Despite the crisis, Croatia and Slovenia last year managed to increase trade by ten percent which indicates a new development of the two countries' economic relations, it was said at a round table debate entitled "The Strengthening of Economic Cooperation Between Croatia and Slovenia with an Emphasis on EU Programmes and the Tourist Sector", held in the northern Croatian town of Tuheljske Toplice on Tuesday.
The event was attended by Croatian President Ivo Josipovic and his Slovenian counterpart Danilo Tuerk.
The round table discussion, bringing together some 100 representatives of Croatian and Slovenian companies and institutions, was organised by the Terme Tuhelj Spa, Krapina-Zagorje County, the Krapina Chamber of Commerce, the Celje regional chamber of commerce and the Croatian-Slovene business club.
By attending this event, Presidents Josipovic and Tuerk expressed their support to further strengthening of economic relations between the two countries and stronger connection between Croatian and Slovenian companies. Addressing those present, Josipovic and Tuerk underlined the importance of cooperation, notably in cross-border projects and in light of Croatia's pending EU entry.
Josipovic said that openness and cooperation with neighbours and friends is very important, adding that joint projects, such as tourist promotion, showed that Croatia and Slovenia were nurturing good neighbourly relations.
Tuerk said that cooperation between the two countries' companies, notably in cross border projects, helped create new business opportunities, but it also contributed to a better life of Croatians and Slovenians, which the EU promoted through its cohesion policy.
He also underlined the synergy between the two countries on third markets, notably in health tourism, adding that Slovenia is satisfied with progress in economic and political cooperation between Zagreb and Ljubljana.
Josipovic and Tuerk also laid a foundation stone for a new EUR 12 million hotel as part of Terme Tuhelj Spa, owned by Terme Olimia from Podcetrtek, Slovenia.
Presenting the conclusion of the round table debate, Croatian Chamber of Commerce vice president Vesna Trnokop Tanta underlined the importance of the growth of the bilateral trade and the experience of the Slovenian investors in Croatia, notably in the tourist sector. She said that between 1993 and 2010, Croatia invested EUR 379 million in Slovenia while Slovenia's investments in Croatia in the said period totalled EUR 1.15 billion.
