Croatian PM says summit with Africa opportunity for stepping up trade

Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said on Tuesday Croatia must use the EU-Africa summit as an opportunity to improve its economic ties with Africa.

In the last month of its EU presidency, Austria is hosting the high ranking EU-Africa forum which brought together European and African political leaders.

Plenkovic said in Vienna this was a good opportunity to put together efforts of African governments and the European Union in order to strengthen and stabilise African countries, prevent crises and weaknesses of institutions and in this way prevent migration flows.

Croatia must use this opportunity to promote economic relations with Africa, Plenkovic said.

"They are not too big trade-wise" and they are mostly active in places where Croatia has it embassies -- Morocco, Algeria, Egypt, the South African Republic, Plenkovic said, expressing hope the summit would open new windows of opportunity for economic cooperation.

Also in Vienna are representatives of Croatian companies Koncar,  Altpro, B.I.D. Grupa, Velox, as well as representatives of the Croatian Chamber of Commerce, the government said in a press release.

The event in Vienna was organised by Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz and Rwandan President Paul Kagame, who chairs the African Union this year.

Also in Vienna are European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, European Parliament President Antonio Tajani, European Council President Donald Tusk and many European and African officials.

Text: Hina

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