Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mesic called for a change to the model of development of Croatia, saying that it should be based on strong production and export growth.
The president cited the high unemployment rate as the most important Croatian socioeconomic problem, specifying that nearly every fourth able-bodied person in Croatia was without a full-time job.
"The main economic policy goal therefore must be to reduce unemployment, or rather to ensure full employment by maintaining macroeconomic stability," Mesic said.
Mesic underlined the problem of the economic slowdown, which he said was partly due to restrictive monetary policy, and warned that import continued to be twice higher than export and that the growing foreign debt has reached 80 per cent of GDP.
"Croatia needs high economic growth based on higher production and export, as well as reduction of economic and social inequality," the president said, adding that further reforms should be carried out to encourage growth.
Over the next six days of duration of the fair, 25 accompanying seminars and presentations will also take place, and organisers expect they will draw 2,500 participants.
This year's partner country at the fair is the Russian Federation.