The Serbian delegation, led by Economy Minister Predrag Bubalo, arrived in Zagreb together with Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica, who is the first Serbian PM to have officially visited Croatia since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1996.
Serbian investments are welcome in Croatia just like all other investments which create new jobs and introduce new technologies, HGK president Nadan Vidosevic said at the meeting.
According to Vidosevic, the talks focused on regional connections and the strengthening of companies from the two countries. Serbian business people informed Croatian officials about obstacles they were encountering when investing in Croatia. The administrative obstacles are being removed, but what worries them more is the feeling that they are not welcome, Vidosevic said.
Minister Bubalo said that Serbian companies were willing to invest in Croatia, and added that Croatia and Serbia "are natural partners and have reason to cooperate, establish ties and compete against one another".
Bubalo said that bilateral cooperation would help strengthen the two economies, which he said would face tough competition after joining the European Union.
The head of the Croatian Employers' Association (HUP), Emil Tedeschi, said the reason why Croatian companies had entered the market of Serbia and Montenegro before Serbian companies entered the Croatian market was simple - Croatia's economy was at a higher level of development.
Serbian business people are now seeking support and the creation of a favourable climate for their arrival in Croatia, Tedeschi said, adding that business circles in Croatia would do all to support such efforts.
The head of the Serbian Business Club, Danko Djunic, said that the first obstacle which should be removed were negatively charged emotions. The biggest obstacle to investments is psychological one, but it can be overcome, which has been proven by the example of Croatian investments in Serbia and Montenegro, he said.
"One should behave according to market rules and invest where there is an interest in investment. The market and economic relations must exist on both sides and everything will be just as it should be in bilateral economic relations," Djunic said.