The Autumn Fair in Graz, held between 30 September and 8 October, brought together 400 exhibitors including nine Croatian crafts people.
Stressing that Austria is the biggest investor in Croatia's economy, the president of the Croatian Chamber of Crafts (HOK), Stjepan Safran, said those possibilities should be exploited.
He said the crafts sector was a very important branch of the Croatian economy accounting for nearly 20 percent of Gross Domestic Product and employing some 260,000 people. Safran said the HOK planned to prepare its members for the European market, educate and advise them on how to acquire new knowledge and technologies and adapt their business to EU standards.
Safran said an international conference called on creating competitive Croatian craftsmanship, small and medium-sized entrepreneurship and facing challenges and prospects of joining the EU would be held in Brussels on 13 and 14 November.
As part of Croatia Day, state secretary in the Croatian Economy Ministry Tajana Kesic Sapic gave a talk on the development of the business and investment climate in Croatia.