Last year's investment figure was the second highest in the last 12 years after the $538.8 million invested abroad in 2002.
Of the $313.7 million invested last year, $191.2 million refers to retained earnings, $89.2 million to ownership investment, and the remaining $40 million to other types of investment.
Nearly 40 per cent of last year's ownership investment was made into milk processing and cheese production, while 20 per cent refers to holding company management.
Over the last 12 years, pharmaceutical companies invested abroad the most, with 54.8 per cent of all ownership investment going into the manufacturing of drugs.
The majority of Croatian companies' investment in 2004 as well as throughout the last 12 years went into Switzerland -- 58.1 per cent of 2004's investment and 40.5 per cent of all direct investments in the past 12 years.
Last year, 20.1 per cent of investment was made into Serbia and Montenegro, followed by 5.9 per cent into Bosnia-Herzegovina and 4.9 per cent into Hungary.
Over the last 12 years, 15 per cent of Croatian companies' investment went into Bosnia-Herzegovina, 10.5 per cent into Poland, 9.5 per cent into Serbia and Montenegro, and 4.6 per cent into Slovenia.