On the business side, digitalization continued on its accelerated path. Big data and high personalization possibilities opened the age of experience – a challenging vision during supply chain disruptions brough by the pandemic. The UN’s COP26 conference in Glasgow put media focus on what we already know – sustainability is key, and companies are adapting by educating employees for highly set goals and starting projects eligible for Europe’s green transition.

Croatia saw a successful 2021 tourism season, enabling steep GDP growth, on levels we have not seen for decades. Plans for introducing the euro and entry into the Schengen regime are yet another great news for the country, bringing Croatia closer to other CEE countries.

More good news for Croatian citizens and companies come with Croatia’s entering into the US visa waiver program. A newly applicable, simplified procedure will encourage not just tourists, but primarily Croatian companies, to take their chance on the US market.

When thinking about key opportunities and challenges for 2022, the absorption of EU funds from the Recovery and Resilience Facility and Multiannual Financial Framework come to mind first. Being aimed at increasing competitiveness and resilience, they are a great opportunity which should not be missed to create new infrastructure at a country and company level.

All these new circumstances and opportunities will be closely followed by AmCham, offering our members deep understanding and the ability to make use of it for the benefit of organization.