The minister told a news conference that the event will pool more than 400 state officials, diplomats, representatives of international organisations and the private sector from 35 countries.
"The objective of the Forum is to present the growing potentials of the Croatian economy to the political and business elite of Europe and the world and to discuss political and economic issues of common interest," the minister said.
At numerous plenary sessions and workshops, the participants in the Forum will speak about the process of Europe's unification, the development of the financial, transport, energy and other sectors in Southeast Europe, the development of tourism, the fight against corruption and organised crime, and the role of the judiciary in creating a favourable business climate.
Grabar-Kitarovic highlighted the arrival of the Austrian Chancellor and President of the European Council, Wolfgang Schussel, Slovene President Janez Drnovsek, Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha and the Prime Ministers of Bosnia-Herzegovina and Montenegro, Adnan Terzic and Milo Djukanovic respectively.
"The Forum will be opened by Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader and the presence of the Austrian Chancellor and President of the European Council, Wolfgang Shuessel, will be a sign of strong support and the approval of Croatia's policy, as well as the country's prospects of full membership," Grabar Kitarovic said.
Commenting on the expenses of Zagreb's Crans Montana Forum, Grabar Kitarovic said the foreign ministry had allocated 1.8 million kuna for this purpose, adding however, that at this moment it looked like the expenses would total some 1.2 million kuna, but that the final figure would be known only after the meeting.