Economy ministers and other officials from the economy sector from the CEI's 18 member-countries exchanged information on the implementation of reforms and the application of innovations and new technologies with the aim of improving competitiveness.
Croatia's Economy Minister Branko Vukelic informed the meeting about the measures and reforms that are being implemented in Croatia, underlining the role of incentives for inventors and the introduction of new technologies in making Croatia's economy more competitive.
Croatia attaches great importance to economic cooperation within the CEI. As an EU candidate, Croatia will be able to join the EU's programme for innovations and competitiveness which helps the development of entrepreneurship and industry by promoting innovations, Vukelic said.
Ahead of a ministerial forum, representatives of the business community and banking and financial institutions on Wednesday and Thursday discussed possibilities of improving cooperation, trade and investment.
Participating in the discussions were representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration, the Croatian Reconstruction and Development Bank, the Export and Investment Promotion Agency, inventors' and employers' associations, and some regional chambers of the economy.
They described the exchange of opinions and experience as useful, notably of information on the public-private partnership which is only emerging in Croatia. Croatian representatives said that apart from successful projects in Albania of Koncar, Pliva, INA and other Croatian companies, Croatia should offer its knowledge and experience, notably in tourism, as well as open plants in Albania in order to boost the competitiveness of domestic manufacturers.
Since the meeting was hosted by Albania, much attention was dedicated to Albania's economic development and its cooperation potential, which has been used the most by Italy. Annual trade between Italy and 450 companies operating in Albania and numerous joint ventures exceeds one billion euros.
Participants in the economic forum concluded that cooperation within the CEI facilitated the adoption of European standards necessary for the integration of the entire Europe.