The design and construction of highway, railway and energy infrastructure, food industry, electronic healthcare and tourism are the sectors which the Croatian business circles show the greatest interest in, in terms of investments and partnership with Bulgarian companies. This was what became clear during the Croatian-Bulgarian business forum, which was opened by Presidents Rosen Plevneliev and Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic within the framework of the second day of the Bulgarian Head of State’s visit to Croatia. President Plevneliev invited the Croatian companies to participate in all procedures and public tenders for infrastructure projects which are to be launched in Bulgaria. The Head of State said that only together can the countries from the region be attractive for the investors, therefore the road to the Balkans’ success requires integration and connectivity.
Bulgaria and Croatia should pool efforts to develop sectors such as the IT industry, and the Croatian companies should take up the opportunities provided by the Bulgarian technology parks and industrial zones. This is what President Rosen Plevneliev called for, who presented the investment opportunities in our country in the Croatian Chamber of Commerce today and held talks with representatives of Croatian companies which have an interest in making investments in Bulgaria. The IT sector is one of the most dynamically developing ones in Bulgaria and a growing number of world famous companies choose Bulgaria as a location to open logistical and research and development centres, the Head of State emphasized. President Plevneliev further said that a number of Bulgarian companies are already successfully working in Croatia in sectors such as telecommunications, cosmetics, the supply of car components, the sale of electronics and household appliances. Trade turnover between the two countries has marked a 50-percent growth only in the past year, the Head of State said and called on companies from both countries to start establishing new partnerships.
Improving regional transport and energy connectivity, and the Balkans's strategic location between Europe and Asia, also create conditions for a more active cooperation between the companies in the region, the President said. The Bulgarian Head of State highlighted that gas inter-connectors between countries from Southeastern Europe will be constructed with EU funding, together with modernizing the railway and transport infrastructure which links the region with Asia. “Only with joint efforts can we reach the levels of development of our EU partners,” Rosen Plevneliev was adamant. Croatian President Grabar-Kitarovic told the business representatives that companies from both countries should be better informed about the investment opportunities Bulgaria and Croatia offer. In her opinion, energy diversification and security are exceptionally important for the business circles in the region, which is why Croatia is working on a project for constructing a gas terminal on the island of Krk.
Later today, President Plevneliev will hold a meeting with representatives of the Bulgarian community in Zagreb.