"This fair is a place where Croatian products and businesses and Croatian quality are promoted every year and that is the only way to boost the national economy," said Burilovic, who also acted as an envoy of President Kolinda Grabar Kitarovic. He said that the state of the Croatian economy was not good and that the projected growth of one per cent of GDP was not enough for economic recovery and job creation.
"Since 2008 we have lost 12.4 per cent of GDP and at the present growth rate it will take us decades to reach the economic level of seven years ago," Burilovic said. He noted that over the last 15 years 30,000 young people had left the Slavonia region, where Vinkovci is situated, and that currently 200 Slavonians were leaving for Germany weekly.
Burilovic stressed the need to reverse the negative trends, underscoring that "every government has a duty to help Slavonia in its economic recovery."
The Mayor of Vinkovci, Mladen Karlic, said that the fair was a meeting place for business people to exchange ideas and acquire new knowledge. He said that a dozen panels on economic topics would be held during the three-day exhibition.
The fair is being attended by about 40 selected exhibitors.