Executive Lunch “Comparative advantages of Croatia for attracting foreign direct investments in comparison with CEE countries”
On March 12, 2019. AmCham organized an Executive Lunch on the topic “Comparative advantages of Croatia for attracting foreign direct investments in comparison with CEE countries”
Introductory speech was given by Mr. Tomislav Čorak, Principal, The Boston Consulting Group who introduced the attendees with some of the key elements that investors take into account when investing. These include a positive business environment, availability of work force, good quality and stable legislative framework and good quality infrastructure.
H.E. W. Robert Kohorst, Ambassador, Embassy of the United States of America, Mr. Zdenko Lucić, State Secretary, Ministry of Economy, Entrepreneurship and Crafts, Mr. John Gašparac, Country Managing Partner, PwC Croatia, Ms. Ruža Tomić Fontana, General Manager, Coca-Cola HBC Hrvatska and Mr. Bojan Poljičak, Director, Adcubum participated in the panel discussion.
The panelists agreed that it is important to promote Croatia as an investment destination. International perception of Croatia as a safe country and a tourist destination with prime athletes is very positive. However, Croatia is not sufficiently recognized as an investment destination and it is necessary to invest further efforts in this direction.
State Secretary Zdenko Lucić said: „The Ministry of Economy, Entrepreneurship and Crafts will continue with activities to promote Croatia as a business and investment destination, and our focus will certainly be on attracting investments in the ICT, automobile industry and equipment and machine production sectors, because we see most opportunities in these areas“, highligting that with the goal of additionally improving the business environment, the Government has, at its last meeting, nominated a working group to work on creating even better conditions for doing business in Croatia.
Mr. John Gašparac, Country Managing Partner, PwC Croatia, highlighted the following: „Obstacles for investments do exist, and they mostly relate to risk assessment and the perception of Croatia as an investment destination. Corruption as well as property and land ownership have been, I would say, among the more important issues for potential investors lately, regardless whether we are talking about „green field“ investments or takeovers. Investors want to have security and predictability of laws and doing business. They want to know if what is written in the laws today, especially tax laws, will remain the same in the future. There are obstacles, but we need to highlight the good stories because there are many of them.“
The event was attended by over 90 representatives of the business community, public authorities and the media.
Sponsor:
March 12, 2019
12:00h - 14:00h
Hotel Westin Zagreb ( Panorama room)
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Program
11:30-12:00 Registration and welcome drinks
12:00-12:05 Welcome speech – Andrea Doko Jelušić, Executive Director, AmCham Croatia and Berislav Horvat, President, AmCham Croatia
12:05-12:20 Introductory speech - Tomislav Čorak, Principal, The Boston Consulting Group
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Since 1998, AmCham Croatia represents business interests of American, international as well as Croatian companies. With 326 members, employing over 95.000 people, we are the voice of international business in Croatia. We are the first choice of international companies for policy advocacy in Croatia.
