Croatian Minister of Economy, Entrepreneurship and Crafts Darko Horvat will conduct a working visit to Finland and Norway from August 27 to 29 at the invitation of the Kongsberg company and he will tour Patria Aviation Oy, AIM Norway AS and Kongsberg Gruppen ASA, the Economy Ministry said on Tuesday.

On that occasion the minister will discuss the conditions for offset obligations to be fulfilled, future cooperation and of the presence of Patria and Kongsberg on the Croatian market, which would include some form of strategic partnership, transfer of know-how and technology, the ministry added.

In mid-June the Jutarnji List daily ran a report, later confirmed by Minister Horvat, that Patria was interested in establishing a centre for the maintenance, repair and overhaul of aircraft and helicopters at the Aviation Technical Centre (ZTC) in Velika Gorica, on the outskirts of the capital Zagreb.

A delegation from Patria visited the ZTC and a spokesman from the company told the daily that Patria wishes to establish a long term partnership with state-run companies involved in maintenance, overhaul and repairs in Europe, and that the Adriatic region was very interesting in that regard.

Patria is a Finnish provider of defence, security and aviation life-cycle support services and technology solutions. It is involved in the maintenance of civil and defence aircraft and military helicopters. Patria is also interested in ZTC due to future large contracts for the maintenance of Croatia’s helicopters.

ZTC is a state-owned company that maintains military and civil aircraft and helicopters. However, it has been faced with huge business problems for years, Jutarnji List wrote.

Confirming the daily’s claims, Minister Horvat said that negotiations were being conducted with Patria, Kongsberg and a Belgian company regarding investments in the ZTC.