UK-Croatia Trade & Investment Forum

On October 24th 2013, at 51 Buckingham Gate, London, Developing Markets Associates and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in association with the Embassy of Croatia hosted the UK-Croatia Trade and Investment Forum.

is highly successful event was attended by around 200 delegates including key stakeholders and high level representatives from both the public and private sectors.

Opening addresses were given by Atam Sandhu, Chief Executive of Developing Markets Associates; HE Dr Ivan Grdešić, Croatian Ambassador to the UK, Lord Green of Hurstpierpoint, Minister of State for Trade & Investment and András Simor, Vice-President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. Hon Branko Grčić, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Regional Development and EU Funds made the official welcome.

The opening session provided an overview of Croatia's investment climate and included presentations from Hon Joško Klisović, Deputy Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Dr Boris Vujčić, Governor of the Croatian National Bank, Tauno Olju, Executive Director of Advisory Services, EY and Miroslav Petrovic, Director of Publiconn. The session was chaired by HMA David Slinn, British Ambassador to Croatia.

There then followed sessions focusing on the work being done and investment opportunities in  Key Sectors and Tourism. These sessions included presentations from speakers such as Hon Ivan Vrdoljak, Minister of Economy, Hon Sinisa Hajdas Doncic, Minister of Maritime Affairs, Transport and Infrastructure, Mirna Marovic, President of The Croatian Private Equity and Venture Capital Association, Zeljan Horvat, Counsel of the Management Board, Brodosplit, DIV Group, Tihomir Oreskovic, President of Management Board, Pliva Teva, Vedrana Jelusic Kasic, Country Director, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Damir Novinic, Director, The Agency for Investments and Competitiveness, Nigel Davies, Head of the Infrastructure Focus Group, British-Croatian Business Club and Vicenco Blagaic, Chairman & CEO of Dubrovnik Pearl. The sessions were chaired by Earl of Dundee, Alexander Scrymgeour, Chair, All Party Parliamentary Group for Croatia and Tony Suchy, President of the British-Croatian Chamber of Commerce respectively.

The First UK-Croatia Trade & Investment Forum
51 Buckingham Gate, London, 24th October, 2013

8.00am - 9.00am Registration and Refreshments

9.00am - 9.45am Opening of the Forum
Atam Sandhu, Chief Executive, Developing Markets Associates
HE Dr Ivan Grdešić, Croatian Ambassador to the UK
Lord Green of Hurstpierpoint, Minister of State for Trade and Investment, UK Government
András Simor, Vice President, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)

Keynote Address
Hon Branko Grčić, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Regional Development and EU Funds, Government of the Republic of Croatia

9.45am - 10.45am Setting the Scene: "Croatia, the New European Member”
Chair – HMA David Slinn, British Ambassador to Croatia
· Hon Joško Klisović, Deputy Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Government of the Republic of Croatia
· Dr Boris Vujčić, Governor, Croatian National Bank
· Tauno Olju, Executive Director, Advisory Services, EY
· Miroslav Petrović, Director, Publiconn
Q & A session

10.45am - 11.15am Refreshments break

11.15am - 12.30pm Investing in Key Sectors
Chair - Earl of Dundee, Alexander Scrymgeour, Chair, APPG for Croatia
· Hon Ivan Vrdoljak, Minister of Economy, Government of the Republic of Croatia
· Hon Siniša Hajdaš Dončić, Minister of Maritime Affairs, Transport and Infrastructure, Government of the Republic of Croatia
· Mirna Marović, President, Croatian Private Equity and Venture Capital Association (CVCA)
· Zeljan Horvat, Counsel of the Management Board, Brodosplit DIV Group
· Tihomir Oreskovic, President of Management Board, Pliva Teva
Q & A session

12.30pm - 1.45pm Networking lunch

1.45pm - 3.15pm Opportunities in Tourism Sector and Support for Investors
Chair - Tony Suchy, President, British- Croatian Chamber of Commerce
· Vedrana Jelusic Kasic, Country Director, European Bank for Reconstruction Development (EBRD)
· Damir Novinić, Director, Agency for Investments and Competitiveness
· Nigel Davies, Head of the Infrastructure Focus Group, British-Croatian Business Club
· Vicenco Blagaic, Chairman & CEO, Dubrovnik Peal
Q & A session

3.15pm - 3.30pm Closing remarks
Hon Branko Grčić, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Regional
Development and EU Funds, Government of the Republic of Croatia

3.30pm - 4.30pm Networking reception