Representatives of the Croatian Chamber of the Economy (HGK), some ministries, the Zagreb Trade Fair Centre, the "Podravka" food company and a wine producer from Zadar, visited the Swedish trade association and the leading store chain ICA.
Croatian products are not sufficiently present on the Swedish market, which has around nine million consumers, said Silva Stipic, deputy head of the HGK's department for international relations. Not including the Croatian Tourist Board, Croatian companies do not have offices in Sweden, and some 30 Swedish companies are active in Croatia.
Along with products of the "Podravka" food company and the "Kras" confectioner, the Swedish commercial sector is interested in importing other food products, such as cheese, truffles, and indigenous wines, it was said at the talks.
Croatia's Ambassador to Sweden Svjetlan Berkovic said that the 3rd Swedish-Croatian economic forum, to be held on Friday, would focus on promoting trade relations and investment in Croatia's economy and free zones.
Trade between the two countries has been on a constant increase. Last year it reached USD 360 million, with Croatia's exports amounting to USD 110 million and imports from Sweden to some 250 million.
Most Swedish investments in Croatia have been made by Ericsson and IKEA, but Sweden still accounts for only a small part of all foreign investments in the country.