Croatia the economy:

Memberships:
Bank for International Settlements (BIS), European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), International Labor Organization (ILO), International Monetary Fund (IMF), Stabilization and Association Agreement with the European Union, World Bank, World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), World Trade Organization (WTO)

Agreements with U.S.:
Bilateral Investment Treaty

Eligibilities:
General System of Preferences (GSP), Most Favored Nation (MFN), Trade Development Agency (TDA) funding, Export-Import Bank (ExIm) funding, Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) funding

2004: Tourism Revenue expected to be $9.056 Billion
The industry composes 28.9 percent of total employment, and it is estimated that one in every 3.5 jobs is connected to travel and tourism. According to the Croatian National Bank, tourism
revenue totalled $6.4 billion in 2003, representing a 67.3 percent annual increase.
Source: see-news.com.

Top Foreign Investors:
Privredna Banka Zagreb (Italy) N/A
Siemens (Germany) N/A
Zagrebacka Pivovara (Belgium) N/A
Cumulative Foreign Investment:
2002 $5.9 bn

Foreign Investment by Sector 2002 (USD mln)
Finance 1,456
Chemicals 936
Transport 884

Dubrovnik airport pax flow

2001

461.322

2002

507.459

2003

716.592

2004

Planned

800.000

Croatia the country

Croatia is a land of exceptional natural beauty with a rich cultural heritage.

The unspoiled nature, clean air, pure water and dense forests make this country a healthy oasis on an increasingly polluted continent.
Europe's best climate with 2.600 hours sunshine.
Exceptionally mild winters.
Europe's cleanest waters.

Visited by 8.3 million tourist in 2002.
Had € 2 billion + in foreign investments in 2003.
Member of the European Union 2007.

Since 1999, Croatia has been among the most rapidly growing tourist destinations in Europe. In 2003, tourism generated almost $ 8 billion of economic activity and contributed 10.6 percent of Croatia’s GDP and 13 percent of total employment. Croatia’s tourist infrastructure of 723,000 beds and camping spaces is no longer sufficient to meet current demand that is expected to continue to grow at an average of 7 percent annually during the next 10 years. The major challenge for Croatia is to upgrade and expand its outdated hotel infrastructure while avoiding excessive construction and over-exploitation of its natural resources.

Demographics:

Total: 56,542 sq. km
Border 5,835 km. (mainland 1,777 km, islands 4,058 km)
Number of islands 1,185 (66 inhabited)
Pop. 4,390,751,
Roman Catholic 76.5%
Capital Zagreb (pop. 750.000)
Currency: Kuna per € - 0.14. (1 Kuna = 100 Lipa) '

GDP € 5.000 per capita -
State budget € 20 b,
Exports € 4 b,
Imports € 8 b.,
Unemployment 20 % +.
SMB 61.000 registered.

Political situation:

Occupied by the Croat people since the 7th century.
1990: After democratic elections Croatia leaves Yugoslavia and proclaims its own independence and sovereignty. At the same time a part of Serbian population stirs up a rebellion dictated form Belgrade which results in the aggression of the JNA and Yugoslavia against Croatia.
1992: Croatia becomes the full member of the United Nations.
1995: The Croatian territory is almost completely liberated.
1998: The sovereignty over the whole country, including Eastern Slavonia, is established by a peaceful reintegration.

2001 Sign SAA agreement with the E.U.
2002 Sign Interim agreement with the E.U.
2003 Croatia apply for E.U. membership.

Democratic government with constant parliamentary majority supporting E.U. membership.

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