Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ZAGREB363
2008-05-12 13:32:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Zagreb
Cable title:  

CROATIAN ECONOMY MINISTER POSITIVE ABOUT VIENNA

Tags:  ECON BEXP CVIA EAID EINV HR 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO1792
PP RUEHBW RUEHPOD
DE RUEHVB #0363 1331332
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 121332Z MAY 08
FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8307
INFO RUEHBW/AMEMBASSY BELGRADE PRIORITY 1985
RUEHLJ/AMEMBASSY LJUBLJANA PRIORITY 6412
RUEHPOD/AMEMBASSY PODGORICA PRIORITY
RUEHPS/AMEMBASSY PRISTINA PRIORITY 0592
RUEHVJ/AMEMBASSY SARAJEVO PRIORITY 0284
RUEHSQ/AMEMBASSY SKOPJE PRIORITY 2602
RUEHTI/AMEMBASSY TIRANA PRIORITY 0830
RUEHVI/AMEMBASSY VIENNA PRIORITY 1998
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC PRIORITY
UNCLAS ZAGREB 000363 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EEB/CBA KATIE UHRE
EUR/SCE
NSC FOR BRAUN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON BEXP CVIA EAID EINV HR
SUBJECT: CROATIAN ECONOMY MINISTER POSITIVE ABOUT VIENNA
CONFERENCE

REF: STATE 47327

UNCLAS ZAGREB 000363

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EEB/CBA KATIE UHRE
EUR/SCE
NSC FOR BRAUN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON BEXP CVIA EAID EINV HR
SUBJECT: CROATIAN ECONOMY MINISTER POSITIVE ABOUT VIENNA
CONFERENCE

REF: STATE 47327


1. Ambassador met with Croatian Deputy PM and Minister of
Economy Damir Polancec on May 8 to discuss the Vienna Trade
and Investment Conference and other follow up to the
President's April commitment to Croatian PM Sanader to seek
ways to bolster trade and investment between the U.S. and
Croatia. Polancec was very positive about the Vienna
conference and said that he would participate personally. He
underscored the importance of securing the participation of
the right mix of business representatives to ensure that the
event remains focused and committed to working with the
Embassy to reach out to the Croatian business community. He
said that energy would be a key topic, noting that he expects
to unveil a new national energy strategy for Croatia in
September that foresees opening the possibility for direct
foreign investment and operation of energy production in
Croatia.


2. Ambassador also reviewed with Polancec several other
possible scenarios for follow-up to the President's
commitment, emphasizing that any event should take place
before the end of the year. Among these possibilities was
the idea of organizing a visit by Croatian business
representatives to the United States, in coordination with
the Croatian Embassy in Washington. Polancec was
enthusiastic about this idea, suggesting that such a trip
focus on the food processing industry, one of Croatia's
strongest sectors.


3. Comment: Such high-level support from Croatia for the
Vienna conference is a positive signal. In order to secure
the most appropriate Croatian business participants it will
be essential to share as much information as possible both
about the agenda and expected participants from the American
business community. Post will follow up with Polancec to
submit a preliminary list of Croatian participants by the
first week of June.
Bradtke