Over 200 Croatian companies have shown an interest in cooperating with companies in Austria in the metal industry, 4.0 industry, renewables, health and food industries, the Croatian Chamber of Commerce (HGK) stated on Tuesday.

Those companies participated in the Chamber’s project called “Go Global – Go Virtual.”

“By connecting our business communities we can participate in joint projects concerning digitisation, dual education, the strengthening of the capacities of small and medium sized enterprises, entrepreneurial training and research and development,” HGK president Luka Burilovic was quoted as saying.

He recalled that since 1 July, Croatian workers have free access to Austria’s market and this is perceived as an additional reason to focus on the opportunities offered in Austria.

Croatian Ambassador to Austria, Silvio Kus, was quoted as saying that business cooperation was a foundation for developing good relations between the two countries.

Austrian Ambassador to Croatia, Markus Wuketich, underscored that Austria is the biggest foreign investor in Croatia with €4.5 billion euro.

Deputy director of the Austrian Economic Chambers, Patrick Sagmeister, said that the value of trade between Austria and Croatia annually is about €3.7 billion which he described as ” a solid number for relatively small countries.”

The HGK announced the next rounds of “Go Global – Go Virtual” with Germany and Israel.