He was briefing the press about the results of the economic policy for the stimulation of small and medium-sized enterprises.
In the coming period the ministry will pay special attention to exports, commercialisation of innovations, education of entrepreneurs, new products and technologies, investments and new jobs, said Vukelic.
Small and medium-sized enterprises represent 99 per cent of registered enterprises and 55 per cent of all employees in Croatia, 44 per cent of GDP and 60 per cent of all exports, the minister said, adding that funds for incentives were increasing every year.
This year's funds were 25 per cent higher than in 2005, totalling 202.79 million kuna. The ministry co-financed 270 business zones with 297.4 million kuna. A total of 1,663 entrepreneurs are active in the zones, employing 16,756 people.
Incentives for business zones increased significantly from 2004 onwards, the minister said, explaining that 84.5 million kuna was allocated in 2001-03, 141.3 million in 2004-05, and 71.5 million in this year's first nine months.