A delegation of the China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (CSIC) visited the state-owned shipbuilding research facility Brodarski Institut in Zagreb, Croatia's Economy Minister, Darko Horvat, told reporters on Monday. He added that the delegation also had plans to visit the 3. Maj shipyard in Rijeka on Tuesday.

He added that the delegation, thought to be investigating possible investment opportunities in Croatia’s failing shipbuilding sector, would meet with him again on Tuesday evening.

“And then, I think, we will have a little more information about what exactly they have seen, and what their feelings are at the moment,” Horvat was cited as saying by Hina state agency.

Brodarski Institut is Croatia’s premier research institute specialised for developing and testing models and prototypes  for all kinds of shipbuilding projects, as well as other types of marine construction projects involving renewable energy sources or waste disposal facilities.

This is the second CSIC delegation to visit Croatia in about three weeks, after a group of the company’s executives led by chairman of the board, Hu Wenming had visited the bankrupt Uljanik shipyard in Pula and the 3. Maj shipyard in Rijeka in late April.

On Monday, Horvat said that during their previous visit one of the topics discussed involved ways to “diversify production” at the heavily indebted docks – without revealing any details on what this would entail.

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