Monday's talks with delegations led by Energy Minister Sergei Shmatko and Emergency Situations Minister Sergei Shoigu were very concrete and focused on a number of topics, Cacic said.

According to Cacic, the talks with Minister Shatko were wrapped up with a clear position that Russian companies were welcome in Croatia and that they needed an entirely open space for competing with other global companies in search of and possible exploitation of oil and natural gas, should they win international tenders.

Cacic also said Croatia was interested in building oil pipelines between Bosanski Brod and Slavonski Brod and between Slavonski Brod and Omisalj, as well as storage facilities owned by Croatian companies near Omisalj and Slavonski Brod, on condition of keeping ownership.

Representatives of Russian companies were interested in tender documentation for building the thermal power plant Plomin 3, Cacic said.

Cacic said should the Croatian government decide to enter into privatisation processes, several Russian companies would submit their bids. He added that such decision would be made public.

The meeting with Minister Shoigu focused on the South Stream pipeline project and its routes. Shoigu told Cacic Croatia would be informed of the project by this autumn, after Russians make a decision.

Cacic said Croatia was invited to take part in a business forum due to take place in Sankt Petersburg on June 21 to 23.

The talks with the Russian officials also focused on the shipbuilding, pharmaceutical and food industries and cooperation in fire fighting.

Cacic and his associates are on an official visit to Moscow on March 25-26.