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Statistics
• GDP: US$63.9 billion (2008).
• Main exports: Transport equipment, textiles, chemicals, foodstuffs and fuels. • Main imports: Machinery, transport and electrical equipment, chemicals, fuels and lubricants. • Main trade partners: Italy, Germany, Slovenia, Bosnia & Herzegovina and Russia. Economy
After Slovenia, Croatia was the most developed republic of the former Yugoslavia. The Croatian economy recovered well after the break-up of Yugoslavia and several years of civil war.
Industry is the most important sector in the economy, producing transport equipment, textiles, chemicals, processed foods and fuels. Agriculture, which produces maize, wheat and sugar beet, is important for domestic purposes but has never contributed significantly to the export economy. Mineral deposits of exploitable size include oil, coal and natural gas. Croatia also has an important tourism industry, based on the Dalmatian coast: after being all but wiped out by the civil war, it has recovered and prospered; it is now the major driving force behind Croatia's recent economic progress. Annual GDP growth in 2008 was 4.6%. Inflation was around 6.3% and unemployment around 13.9%. Business Etiquette
Croatia tends towards formal business protocol, but this image of Western-style efficiency is often belied by the fact that things go very slowly on account of the cumbersome bureaucracy. Communication, however, is no problem as English, Italian and German are widely used as second languages. Business cards including professional or academic titles should be exchanged just after formal introductions. There are also a large number of local agents, advisers, consultants and, to a lesser extent, lawyers, willing to act for foreign companies, but none should be engaged before being thoroughly checked in advance. Croatia has created a more liberal framework for foreign investments so that foreign investors are guaranteed special rights and incentives for investing in Croatia.
Office hours: Mon-Fri 0800-1600. Business Contacts
Croatian Chamber of Economy
Rooseveltov trg 2, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia Tel: (01) 456 1555. Website: www.hgk.hr Zagreb Convention Bureau Kaptol 5, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia Tel: (01) 489 8555. Website: www.zagreb-convention.hr Congress and Incentive Office Dubrovnik Cvijete Zuzorić 1/1, 20000 Dubrovnik, Croatia Tel: (020) 324 999. website: www.visitdubrovnik.hr/convention The Croatian National Tourist Office (website: www.croatia.hr) can also offer advice through its Convention Bureau. Conferences & Conventions
Zagreb, Dubrovnik, Opatija and Split are established conference destinations. Conventions are generally held in hotels.
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