|
|
 |
Business Profile
Economy: After Slovenia, Croatia was the most developed republic of the former Yugoslavia. With substantial support and investment from abroad, the Croatian economy has been recovering well after the break-up of Yugoslavia and several years of civil war. Industry is the most important sector in the economy, producing textiles, chemicals, processed foods, finished metal goods and construction materials. Agriculture, which produces maize, wheat and sugar beet, is important for domestic purposes but has never contributed significantly to the export economy. Mineral deposits of exploitable size include oil, coal and natural gas. Croatia also has an important tourist industry, centred on the Dalmatian coast, which has recovered somewhat after being all but wiped out by the civil war.
The Tudjman government initially introduced a programme of privatisation and other market reforms. Membership of the IMF, which Croatia joined in January 1993, has added to that of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and latterly of the World Trade Organisation. In May 1994, the Government introduced a new currency, the Kuna. Low inflation has enabled its value to remain reasonably stable. However, after several years of moderate growth, the economy has been stagnant since the beginning of 1998; tackling this situation is a major priority for the new administration. The country's most important trading partners are Germany, Italy, Austria, Slovenia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Business: In many ways one of the more conservative areas of the former Yugoslav federation, Croatia tends towards formal business protocol, but this image of Western-style efficiency is often belied by the fact that things go very slowly on account of the cumbersome bureaucracy. Communication, however, is no problem, as English and German are widely used as second languages. Business cards including professional or academic titles should be exchanged just after formal introductions. There are also a large number of local agents, advisers, consultants and, to a lesser extent, lawyers, willing to act for foreign companies, but none should be engaged before being thoroughly checked in advance. Croatia has created a more liberal framework for foreign investments so that foreign investors are guaranteed special rights and incentives for investing in Croatia. Office hours: Mon-Fri 0800-1600.
Commercial Information: The following organisation can offer advice: Croatian Chamber of Economy, Trg Rooseveltov 2, 10000 Zagreb (tel: (1) 456 1555; fax: (1) 482 8380; e-mail: hgk@hgk.hr; website: www.hgk.hr).
Conferences/Conventions: The Croatian National Tourist Board can offer advice through their Convention Bureau (see address section), which also has a Zagreb Convention Bureau located at Koptol 4, 10000 Zagreb (tel: (1) 489 8555; fax: (1) 481 4949; e-mail: zagreb.convention@ccb.hr; website: www.zagreb.convention.hr).
|
|
