First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Vesna Pusić received Zvonimir Mršić, Darinko Bago and Ante Mandić, CEOs of Podravka, Končar and IN2 respectively. After the meeting, Pusić said that Croatia’s exporters as some of the advantages of using the economic diplomacy system had cited better access to information, foreign partners and institutions, easier adaptation to local circumstances, alleviating trade barriers, as well as improving profits and the company’s credibility. The meeting was also attended by Deputy FM Joško Klisović, in charge of Croatia's economic diplomacy system.
Pusić underlined that positive feedback from the Croatian companies were a big incentive for carrying on. She said that the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs had been contacted by more than 1600 exporters, who were offered in excess of 4200 different services at 112 markets, with the economic diplomacy itself having recognized over 1100 export opportunities and informed the companies about it.
“We expect to be commended as well as criticised and are open to suggestions since we are at the service of their companies, and through that the jobs and Croatia’s prosperity,” Pusić said.
The minister presented the CEOs with symbolic awards for their cooperation with the diplomats working in the economic diplomacy system. The heads of three Croatia’s major companies said that the services of Croatia’s economic diplomacy had greatly contributed to their business activities abroad.