HGK's office will operate on joint premises with the Croatian Tourist Board's (HTZ) office. HGK president Luka Burilović expressed his belief that opening the HRK office will boost economic and other forms of cooperation between Croatia and Austria.
In addition to Croatia becoming more attractive for investments by joining the euro and Schengen areas, its export potential is also growing. According to an HGK analysis, electrical machines, parts, and pharmaceutical products are the most promising goods for strengthening Croatian exports to Austria, and prospects also exist in service exports. In the first half of this year alone, the value of providing services reached almost €530 million, Burilović stated.
The director of HGK's Austrian office, Daniela Reinisch said that, although Croatia and Austria are part of the EU's single market, bureaucratic and administrative obstacles limit exchange to a large extent.
After the first joint office of HGK and HTZ opened in China, market conditions indicated the need for collective representation in European markets as well, HTZ director Kristjan Staničić said.
"By opening a joint office in Austria, we are showing how important the Austrian market is for the Croatian economy as a whole, especially for tourism, since Austrians, along with Germans and Slovenians, are our most numerous and loyal guests. I believe that the joint presence of HTZ and HGK in Vienna will strengthen further the position of our country on the Austrian market, and I believe that the number of guests from Austria will further increase in the coming years, especially in the periods before and after the season," said Staničić.
The director of the HTZ office in Austria, Branimir Tončinić, and the Croatian Ambassador to Austria Daniel Glunčić also attended today's opening ceremony.