relations.
"Here is a large Croatian delegation that will hold talks on the development of cooperation with Qatar and I am sure that we will not return to Zagreb without important and valuable results," the Croatian head of state said.
Addressing the inauguration ceremony, Foreign Minister Pusic said that the opening of this embassy "is a move with which Croatia wants to establish new channels of communication towards the friendly Qatar and to develop them even more intensively". She also described the new embassy as "the beginning of a wonderful friendship".
So far, Croatia has covered this Arab country from its embassy in Egypt. The first Croatian ambassador in Doha is Tomislav Bošnjak.
Croatia is very interested in possible cooperation in the construction of a liquefied natural gas terminal on the northern Adriatic island of Krk, in attracting Qatari investors for major tourism projects and increasing the presence of its companies on the Qatari market, notably those from the food, IT and defence industries. A Croatia-Qatar Economic Forum will take place on the third day of the visit and Qatar's Prime Minister Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber al-Thani is expected to attend.
The political focal point of the visit of Croatia's delegation will be the meeting of President Josipović and his host, Emir Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, scheduled for Monday.