The event was organised by the Croatian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration and the Department for International Economic Cooperation and supported by the US International Development Agency (USAID) Mission in Croatia and the Agency for the Promotion of Export and Investment.
In attendance were the ambassadors of India, Poland, Japan, the South African Republic, Russia, Moldavia, Slovakia and Kazakhstan and diplomats from Iran, Italy, the Czech Republic, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovenia, China, Bulgaria, Romania, Turkey and Korea.
Assistant Foreign Affairs and European Integration Minister Zeljko Kupresak said the purpose of the session was to acquaint foreign diplomats with models of investment and establishment of economic cooperation at state and regional levels.
The business zone Podi was established primarily to provide local companies with development possibilities as well as to attract foreign investors, the zone's manager, Jakov Terzanovic, said, adding that this was the first business zone in Croatia to have been co-financed by the EU.
The Podi-Sibenik business zone is located four kilometres from Sibenik near highway A1 and close to a port terminal and a railway. It is less than 100 kilometres away from two airports.
Local self-government units and the zone's management offer many benefits to potential investors, from lower utility rates to assistance in obtaining necessary construction permits.