"Good relations and comprehensive cooperation between our two countries are prerequisites for the stability of the entire region. Stability is the basic lever for improving and strengthening economic relations," the Croatian minister said in his keynote speech at the conference organised by the Serbian media company "Ekonom:east".
Popijac noted that bilateral economic relations had been improving since 2000.
In Serbia more than 200 companies represent Croatian companies. Serbia is the second top country in terms of Croatian companies' foreign investments, he said.
"Thus, from 1993 to 2009, (Croatian companies') investments in Serbia totalled some EUR 520 million, or 13 percent of all of our investments abroad," the minister said.
According to some estimates, more than 10,000 people in Serbia work for Croatian companies, and Serbia is the sixth top market for Croatian export.
In addition, Croatia has a surplus in its trade with Serbia.
Speaking of tourism, Popijac said that some 90,000 Serbians were on holiday in Croatia in 2009 and called on Serbian tourists to visit his country in larger numbers this year.
Serbian Economy State Secretary Nebojsa Ciric spoke about possibilities of Serbia-Croatia joint ventures on third markets within the CEFTA agreement.
He also spoke about efforts to solve property issues of Serbian companies in Croatia and Croatian companies in Serbia and about creating conditions for the investment of Serbian capital in Croatia.