Prime Minister Orešković meets with his French counterpart.
France is showing great interest in economic cooperation with Croatia and in further investments, said Prime Minister Tihomir Orešković on Monday in Paris, after talks with French Prime Minister Manuel Valls, reports Index.hr on May 30, 2016.
“Last year, we increased Croatian exports to France by almost 18 percent, French companies are currently building the Zagreb Airport and the passenger terminal in the port of Gruž in Dubrovnik. French companies are also interested in the construction of our railways and the Pelješac Bridge”, said the Prime Minister after the meeting.
Orešković added that there was a mutual interest for investments, and as an example he mentioned the possibility that the HS Produkt company could sell to France 90,000 rifles for the army and police. “That would be an investment worth 300 million euros, and it shows that Croatia can compete on a global level”, he said.
Orešković added that the French company Bouygues, which is building the Zagreb Airport, was also interested in the construction of the Pelješac Bridge, which should begin in the third quarter of this year.
After the meeting with Valls, the Prime Minister also met with secretary general of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Angel Gurria. Asked if Croatia was a candidate for membership in the OECD, Orešković said it would “be great for Croatia” and pointed out positive economic indicators, such as GDP growth in the first quarter of more than two percent, the reduction in deficit more than was planned and investments which are being announced. “All this puts Croatia in a positive position with regards to entering the OECD”, said Orešković.
On Tuesday, the second day of his visit to Paris, the Prime Minister will take part in a meeting of French and Croatian entrepreneurs and will hold talks with secretary general of the French Employers’ Association Pierre Gattaz. He will also meet with representatives of French companies that are interested in investing in Croatia.
