7 March 2022 - The Dubai-Croatian Business Forum, held as part of Croatia Day at Dubai Expo 2020 on Sunday, brought together around 100 companies from Croatia and the United Arab Emirates, with energy, industry and construction companies, as well as IT and food companies being dominant in the Croatian delegation.

The forum was organised by the Croatian Chamber of Commerce (HGK) and the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, with HGK president Luka Burilović noting that "adaptability and resourcefulness are critical to the survival of business, notably in the current circumstances."

The Croatian business delegation included representatives of Končar and Rimac Automobili, the IT companies Geld Data and Poslovna Inteligencija, as well as the Podravka and Paška Sirana food companies.

Trade between Croatia and the UAE has been growing in the past few years. In 2020 and 2019 Croatia's exports to that country totalled US$ 70 million, and the trend continued in 2021 as well, with trade amounting to $63 million in the first eleven months of that year.

In previous years exports totalled half the amount of exports in the recent years, around $30 million.

Croatia mostly exports electrical transformers to the UAE, and they account for 40% of all exports to that country.

Burilović said that one of the current challenges, requiring adaptability and resourcefulness, was business sustainability.

"The most important thing that we have to change in that regard is the perception and vision of the future because only those companies that prepare on time and adapt to the challenges of the green transition will be competitive," he said.

The Croatian business delegation also included businesses offering products in the area of sustainable development and renewables, with the HGK noting that Dubai Chamber vice-president Faisal Belhoul confirmed openness to cooperation and support in the UAE market.

The forum was also attended by Croatian PM Andrej Plenković, who said the event provided a unique opportunity for intercultural and business cooperation.

"Many Croatian companies contribute to and promote our cooperation, including Infobip, Podravka, Končar, Đuro Đaković, HS Produkt and others," he said as carried by the HGK.

Dubai Expo 2020 is taking place from October 2021 to the end of March 2022. It has brought together states, multilateral organisations, companies and educational institutions, with 192 countries presenting their products. An estimated 25 million visitors are expected to attend, of whom 70% are international guests and 30% local.

Originally scheduled for 20 October 2020 to 10 April 2021, Dubai Expo 2020 was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite being postponed, organisers kept the name Expo 2020 for marketing and branding purposes.

The theme of the event is "Connecting Minds, Creating the Future", with three subthemes: opportunity, mobility and sustainability.

The World Expo event is marking its 170th anniversary.

ZAGREB, 1 Oct 2021 - Croatia's exhibition at the EXPO 2020 in Dubai from 1 October 2021 to 31 March 2022 will be presented as an inspiration to great minds which is based on the EXPO's main theme "Connecting minds, creating the future," the Croatian National Tourist Board (HTZ) said on Friday.

EXPO 2020 Dubai will attract 190 countries, including Croatia, whose pavilion has been named "Croatia Inspiring Great Minds."

During the six months that EXPO 2020 will run, it expects about 25 million people from around the world to visit, including business people as well as government representatives, as well as many virtual visitors, with the organisers expecting more than 3 billion people to see the exhibition.

HTZ underscored that Croatia's exhibition will be interesting and it will present various innovative projects, inventions and creative individuals because, "thanks to many advanced minds, Croatia is recognised in the world today for numerous achievements."

Croatia's exhibit will present genius minds like Nikola Tesla, Ruđer Bošković and Slavoljub Penkala, who left a significant trace on the world's future. The exhibit will also include the Rimac Nevera, the fastest electric car in the world.

Apart from science, Croatia will present itself as a sports nation with renowned athletes like Dražen Petrović, Janica and Ivica Kostelić, Luka Modrić and many others.

Visitors will be able to become familiar with Croatia through multi-media projections and virtual experiences, including travelling through all of Croatia's natural beauties and its cultural heritage.

The creative concept for Croatia's pavilion at EXPO 2020 was created by the Real Group, Architect Ante Vrban and the Morium company.

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