The event, dedicated to the promotion of economic cooperation, was also attended by Croatian Deputy Prime Minister Damir Polancec, who spoke about macroeconomic indicators and trends in Croatia.
The Austrian Chamber of the Economy strongly supports Croatia's full membership of the EU - talks on the economy chapter are very important and Croatia can count on Austria's support, Chamber president Christoph Leitl said.
Thanking Austria for its support to Croatia's bids to draw closer to the EU, Polancec said that Austria was the most important investor in Croatia and that it made 26 percent of all foreign investments in Croatia since 1993, which totalled USD 12 billion. Austria is Croatia's third most important trade partner and in the first eight months of this year Austrian tourists accounted for three million of overnight stays, Polancec said.
He went on to say that the government's most important strategic goals on the economy front were economic growth, reduction of unemployment, creation of sustainable development, economic competition, and the creation of a climate facilitating business and entrepreneurship.
The modernisation of ports is an important priority of the Croatian government, Polancec said, calling on Austrian business people to use Croatian ports.
The Vienna event was organised by the two countries' chambers of the economy, the Croatian Embassy in Vienna and Vienna airport. It also included the presentation of the Zagreb Trade Fair.