Croatian Economy Minister Branko Vukelic said that Israel, with its economic, scientific and technical achievements, notably in high technology, could become a very important partner to Croatia, through the transfer of technology, joint projects, and joint ventures on third markets.
The forum gathered representatives of more than 50 Israeli companies interested in doing business with Croatia. Officials of the Croatian economy and agriculture ministries and the Export and Investment Stimulation Agency presented the terms of doing business in Croatia and the legal framework regulating foreign investments.
Vukelic said the high interest expressed by Israeli business people today was an incentive to organise direct talks between the two countries' entrepreneurs early next year and to accept Israel's initiative to set up an Israeli-Croatian Chamber of Commerce.
Assistant Economy Minister for Foreign Economy Relations Igor Lucic said the most attractive sectors for investing in Croatia were tourism, transport, shipbuilding, the food and timber industries, ICT technology and electrotechnics.
The forum also focused on Croatia's timber industry given that it accounts for 65 per cent of Croatia's exports to Israel.
The Israeli business people pointed to numerous administrative obstacles in their previous attempts to do business in Croatia, saying the establishment of a joint chamber would facilitate access to the Croatian market.
Prior to the forum, Vukelic met Deputy Prime Minister and Industry, Trade and Labour Minister Eli Yishai.
The two officials agreed principles for an agreement on cooperation in industrial research and development.