European Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development, Neven Mimica, said that the investment plan opened new opportunities and benefits to expand business and investments outside the EU and that the plan encouraged sustainable investments in Africa and Europe's neighbourhood. The end aim is to create dignified jobs and a more favourable business climate in those countries and to open new markets for European investors.
He recalled that almost three years ago, 193 members of the United Nations, including Croatia, had adopted an ambitious agreement to end poverty and 17 objectives of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
He noted that implementing that aid programme in developing countries required a significant increase in funding and diversification of source which comprehends cooperation with the private sector at the European and local level.
Currently, 4 billion euro from the European budget is being combined with the strength of international financial institutions" with the aim of securing favourable loan conditions for investments, he explained.
"We expect that this 4 billion euro could generate 10-11 times or 44 billion euro more in foreign investments in Africa and the EU neighbourhood by 2020," Mimica said.
Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Marija Pejcinovic Buric said that it was necessary to invest more effort in the EIP and that Croatian entrepreneurs and experts should be more involved.
She added that by participating in the plan, Croatia was getting an opportunity enter markets in Croatia's east, like Ukraine but also in African countries, particularly the northern part of that continent, with lower risks.
"That stimulates and strengthens the entire Croatian economy, expands cooperation and trade and with these investments, Croatia cant contribute to the development of developing countries and help achieve global goals of sustainable development," Pejcinovic Buric said.