The letter was signed in Zagreb on Thursday by Minister Branko Vukelic, USAID Mission Director William Jeffers and Project Director James Packard Winkler.
The purpose of the Enterprising Croatia project, financed by the USAID, is to promote job creation and sustainable economic growth by increasing business sales and exports and promoting strategic investments in Croatia. It is in particular aimed at small and medium-sized enterprises.
The USAID will provide technical assistance to the Ministry and entrepreneurs with the aim of increasing investment, employment and profitability within enterprises by improving access to and raising the quality of business services for entrepreneurs through the business-to-business web-based portal "Poslovni navigator", by supporting investment and improving the availability of credit through local guarantee funds.
Cooperation between the parties is expected to result in the creation of a competitive investment and business environment. The Ministry is expected to assist in attracting increased domestic and foreign investment and successfully support the creation of innovative services and new jobs in enterprises within the next three years.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Winkler said that the Enterprising Croatia project aimed to assist 4,000 enterprises and create 20,000 jobs.
Vukelic highlighted the importance of investment in production, new technologies and education, and the promotion of exports. He also noted that it was necessary to remove administrative barriers in order to facilitate doing business in Croatia.