The iNAVIS Maritime Innovation Centre is a joint Croatian-Norwegian project aimed at establishing cooperation between Norwegian and Croatian companies in the areas of shipbuilding, transport, energy, and maritime technologies. The project is financially supported by Norway and the City of Sibenik.

King Harald said that both Norway and Croatia had a strong maritime heritage and that the shipping trade always played a strong role in developing firm relations between the two countries.

Croatia and Norway have been closely cooperating since Croatia became independent. In recent years, Croatia has been developing fast and with the establishment of the iNAVIS Centre it will become an equal partner to Norway in the shipping industry. This Centre is an excellent basis for the development and promotion of common expertise in the shipping and fishing industries, King Harald said.

Josipovic said that Croatia and Norway were maritime countries that recognised the iNAVIS Centre as their common interest. Norway is no doubt a great friend of Croatia's who has found yet another way of helping Croatia, and achieving its own interests, through the Maritime Innovation Centre project.

"Croatia must recognise the sea as its great comparative advantage and one of the main mediums of development. The establishment of the iNAVIS Centre is one of the new forms of strong economic cooperation," Josipovic said.

The Mayor of Sibenik, Ante Zupanovic, said the iNAVIS Centre would provide advisory and financial support and would take an active part in launching and implementing joint projects.

After the ceremony at the iNAVIS Centre, the high-level delegation went to the Nautical Centre Prgin (NCP) where Queen Sonja launched two NAB-CAT catamarans built for the Norwegian client Nordic Aqua Boats.

The NCP had delivered two catamarans to the same client in December and, according to NCP owner Goran Prgin, four more orders were expected.