Business Delegation to the U.S. 2026

As part of its mission to connect the Croatian business community with global trends and strengthen transatlantic business ties, the American Chamber of Commerce in Croatia organized a business delegation to the United States, held from May 16 to 23, 2026.

This year’s program included visits to New York, Sarasota and Miami, bringing together representatives of AmCham Croatia member companies for discussions with leading U.S. companies and institutions. The delegation had the opportunity to gain first-hand insight into how artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, cloud technologies, quantum computing, risk management, advanced manufacturing and digital customer experience are becoming increasingly embedded in business strategies.

The first part of the program took place in New York, where the delegation visited Deloitte, Mastercard, Authentic Brands Group, IBM, Marsh and Amazon Web Services.

At Deloitte, the focus was on technology trends and AI-driven innovation, with a discussion on how organizations can successfully scale digital transformation and turn technological capabilities into tangible business outcomes.

The visit to Mastercard offered insight into agentic commerce, cybersecurity, trust and the safety of the digital ecosystem. Through discussions with Mastercard representatives and demonstrations, the delegation had the opportunity to see how the company develops solutions that protect the financial system and enable safer digital experiences.

At Authentic Brands Group, one of the world’s leading brand management platforms, the delegation spoke with company representatives about the role of digital technologies, data and artificial intelligence in the development of global business. The visit showed how AI can be embedded into the core of business strategy, while preserving speed, adaptability and an innovation-driven culture.

IBM presented technologies that are shaping, and will continue to shape, the future of business — from enterprise AI and hybrid cloud to quantum computing and quantum-safe security. Particular emphasis was placed on the importance of timely understanding and building internal capabilities, as organizations that prepare early will be in a much stronger position once these technologies reach wider adoption.

At Marsh, discussions focused on global risks, the digitalization of risk management and new tools that help companies make better decisions in an increasingly complex business environment. The visit particularly highlighted the importance of resilience, analytics and adaptability in risk management.

Amazon Web Services hosted the delegation at its New York office, where the program included the Builder Studio, the application of artificial intelligence in business, AWS’s approach to innovation and the role of cloud technologies in accelerating digital transformation. The discussion showed how organizations can build more agile business models by relying on technology, a culture of innovation and clear execution mechanisms.

After New York, the delegation continued to Florida, where Cortec Corporation hosted participants in Sarasota for an executive meeting and a tour of the Cortec Biotechnology Campus. The visit provided concrete insight into the company’s technological capabilities, R&D approach, advanced production ecosystem and the application of Vapor Phase Corrosion Inhibiting technology. Cortec was also presented as a strong example of a transatlantic business model that connects the U.S. market, Croatian expertise, technological innovation and long-term knowledge transfer.

The final part of the program took place in Miami. At the meeting with the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, the delegation had the opportunity to learn more about South Florida’s business environment, initiatives available to companies and opportunities for international cooperation. The work of AmCham Croatia was also presented, together with the potential of Croatia’s business environment and AmCham member companies for further connection with the U.S. market.

The delegation concluded with a business luncheon with Har Rai Khalsa, CEO and Co-Founder of Swaystack. After a week of discussions on artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, cloud infrastructure, manufacturing, risk and transatlantic cooperation, the final exchange brought the focus back to trust, customer experience and the question of how companies can turn first contact with a customer into a long-term relationship. Through the example of digital banking, the discussion opened an important topic of onboarding, customer activation and the moments that often determine whether a relationship will grow or fade.

This year’s delegation demonstrated the breadth of topics shaping competitiveness today - from deep technologies and industrial production to leadership, culture, customer experience and the ability of organizations to adapt quickly. The common thread across all visits was clear: technology is becoming less of a separate business function and increasingly a core part of strategy, operational excellence and long-term corporate resilience.

AmCham Croatia thanks all hosts, partners and delegation participants for their openness, hospitality, valuable insights and contribution to strengthening business ties between Croatia and the United States in the field of innovation.

From New York through Sarasota to Miami, the 2026 business delegation to the United States further confirmed the importance of direct exchange of knowledge, experience and contacts for the development of a more competitive and internationally connected Croatian economy. Building on this experience, AmCham Croatia is already developing the next business delegation in 2027, with planned visits to Chicago and Texas. The program will be shaped around the topics, companies and institutions that can bring the greatest strategic value to member companies, while members’ suggestions will be an important contribution to its further development.