ZAGREB, April 21, 2019 – Osijek-Baranja County wants to utilise the opportunities stemming from China’s economic expansion and investment possibilities created in Croatia’s cooperation with that country, and one of local projects suitable for such investment is the river port and airport, it was said at a meeting between county officials and the Chinese-Southeast Europe Business Association (CSEBA).
After visiting the sites of the river and air ports, County Prefect Ivan Anušić recalled that contacts with Chinese partners were established a few months ago, primarily regarding tourism and now at the enterprise level.
Osijek’s river port at the Drava has potential because it can enable connections to the Black Sea via the Drava and Danube rivers, which is one of the few inland waterways to the Black Sea. The airport is in a favourable location because of its geographic position and potential for passenger and freight transport, Anušić underscored, adding that the county needed investments that won’t be solely in buying concessions but investments that will “bring jobs and generate turnover of goods and people.”
Speaking about the possibilities of future investments, Chinese entrepreneur Jian Yu said that this is the first visit to Osijek and now the investment team needs to analyse the possibilities and prepare an evaluation as a starting point.
CSEBA president, Mario Rendulić recalled that during his recent visit to Croatia, China’s Prime Minister Li Kequiang said that the intention is to included Croatia in investment plans and economic cooperation, adding that this “year is an ideal opportunity for that.”
The Chinese are considering possible projects and potential for investments and cooperation and possible joint-venture system or cooperation with local companies that already exist here are not ruled out, Rendulić said.
More news about Osijek-Baranja County and the possible Chinese investments in Croatia can be found in the Lifestyle section.
