May the 1st, 2023 - Croatian companies were present exhibiting their fish products at the recently held Seafood Expo Global in Barcelona. The Croatian Chamber of Commerce (HGK) which organised the visit, has stated that it is doing all it can to aid Croatian companies in internationalisation.

As Poslovni Dnevnik writes, just like over the past several years, the Croatian Chamber of Commerce organised the joint presentation of Croatian companies from the fishing sector at the Seafood Expo Global international fair, which was held from April the 25th to the 27th in Barcelona. At the fair, 2,078 exhibitors from 87 countries exhibited on approximately 50,000 m2 of exhibition space.

The following Croatian companies presented their various fishery products at this important fair: Arbacommerce, Conex Trade, Cromaris, Jadran tuna, Mislov, Orada Adriatic, Pelagos Net Farma, PP Orahovica, Sardina and ZMH Horvat. The most important products they presented were white fish, tuna, salted small blue fish, frozen small blue fish, canned food, freshwater fish and various fish-based processed products.

"The fundamental determinants of the Croatian Chamber of Commerce are the strengthening of exports and assistance to Croatian companies in the internationalisation of their business operations. Therefore, I'm particularly pleased that with the help of HGK, ten of our members, who derive a significant part of their income from export sales - 55 to 85 percent to be more precise - exhibited their fishery products at this most important international fair. In the new programme period until 2027, HGK will continue to support the export efforts of our members, and promote the sustainability of Croatian fisheries and the consumption of fish and products from Croatian cultivation and catch through the implementation of the Fish of Croatia Eat what it's worth EU project,'' said HGK president Luka Burilovic.

For PP Orahovica, the largest domestic producer of freshwater fish, this fair was an opportunity to present its products of the Panona Mare brand to business visitors and potential customers.

"We attracted the attention of visitors as the only brand with a ready-to-eat breaded freshwater fish programme. These are products that are adapted to the needs of the modern consumer, simpler to prepare and tastier to consume, and with which we're already present on the domestic market and are preparing for placement on the European and world markets. As one of the most important events in the fishing sector, this fair is an excellent platform for business meetings with target customers in the B2B segment, but also an opportunity to further build the image of our Panona Mare brand,'' said Katica Petkov, the marketing manager of PP Orahovica.

The Mislov company has otherwise been participating in this fair for a number of years now. "We believe that it's the best platform for presenting our products to new customers, but also an opportunity to meet our long-term partners. This fair is important to us because we can learn about the latest trends and innovations in the world of fishing and the opportunity to try to follow them," said Marina Spralja from Mislov.

The very well known Cromaris, as the leading producer of Mediterranean white fish here in Croatia, presented its wide range of products to those present at the Barcelona fair. This year, a special focus was placed on organic fish, so innovations in production were presented. Visitors to the fair were able to taste various delicacies made from Cromaris fish prepared by chef Mladen Krizanovic, and the sushi was especially attractive to those present.

The export of fishery products in 2022 compared to 2021 recorded a growth of 14 percent and amounts to 312.5 million euros, which represents an increase of 38.5 million euros. The surplus last year amounted to 64.7 million euros, and the coverage of imports by exports was 126 percent. In the structure of exports in 2022 by product group, fresh or chilled fish are the most represented, accounting for 51.6 percent of the total export value, fish products and preserves (16.5%) and dried, salted or brined fish and smoked fish (11.1%).

Products from Croatian companies operating within the fisheries sector worth 211.4 million (67.6%) were placed on the market of EU countries last year. Looking at exports individually by country, in 2022, the first export market was Italy with 104 million eutos (33.3%), followed by Japan with 39.7 million euros (12.7%) and Spain with 36.7 million euros (11.7%).

Since way back in 2004, HGK has been sending Croatian companies to the world's largest fish fair, Seafood Expo Global. For a number of years now, the performance of Croatian companies has been financed through the aforementioned EU project which is aimed at promoting fishery products and increasing exports of the Croatian fishing sector.

For more, make sure to check out our dedicated news section.

April the 20th, 2023 - Eight Chinese companies have their eyes peeled on the lookout for Croatian business opportunities as the country's economic recovery proves more rapid than anticipated.

As Poslovni Dnevnik/Marija Brnic writes, China is on the rise once again and is, as stated above, recovering more rapidly than expected, and at the same time it is again in a proactive campaign to break into all kinds of foreign markets. As such, a new delegation will arrive in the Republic of Croatia for the Chinese Business Forum next week.

New B2B talks between Chinese and Croatian businessmen will be held under the scope of the Croatian Chamber of Commerce (HGK), and this time, representatives of companies from the Shaanxi province, from the north-east of China, the place from which the historic Silk Road ran, are coming in search of partners.

The delegation consists of eight Chinese companies that are interested in cooperation in the field of the metal industry, mechanical engineering, parts for shipbuilding, materials for the furniture industry, solar energy, transport and trade. According to the HGK announcement on the matter, the delegation will be led by Zhai Beiqin, Deputy Director General of the Shaanxi Commerce Bureau.

Certain companies have prepared a list of companies in the Croatian business world in advance with which they want to meet and establish cooperation, for example; the company Ambohr Electric wants to export its ozone and oxygen generators to Croatia, and among others, they are interested in the distribution business of a company that deals with leading a healthy life - El kolibri.

The last such meeting of businessmen took place half a year ago, when a delegation of about fifteen Chinese companies arrived in the City of Zagreb for talks with those in the Croatian business world. The interest of Chinese companies in Croatia has been increasing since back in 2013, more precisely since joining the EU, but the coronavirus pandemic significantly slowed down activities and direct meetings.

However, imports into Croatia from China also grew strongly last year, in contrast to the export of Croatian goods to that large market, while this year started with a large decrease in the value of trade in both directions.

Namely, 85.5 million euros worth of goods were exported last year, which is a result worse by 3.7 percent than back in 2021, while imports grew strongly, by as much as 34 percent, to the sum of 1.369 billion euros. In the first month of 2023, however, exports fell by 36 percent on the annual level, and imports by 23 percent.

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October the 8th, 2022 - Ivica Katavic from the Croatian Chamber of Commerce (HGK) has attempted to explain just why Croatian food prices are extortionate at the moment, even when compared to the prices of the same items elsewhere in Europe. Contrary to popular belief, ridiculous Croatian VAT rates aren't the only thing causing the issue during these difficult times dominated by inflationary pressures.

As Poslovni Dnevnik writes, we're currently witnessing an increase in the price of almost everything, almost every single day we end up unpleasantly surprised by a new, noticeably higher price of some very ordinary ingredient or food. This year, the Republic of Croatia recorded the highest inflation rate since the Central Bureau of Statistics has been tracking and keeping hold of this data, and mostly all of this is a consequence of rising fuel and food prices. However, even when the price of fuel on the market falls, the prices of groceries seem to remain very much same for regular consumers in stores, reports HRT.

''Croatian stores have their margins which are the same as they were a year ago, but something happened in the supply chains where the prices rose significantly, where the price inputs of the items went up a lot. Ivica Katavic, president of the Trade Association at the Croatian Chamber of Commerce explained, adding that he believes that fuel prices are among the more minor items when it comes to price increases at this moment in time.

"Although it was expected that there would be significantly higher price increases, the Government entered into a price policy, and they then stabilised. Croatia is a small market, there are few traders who can enter a foreign factory and lease the quantities for which that factory would be interested in supplying. Most of the products that are imported go through distributors and intermediaries. Everyone charges their own margins, has employees to pay, warehouses where there are additional costs. When these goods reach our market, when Croatian distributors deliver them to retailers, and then the prices are significantly different from those in the EU," he said.

He pointed out that companies had not previously calculated the spiralling costs of energy sources into their prices, which are only expected to increase, particularly in the case of electricity and gas.

"I hope that this is slowly coming to an end. It's noticeable that there wasn't so much of an increase in September. That was the time when Croatian producers were also preparing for the rise in the prices of energy products and factored this into their prices and delivered them to the market. Now we'll slowly have a more normal situation, although the increase in energy prices is yet to come," said Ivica Katavic.

He emphasised that traders' earnings are falling and they need to do something to make up for their continuing losses.

"It's not right to put the burden exclusively on the backs of the traders. On a daily basis, we received new price lists that we had to comply with. By law, the store cannot go below the purchase price. Some margin has to be put up there. I'm aware of the situation, and I hope the situation will improve," he said.

Ivica Katavic is also of the opinion that people in Croatia are aware of the war in Ukraine and that it has consequences for prices of various good sold here in Croatia.

For more, make sure to check out our dedicated politics section.

February the 23rd, 2022 - The Croatian Chamber of Commerce (HGK) is seeking aid for large Croatian companies as well as for micro, small and medium enterprises as the energy crisis continues.

As Poslovni Dnevnik/Marija Brnic writes, the state of emergency for the Croatian Government will likely leave even less room for negotiations on the possible "inclusion" of large Croatian companies in the package of assistance measures which entrepreneurs are seeking through the Croatian Chamber of Commerce (HGK) even after its presentation last week.

There is a little more than a month left until the start of the implementation of the recently revealed government inflation measures worth almost five billion kuna in total, during which the criteria and methods of obtaining aid should be determined, intended - when it comes to entrepreneurs - primarily for micro, small and medium enterprises. Large Croatian companies appear to have been somewhat left out in the cold.

The Croatian Chamber of Commerce believes that the aforementioned package of inflation measures should be expanded and should include large Croatian companies that have a high share when it comes to their number of employees, as well as their exports and revenues. Otherwise, they say, those companies with a large number of employees and industrial plants with high energy consumption will hardly be able to overcome the impact of the price increases that have and will continue to hit them.

The measures as they stand today envisage subsidies for smaller companies in the amount of 15 lipa per kWh for those with a consumption of up to 10 GWh, and it is planned that 600 million kuna will be made available for vouchers from this measure by the end of March next year.

The Croatian Chamber of Commerce has called on its members to take measures to reduce energy costs for all end users and help companies and industries overcome problems caused by rising prices, and many of them have introduced measures for all consumer groups, thus including large and energy-intensive companies.

Examples of quality measures include Belgium, which has banned unilateral changes to contracts whereby energy distributors and suppliers can increase prices on their own in fixed-price contracts, and in nearby Italy, which abolished network charges in the first quarter of 2022. Italy also reached for a 20 percent tax cut on its large consumers for energy purchased and consumed in the first quarter.

"Following these measures, the members of the Croatian Chamber of Commerce proposed the abolition or reduction of tariff items where possible, or to at least keep them at the same level until the market stabilises," said the Croatian Chamber of Commerce, noting that it is crucial for industrial consumers to have stability in their contracts within the gas year, ie contracted fixed prices.

One of the solutions that can help this category is to reduce the amount of income tax liability by up to 50 percent of the value of investments in renewable sources, retroactively According to their proposal, the compensation for the reduction of the tax liability could be used for a period of four financial years.

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January the 10th, 2022 - Some real pandemic growth can be seen when looking at the data for Croatian exports and their numbers for last year. Not only did Croatian exports jump, but the prices of various products sold abroad by Croatian enterprises also did.

As Novac/Jutarnji/Marina Klepo writes, last year, Croatian exports increased by more than a quarter: in the first eleven months of 2021, according to the CBS, they grew by 26.6 percent (25.4 percent in 2021's first ten months).

However, Croatian exports haven't increased significantly only compared to pandemic-dominated 2020, the Croatian Chamber of Commerce (HGK) pointed out, but their value in those first ten months of last year was 19.6 percent higher than back in the same period in pre-pandemic 2019. In addition, they added, Eurostat's data on the trade done by all EU member states shows that Croatia, both last year and a year earlier, was among the most successful EU countries.

"In the first ten months of last year, only Estonia and Greece had more dynamic export growth," they pointed out from the Croatian Chamber of Commerce. When we talk about the reasons for such good export results, we can mostly refer to the low base in the last, pandemic-dominated year.

Export structures

According to the Croatian National Bank (CNB), the high growth rates of merchandise exports and imports are only a small part of the positive effect of the base period. To a much greater extent, "they reflect the recovery of bith domestic and foreign demand, the partial re-establishment of supply chains, a stronger recovery of the manufacturing industry in relation to the service sector and a marked increase in global prices of energy and other raw materials," reads the latest publication. More detailed data on the structure of Croatian exports also reveal the reasons for their strong growth. When compared to the previous year, HGK analysts explained, the largest increases can be seen in the value of exports of energy - electricity, crude oil and petroleum products - which last year saw a significant increase in terms of prices on the vast global market.

Among the products whose export value increased the most were electrical equipment, followed by metals and finished metal products, whose prices on the global market also rose sharply. Available import price data for the Eurozone shows that crude oil imports rose by about 60 percent year-on-year in the first ten months of 2021, total refining industries rose by about six percent, petroleum products increased by about 40 percent, metals by about 30 percent and electricity by more than an impressive 150 percent.

"Therefore, even in the absence of more detailed data, it's more than noticeable that global prices last year had a significant impact on the growth of the value of Croatian exports," explained the Croatian Chamber of Commerce. Although strong growth is largely based on price increases, the Croatian Chamber of Commerce pointed out that there are a number of activities in which such price increases haven't been recorded, but which also record high export growth rates. These are, for example, the food, chemical and wood processing industries. In addition to that, a number of activities recorded significantly better export results than they did back in 2019, for example, agriculture, forestry and fisheries.

"This is at the same time a consequence of a strong recovery in global demand, but also a greater orientation of companies towards exports," the Croatian Chamber of Commerce said. The only activity that still recorded a significantly lower value of exports than in the same period in 2019 remained the production of motor vehicles and trailers.

Key markets

When it comes to the preferences of Croatian exporters, the figures suggest that last year they maintained their orientation towards the European Union's single market (EU) and what are traditionally the most important export markets. The share of Croatian exports to the EU market increased in the first ten months of 2021 from 68 percent in 2019 to 68.8 percent last year. The highest growth was achieved in the five most represented markets: Slovenia, Hungary, Italy, Bosnia and Herzegovina (non EU/EEA) and Germany.

For more, check out our dedicated business section.

ZAGREB, 7 Dec, 2021 - Croatia's IT industry has shown resilience also in the current pandemic, and in 2020 it saw revenues in the amount of HRK 28 billion and grew, though less than in 2019, going up by 3.3%. It is also looking for the status of a strategic branch considering its importance for all sectors, an analysis shows.

The analysis of the IT sector, made by the Croatian Chamber of Commerce (HGK), was presented on Tuesday.

"The IT industry in Croatia employs 35,000 people or 6% more than in 2019, with the average wage having risen to around HRK 9,000, which is 60% above the average net wage in the business sector. In 2020 IT covered 5,700 companies, up 4% from 2019, which were important for digital transformation and social development. The industry could achieve more if the state improved the institutional framework and declared it a strategic branch," HGK Vice-President for Industries and Sustainable Development Tomislav Radoš said.

In that regard, expectations from a review of the Smart Specialisation Strategy are great in the sense that it could help enhance the status of the IT industry and make it even more active in digitalisation. Three more months are left to complete the review after which we can use it in negotiations with the European Commission about money from EU funds and other matters, Radoš said.

He noted that slightly more than HRK 9 billion or 32.5% of the 2020 revenue in the IT industry were exports, an increase of one billion kuna or 13% from 2019.

The State Secretary at the Economy and Sustainable Development Ministry, Mile Horvat, said that in 2022, in addition to the review of the Smart Specialisation Strategy, also expected was the adoption of a national plan for digital transformation and artificial intelligence. IT is also an important part of the National Development Strategy for the period until 2030, he added.

Share of IT in GDP 2.5%; new jobs constantly created

The HGK analysis shows that the share of the IT industry in GDP in 2020 grew to 2.5% despite the pandemic, as well as that it keeps creating new jobs, having opened 11,000 jobs in the past five years (including 2020), with 2020 alone seeing an increase in the number of new jobs of around 2,000 compared to 2019.

Most or 55% of employees in the IT industry work in IT companies that provide services, while 28.4% work in prepackaged software manufacturers and more than 6% each work with equipment and software retailers and with outsourcing providers.

Zagreb has a dominant role in the IT industry, accounting for almost 78% or HRK 21.7 billion of the revenue in the IT sector in 2020. It is followed by Istria County, with a share of 5% in the total revenue, and Zagreb County, with a share of 3%.

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ZAGREB, 4 Dec, 2021 - Hotels in Zagreb as well as hotels open in December elsewhere in Croatia expect the Advent season and the Christmas and New Year festivities to contribute to hotel occupancy figures, however, the pandemic is likely to cut guest turnovers by 40% compared to 2019.

These figures were presented by the chairwoman of the hoteliers' cluster within the Croatian Chamber of Commerce (HGK), Josipa Jutt Ferlan, in her interview which Hina published on Saturday.

Jutt Ferlan says that the epidemiological developments make it difficult to forecast the results of this year's Advent season.

She projects that in December 2022 hotels could reach the volume of their business in December 2019.

Jutt Ferlan, who is also Cluster General Manager at Hilton hotels in Zagreb, tells Hina that inquiries about the Advent in Zagreb events and bookings of accommodations hint at good results notably during weekends this December.

Commenting on COVID certificates, she underscores that many business activities and many event organisers rely on the COVID certificate and on vaccination as a way out of the pandemic and return to the normal life.

In many European countries the COVID certificate mandate has already been introduced also for hotels, restaurants and cafes, she says adding that there are more and more foreign visitors who  ask why hotels or spa facilities in Croatia have not yet imposed the mandatory certificates.

If all other countries, our competition, introduce this requirement, then our "safe stay" designation will become meaningless, if we do not impose certificates, too, she explains.

Jutt Furlan added that the government's job-retention grants had made it possible for hotels to keep doing business and keep their workers during the lockdown.

She says that that during the last summer season, Zagreb hotels fared well, explaining that a good summer season along the coast also means a good summer season for Zagreb.

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November the 11th, 2021 - The Croatian Chamber of Commerce (HGK) has awarded its 2020 Golden Kuna awards (Zlatna kuna) to numerous Croatian companies which have experienced success and aided the domestic economy during the unprecedented and extremely challenging coronavirus-dominated year of 2020.

As Poslovni Dnevnik/Suzana Varosanec writes, the Croatian Chamber of Commerce's 2020 Golden Kuna awards were awarded recently for the 25th time, at a ceremony which could only be attended by those possessing covid certificates at Zagreb's Westin hotel. The winners are in eight categories - for small, medium and large companies, the most successful bank and insurance company, for innovation, for responsible and sustainable business and for what's known as ''life's work''.

Dok-Ing is rather unsurprisingly the winner of the 2020 Golden Kuna for innovation, PBZ (Privredna banka Zagreb) has been proclaimed the best Croatian bank of last year, and Croatia osiguranje (insurance) has been declared the best insurance company of 2020.

When it comes to being awarded for responsible and sustainable business, Jadran - Galenic Laboratory took home the 2020 Golden Kuna award. Zagreb's Gamepires won the same in the small business category, G.T. Trade from Split won in terms of the best medium-sized company, while HS Produkt from Karlovac won as the best large company. Special awards and recognitions were also presented along with the 2020 Golden Kuna awards.

The Croatian Employment Service (CES) has won an award for its efficiency in implementing government economic measures to preserve jobs due to the pandemic which were readily introduced last year. Dragutin Kamenski, the owner of the construction company Kamgrad, received the 2020 Golden Kuna for his life's work. The Croatian Chamber of Commerrce also presents the Golden Kuna awards for business success and contribution to the domestic economy.

The list of nominations is based on the calculation of established indicators, and the business image of domestic companies, the impact on the development of the activity to which they belong and the contribution to the development of the Croatian economy as a whole are adequately evaluated.

For more, make sure to check out our dedicated business section.

ZAGREB, 9 Oct, 2021 - Eight Croatian companies are showcasing their products at the Anuga food fair which is taking place in the German city of Cologne from 9 to 13 October, the Croatian Chamber of Commerce (HGK) announced on Saturday, describing the fair as the central gathering point for food companies from throughout the world.

Croatia is represented by food and drink producers Kraš, Dupin, Pekar, Hermes International, Uje, Arabesca, Varžak Med and Prodan Tartufi.

Dragan Kovačević, the HGK vice-president for agriculture and tourism, said that this was the first fair of global significance to be taking place in person since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.

"We are glad about our members' interest in fairs despite the uncertainty surrounding the pandemic, as well as the fact that the exhibition space is sold out. The HGK covers half of the costs for its members and we believe that our help will make it easier for them to find opportunities to enter new export markets," Kovačević said.

This year's show has attracted nearly 5,000 exhibitors from more than 100 countries. The previous fair, held in 2019, drew 165,000 professional visitors from 200 countries, which confirms its leading position in Europe, the HGK said.

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ZAGREB, 25 Sept, 2021 - On the European Day of Philanthropy and Foundations, 1 October, Croatia will launch Philanthropy Week, an event dedicated to motivating citizens to get involved and contribute to the development of philanthropy.

"A sense of community has been demonstrated across Croatia. Join in and give yourselves an opportunity to become better people," the organisers of the event, ZaDobro.BIT! platform, said, announcing a number of events to be taking place until 10 October.

Philanthropy Week has been joined by cities across Croatia.

In Zagreb, a lecture will be held by the Zajednički Put and Solidarna foundations on horizontal cooperation and civic solidarity as levers of the City of Zagreb's social policy, aimed at strengthening dialogue with the city authorities in preventing poverty and protecting human rights and social security.

In the northern Adriatic city of Pula, a number of events will be organised, including a campaign promoting corporate philanthropy and connecting the business and civil sectors.

The Croatian Chamber of Commerce will hold a lecture on corporate philanthropy.

In the eastern city of Osijek, an exhibition on famous Osijek philanthropists will be staged and a guided tour of buildings whose construction was financed by philanthropists will be organised.

In Kutina, young people will join in creating philanthropist campaigns.

The Ana Rukavina Foundation will organise in Omiš a drive to collect blood samples for HLA typing in an effort to expand the national register of blood stem cell donors. Registration will be possible in Omiš on 2 October.

Numerous events will also be held online. A promotional film about philanthropy, a virtual exhibition and information on the pilot-project "DoGood People" for primary and secondary school students are available at https://www.zadobrobit.hr.

One of the events is the "Gradimo i radimo" (We build and work) online campaign for the earthquake-struck region of Banija, aimed at collecting financial and other donations to make life for the people of that region as normal as possible during the autumn and winter.

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