In the report published today, Croatia slipped to 89th place of the 189 countries ranked. Last year, it was 84th among 185 countries ranked. In the latest report, Croatia improved in five areas and deteriorated or stagnated in another five.
In the segment referring to taxation policy, collection, and order on the markets, Croatia was ranked between 30th and 40th place, Linic said. "This means that the tax authority, customs and the Finance Ministry are doing their best to make the criteria by which they evaluate us as good as possible."
The report shows that between June 2012 and June 2013, Croatia improved its business regulations by reforming five areas, more than in any year since 2007 - starting a business, tax payment, international trade, contract execution and dealing with illiquidity.
Croatia made the biggest jump, from 42nd to 34th place, in the payment of taxes by facilitating the payment of social contributions electronically and cutting funds for forests and the Chamber of Commerce.
On the other hand, Croatia dropped from 139th to 157th place in consumer protection.
Linic said Croatia's ranking in next year's report should be only below 30th place.
"We will make our contribution so that Croatia improves its place and I believe the business people who take part in polls will appreciate this," he said, adding that "more needs to be done" to expedite investments and permit issuance.
Asked if this meant that other ministers must work harder, Linic said "everyone should do their part because it's very important to send out the message that Croatia welcomes and is acceptable for investments."
He said there was always the question of what to do because, for example, the law on strategic investment projects was met with huge resistance in local communities for fear that they would be excluded from the planning process.
"We must understand that too many people in the decision making, which slows down the process. We must know our interests and understand whether we will be slaves to procedures or expedite them. The government is trying to expedite them, but we have been trying to pass the law on strategic investment projects for nine months, and that is what is assessed. We must also understand the ability of Croatian society to reform and how much we can see eye to eye on certain programmes and projects and move on."
Croatian Exporters president Darinko Bago said the World Bank report "was more or less as expected, because there have been no big steps forward and GDP has contracted."