Cobankovic said he hoped that the meeting would contribute to closer ties between Croatian companies and those from other countries in the region.
He recalled that Croatia was adjusting its legislation on food to EU and other international standards, and that new laws on food and veterinary medicine were in preparation.
The food and drinks industry is one of the leading sectors of the Croatian economy, accounting for 19.3% of the gross added value of the manufacturing industry and employing the largest number of workers in the entire manufacturing industry (18%), Cobankovic said.
During the conference, Cobankovic and his Albanian counterpart Jemin Gjana signed a memorandum on cooperation.
The Zagreb conference, which gathered representatives from around a dozen countries, focuses on trends in the food and drinks industry in Central and Southeast Europe, the creation of national commodity brands, global market development, and the strategies of leading companies.