Economy Minister Branko Vukelic said the government fully supported the opening of the office.
Croatian Chamber of the Economy president Nadan Vidosevic voiced confidence Austrian business people would invest in Croatia, thus helping it come out of the difficulties it encountered as a transition country.
Austrian Ambassador Hans G. Knitel said that when he took the post in Croatia in 2000, trade between the two countries was half the current EUR1.7 billion. He recalled that more than 700,000 Austrians visited Croatia this year.
Knitel said cooperation between the two countries was excellent on every level. "Austria is the biggest advocate of Croatia's EU entry and we are doing everything in that direction. We will continue to do it, not only bilaterally but also on the level of the EU, because it is our deep conviction that Croatia has been part of Europe for a very long time."
Austrian Chamber of the Economy director Peter Hasslacher recalled that Austria was one of the biggest investors in Croatia, having invested US$2.75 billion so far.