Croatian Deputy PM Grcic heads trade delegation to France

Deputy Prime Minister responsible for regional development and European Union (EU) funds, Branko Grcic, on Monday attended a meeting of the Council of French - Croatian Entrepreneurs held by the French employers' federation MEDEF, the Croatian government reported on Monday.

On that occasion Grcic, informed French entrepreneurs of current economic circumstances in Croatia and priority projects that are to be financed from EU funds.

He also spoke about Croatia's progress and the implementation of economic reforms to advance the investment climate in the country.

France is the seventh of the top ten countries with investments in Croatia and the number of French companies operating in Croatia is constantly on the rise.

Croatia's membership to the European Union and integration into a single European market, Grcic underscored, has contributed to this fact.

The Paris talks focused on the European investment plan for which Croatia has prepared projects valued at two billion euro.

Executives of around thirty French companies participated at the meeting from the fields of infrastructure and construction, railway and road transport, energy, defence, information and communication technology and Grcic individually met with some company executives regarding possible investment opportunities in Croatia.

An Action Plan of the Strategic Partnership between Croatia and France was signed on Monday afternoon by Croatian Deputy Foreign and European Affairs Minister Josko Klisovic and French Secretary of State for European Affairs Harlem Desir.

In 2010 Croatia and France signed a declaration on strategic partnership at the prime ministerial level while Monday's Action Plan defines priorities in cooperation over the next three years.

The Croatian delegation led by Grcic is due to visit Monaco on Tuesday.

(Hina) sp



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