"We must work more on increasing overall economic cooperation in order to further promote our relations," Mesic said in his address to a Croatian-Greek economic forum.
The purpose of the economic forum is to define business possibilities and the two countries' governments had established a political and legal framework for further development of economic cooperation, Mesic said. Croatia and Greece are developing friendly relations and share identical aspirations to encourage economic and social reforms through political reforms. Greece is an EU member state and a neighbouring country which is intensely working on cooperation and prosperity in the region, while Croatia is doing its best to join the EU, said Mesic, adding that this was why the two countries had great potential to advance economic ties.
"Besides, we have no outstanding political issues, while the overall bilateral relations have been strengthened. The two countries' trade, however, is modest" said Mesic.
The overall trade in 2006 was 123 million US dollars, with Croatia's deficit amounting to 55 million. Croatia's exports to Greece totalled 34 million US dollars, 70 percent less than in 2005, mostly due to a reduced delivery of ships, Mesic said. Imports from Greece amounted to 89 million, or 40 percent more than in 2005. The coverage of imports with exports for Croatia was only 38 percent, the president said.
Greek President Karolos Papoulias said Croatia and Greece could cooperate in trade entrepreneurship and tourism, stressing that the two countries' economic ties are lagging behind their excellent political relations. He said Greece was interested in investing in Croatia's banking sector, food and beverages industry, wood industry, etc.
At the forum, the Croatian Employers' Association and the Greek Industry Federation signed a memorandum of understanding.