The meeting was held as part of a visit by French business people to Croatia led by representatives of MEDEF, France's largest employers' organisation.
HUP deputy director general Bernard Jakelic said HUP and MEDEF had been cooperating for a long time and that this was the fifth time a MEDEF delegation was visiting Croatia.
Charles Paradis of MEDEF said it and HUP had been cooperating over 20 years with a view to strengthening French-Croatian economic relations.
"French companies are strongly interested in Croatia, as proved by the arrival of over 20 heads of large French companies in Zagreb. The stability of our ties is important to us, as are quality business conditions and your government's will to create cooperation," Paradis said.
A representative of Deloitte's Zagreb office, Uros Kalinic, said a good job could be made in Croatia despite the fact that Croatia was seen as somewhat riskier for investments than other European Union countries.
"The macro-situation in Croatia is improving, there's a big potential for numerous sectors, and the absorption of EU financing is better. There's also a certain state-owned portfolio, companies that were and will be restructured, even privatised, and the state still holds minority shares in some companies. On the other hand, there's a stable banking sector which is increasingly returning to the core business, while infrastructure projects are mostly completed," Kalinic said, adding that growth was expected in domestic consumption, the private sector, exports, tourism and IT.
Zelimir Bodiroga, CEO of the BBR Adria construction company, said the cooperation with the French on a new Zagreb Airport passenger terminal was excellent.
The MEDEF delegation was also received by Croatian Transport and Infrastructure Minister Oleg Butkovic, who presented Croatia's most important infrastructure projects, including the Peljesac bridge.
Butkovic said the contractors for the bridge could be chosen in the summer. Aside from the Peljesac bridge, he said two other big rail projects would be launched this year, sections on the Vinkovci-Vukovar and Zabok-Zapresic railways. He also mentioned port infrastructure projects.
"We informed them about those projects, and when bids are called, it's up to them whether the French will be interested," Butkovic said.