Croatian President Ivo Josipovic attended in Mainz on Friday a German-Croatian economic forum organised by the Rheinhessen Chamber of Industry and Commerce, voicing his optimism about Croatia's economic development.
"I am bringing you a message of optimism and telling you that there have been changes in Croatia, which is throwing its doors wide open to those who are capable," Josipovic told about 600 people attending the forum.
He said Croatia was still far from the economic successes of Germany, which had successfully overcome the economic crisis.
"We are still far from Germany's successes, but we too must pull ourselves together so that the economy can start recovering and so that we can attract foreign investments," Josipovic said, adding that although some foreign investors' experience in Croatia had been negative, "the situation is improving."
"The Croatian government has launched an extensive economic programme and I hope that you will be more satisfied," he told German entrepreneurs.
"I am confident that all those who decided to invest in Croatia will profit," he said, adding that Croatian entrepreneurs were investing in the German economy as well and that once Croatia joined the European Union, this would be "to the mutual benefit", both for Croatia and Germany.
Before Josipovic addressed the forum, Croatian Economy Minister Djuro Popijac presented the government's economic programme and pointed to the success of the latest German-Croatian economic forum.
"More than 80 very serious contacts, that could result in concrete projects, were made today," he said.
German Economy Minister Rainer Bruederle, too, addressed the forum and said that, bearing in mind Croatia's upcoming accession to the European Union, it was necessary to strengthen the European economy.
We in Europe must pull ourselves together so that we don't lose our positions on the global market, he said, alluding to increasingly strong economies such as China and India.
A protest rally was held outside the Rheinhessen Chamber of Industry and Commerce, organised by the German branch of the right-wing Croatian Pure Party of Rights. About 15 protesters carried banners and asked that Josipovic "distance himself from crimes committed by the Partisans" and agents of the former Yugoslav secret service Udba.
Before the forum, Josipovic met former German Chancellor Helmut Kohl.
Josipovic was scheduled to end his three-day visit to Germany by meeting Frankfurt Mayor Petra Roth and representatives of Croatian emigrant associations.
