Official Websites Links:

Presidency: http://www.predsjednik.hr
Parliament: http://www.sabor.hr
Prime Minister: http://www.vlada.hr
Ministry of Foreign Affairs: http://www.mfa.hr
Ministry of Economy: http://www.mingo.hr
Croatian Chamber of Economy  www.hgk.hr

Name, address & contact details of country’s central bank:

Croatian National Bank
Trg. Hrvatskih Velikana 3
10002 Zagreb.
Tel: (3851) 4564555, Fax: (3851) 4610551

Office of the Governor: Tel. 4564567, Fax 4550598
Website: http://www.hnb.hr/

Basic foreign and economic policies:

Croatia’s basic foreign policy aims are the preservation and strengthening of peace and understanding between countries and nations, strengthening of Croatia’s international position, creation of conditions for the realization of basic strategic priorities by joining the European and transatlantic political, security and economic integrations, fulfillment of the assumed international obligations, solving of all open issues remaining after the break-up of ex-Yugoslavia, establishing good neighbourly relations and co-operation with neighbouring countries based on the principles of equality and reciprocity, establishing friendly relations with the most important factors and countries in the world, strengthening Croatia’s economic position, and promoting Croatia’s general image.

Membership of major multilateral and regional organizations:

UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, SEECP (South East Europe Cooperation Process), Central European Initiative, Quadrilateral and CEFTA (Central Europe Free Trade Agreement), EBRD, IAEA, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, NAM (Observer status).   Croatia applied for membership of the European Union in February 2003. It got the candidate status in June 2004.  European Union (EU) opened accession negotiations with Croatia on October 4, 2005. Croatia’s target date to join the EU is end-2010.   Croatia joined NATO on 1.4.2009.

Major industries, global companies:

Croatia is strong in shipbuilding, pharmaceutical and construction industries. Other sectors are agriculture, fishing, forestry and food processing.  Tourism industry is quite active in Croatia due its long coastline and hundreds of islands, well-maintained national parks, which attract heavy tourist traffic (10 million), especially in the Summer (June to September).  Well-known companies are: Pliva (pharmaceuticals), Koncar (construction), 3-Maj, Brodosplit, Victor Lenac (all shipbuilding yards), Agrokor (foodstuff, beverages & distribution through consumer outlets), Podravka (food processing) and Kras (chocolates, biscuits).    Croatia is to go for second round of privatisation of shipyards as per agreement reached with the EU, after first round had failed in  Aug-Sept 2009.

Global Trade & Investment:

Exports : US$ 10.5 billion; Imports: US$ 21.2 billion (in 2009).
Major items of export: Ships, boats, refined oil, basic chemicals & textiles.
Major items of import: Petroleum & by-products, electrical equipment, transport vehicles and machinery.
Major destinations of exports: Italy, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Germany, Slovenia, Austria, Serbia, USA, UK, France & Malta.
Major sources of imports: Italy, Germany, Russia, China,  Slovenia, Austria, Hungary, France, B-H & USA.
Foreign investment: Euro 23.6 billion (1993 to Q3 2009).
Major investors in Croatia are: Austria,  Netherlands, Germany, Hungary, France & Luxembourg.
Major sectors of investment: Telecommunications, Financial activities, Pharmaceuticals, Cement, Tourism.
Major Universities/Scientific Institutions: Zagreb, Split, Zadar, Osijek Universities;
Rujer Boskovic Institute of Science, Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Ship Building Institute (Brodarski Institute), Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries.
Major tourist attractions: Brijuni & other islands, National Parks.
Major museums: Mimara Museum, Ethnographic Museum.

Major newspapers: No English language newspapers are published in Croatia. Two TV channels operated by Croatian Radio & Television and a couple of private channels.

II. INDIA-CROATIA RELATIONS

Background

Relations between India and Croatia have been traditionally friendly ever since the days of the former Yugoslavia (SFRY).  Croatia accounted for a significant share of India's total trade with the former Yugoslavia. India recognised Croatia in May 1992 and diplomatic relations were established on 9 July 1992. Bilateral interactions, though slow in the beginning, gained momentum following the accreditation of Indian Ambassador in Hungary to Croatia in June 1994. Croatia opened its resident mission in New Delhi in February 1995. This was the first Croatian mission in South Asia. The Indian Mission in Zagreb was opened on 28 April 1996. India upgraded its representation in Zagreb to Ambassadorial level in January 1998.

Bilateral Agreements

(a)     Following agreements have been signed between India and Croatia so far:-

• Trade and Economic Cooperation Agreement: signed at Zagreb on 16 September 1994. 
• Maritime Transport Agreement: signed on 3 January 1997; valid up to 29.11.2004. Indian side is drafting a new agreement.
• Agreement on Cooperation in the field of Culture, Science and Technology, Education and Sports: signed in March 1999.
• Agreement on cooperation between the Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Croatia and the Foreign Service Institute (FSI), Ministry of External Affairs: signed in January 2000. 
• Air Services Agreement: signed on 12 September 2000 at Zagreb.
• Bilateral Investment Protection Agreement:  signed in May, 2001.
• Agreement on cooperation in the Fight Against International Illicit Trafficking of Narcotic Drugs, Terrorism etc.: signed in May 2001.  First meeting of the Joint Committee held in Zagreb on 8-9 September, 2004.
• Agreement on Agricultural Cooperation: signed at New Delhi on 13 November 2002.
• Agreement on exemption of visa requirement for holders of Diplomatic and Official Passports (September 2007).

 (b)     MoUs:

•  MoU between the Croatian Bank for Reconstruction and Development (HBOR) and the EXIM Bank of India : signed on 29.12.2000.
• MoU between Export Credit & Guarantee Corporation of India Ltd. (ECGC) and the Croatian Bank for Reconstruction and Development (HBOR): signed at New Delhi on 13 November 2002.
• MoU between Electronics & Computer Software Export Promotion Council (ESC) and the Croatian Information Technology Society (CITS) : signed on 25.3.2004 at New Delhi.
• Exchange Programme in the field of Culture for 2005-07 (signed on 27 April 2005).
• Programme of Cooperation in Science & Technology (signed on 18 May 2005).
• Educational Exchange Programme : signed on 19 April, 2006 at New Delhi.

 (c)     Agreements/EPs awaiting signature:        

• Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (ready for signature).
• Agreement on Cooperation in Health & Medicine (ready for signature). 

(d)      Agreements/MOUs  under consideration of the Indian Government:-

• Programme of Cultural Exchange (PCE).

 (e)      Agreements / MOUs / proposals under consideration of the Croatian Government:-

• MOU for Cooperation in Tourism,
• MOU for cooperation in the Bio-Technology sector.
• MOU for cooperation & collaboration in the Indian Traditional Systems of Medicine.
• MOU on Industrial Cooperation.

Foreign Office Consultations

First round of Foreign Office Consultations(FOC) was held in Zagreb. Assistant Foreign Minister Frane Krnic visited India for the second round of consultations in September 1996. Shri Lalit Mansingh, Secretary (West), visited Zagreb in February 1998 for the third round of Foreign Office Consultations with Croatia. Fourth round was again held in Zagreb in November 2001 when Shri R. S. Kalha, Secretary(West) visited. Fifth round was held in New Delhi during President Mesic’s visit, when the Deputy Foreign Minister, Ms. Vesna Kurelec met Shri Shashank, Secretary (EAA). The 6th FOCs were co-chaired by Shri Shashank, Secretary (EAA) and Dr. Ivan Šimonović, Deputy Foreign Minister at Zagreb on 6-7 November, 2003. The 7th round of Foreign Office Consultations was held in New Delhi on 28 June, 2006.  The next round is scheduled to be held in Zagreb in February 2010. 

Economic Cooperation

Following the signing of the Agreement on Trade and Economic Cooperation in 1994, Croatian Assistant Minister of State for Economic Affairs Zeljko Kirincic visited India in November 1994. An Indo-Croatian Joint Committee on Trade and Economic Cooperation was established and first session held at Zagreb in 1995. Similarly, Joint Business Councils have been established by FICCI and CII with the Croatian Chamber of Economy. So far, eight sessions of the Joint Committee and four meetings of the JBC have been held.  The 8th Session of the Indo-Croatian Joint Committee as also the 4th meeting of the Joint Business Council between FICCI/CII and the Croatian Chamber of Economy were held at New Delhi on October 20-21, 2005.  Indian official delegation was led by Shri S. N. Menon,  Secretary, Department of Commerce while the Croatian delegation was led by Mr. Vladimir Vrankovic, State Secretary in the Ministry of Economy, Labour and Entrepreneurship.  Both sides agreed that the level of trade between the two countries has not been commensurate with the potential that existed.  It was agreed to expand trade and economic cooperation in the traditional areas as well as in new areas of mutual strength.  In this regard thirteen sectors namely, textiles, leather & leather products, petrochemicals and pharmaceuticals, shipbuilding sector, science & technology, information technology, telecommunications, tourism, oil and gas, railways, engineering and construction, electrical equipment and food processing industries, were identified for intensive cooperation.  Croatia specifically invited India to participate in reconstruction and modernisation of Croatian ports as potential foreign investor.  The 9th Session of Joint Committee on Trade and Economic Cooperation took place in Zagreb, in March 2009.

Croatian President, Mr. Stjepan Mesić, inaugurated the first-ever ‘sales and service centre’ in Croatia for the tractors of the Tractors and Farm Equipment Ltd. (TAFE) of Chennai.  M/s. Jul-Com of Croatia has signed a contract with TAFE to be the exclusive dealer for TAFE tractors in Croatia. President Mesić expressed happiness at the performance of these tractors, which are being increasingly used by the Croatian farmers. Chairman of the Amalgamations Group (manufacturers of TAFE tractors) visited Croatia in November 2003 and has evinced keen interest in diversifying activities. 

An MoU was signed in October 2003 to settle the dues payable to the Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) and further cooperation in shipbuilding sector.

Pliva, (now a part of Israeli Teva Pharmaceutical industries) the major pharmaceutical giant in the South Eastern Europe has established its Research and Development Centre in Goa  which was inaugurated on June 14, 2006  for conducting clinical research on generic drugs.   PLIVA’s investment is  around US$2 million to begin with and a 50-member research team is involved in research in Goa.  Pliva has a representative office in Mumbai.   Pliva had signed an agreement with Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories in November 2003 for developing formulations for oncology-related medicines and marketing of each other’s products in regional markets.   Pliva also has tie-up with UNICHEM of India.

Bilateral Trade

India’s main exports to Croatia are textile yarn, leather, coffee, tobacco, cotton fabrics, organo-inorganic compounds, readymade textiles, floor coverings, carpets, footwear, crude minerals, tractors, antibiotics and spices. Imports from Croatia are turbines, antibiotics, cement, motor vehicle components, medical equipment & sporting goods.   Figures of India’s trade with Croatia as per the Croatian Government statistics are as follows: 

ITPO organised participation of many Indian companies in the consecutive Zagreb International Autumn Fairs in 2004 and 2005.   13 and 12 Indian companies which took part in the respective Fairs generated orders for goods worth Rs.127 lakhs and Rs. 46 lakhs from the Croatian market.  Support Promotion Council for Handicepts participated in Zagreb Int. Fair in September 2009.
A delegation of the Punjab Small Industries & Export Corporation visited Zagreb from 12 to 14 October, 2004 to explore market for hand tools & auto parts.

India’s Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts participated with 11 companies in the Zagreb International Autumn Fair held from 15-19 September 2009. 

ITEC

Indian Technical & Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Programme has also been extended to Croatia. Since 2000, seven Croatian nominees have undergone ITEC training in India—four in the National Institute of Bank Management at Pune, one in the National Institute of Small Industry Extension Training (NISIET) at Hyderabad, one in the Tata Infotech at New Delhi and one in the Bureau of Parliamentary Studies and Training of the Lok Sabha Secretariat, New Delhi.

An Agreement on Cooperation was signed between the Diplomatic Academy of Croatia and the Foreign Service Institute (FSI) of the Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi, in January 2000. As many as 13 Croatian diplomats have already attended the Professional Course for Foreign Diplomats (PCFD), the Advanced Course on Asia for Foreign Diplomats (ACAFD) and Diplomacy and Foreign Policy Programme for Foreign Diplomats (DFPP) at FSI, New Delhi.  Shri Santosh Kumar, Secretary & Dean (FSI) attended the conference of Deans at Dubrovnik, Croatia, on 29-30 September 2003.

In terms of Agreement on Science and Technology signed in 1999 and the Programme of Cooperation in Science and Technology (2005-2008) signed in May 2005, the First Indo-Croatian Joint Committee Meeting took place on 19-20 April, 2006 in New Delhi and nine projects have been identified for joint cooperation. A joint declaration was signed to set up a fund of Euro one million with equal contribution to undertake joint research in environment, oceanography, biotechnology, pharmacology, nanotechnology and shipbuilding.

Cultural cooperation

There has been a longstanding tradition of interest in Indology among Croatian scholars and also a great interest in Indian culture among the Croats. The Carmelite monk Paulinus a Sancto Bartolomaeo, a Croat, who was known as Filip Vesdin, stayed at the Court of the Maharaja of Travancore between 1776 and 1789. He pioneered Indological studies and wrote several books on Indian culture and Indo-European languages, including a book on Sanskrit grammar. This was the first book on Sanskrit grammar to be published in Europe. His books stimulated further interest and research on Indian culture. The Department of Indology of the University of Zagreb celebrated his 250th birth anniversary by holding a seminar on 17 December 1998. Croatia established the Centre for Indology at Zagreb University in 1962, which has been very active and extremely popular. 50-60 students study Indology, which includes learning of Hindi/Sanskrit. Cultural functions/receptions are organized by the Embassy of India to celebrate "Hindi Day"' each year. Regular yoga classes are conducted by an organization "Yoga in Daily Life". Hundreds of Croatians follow the Vaishnava tradition of life.

In 1997, on the occasion of 50th Anniversary of India's Independence a series of cultural events were organized in Croatia, which included, a 10-day Indian Food Festival at Zagreb, Bharatanatyam by noted Dancer Rajyashree Ramesh, Odissi dance by Ranjana Gauhar, and carnatic music by Ravi Kiran. A group of 12 artistes from the International Kathakali Centre, Delhi, performed in Zagreb, Samobor, Rijeka and Pula in June 1998. Indian percussionist artiste Shri Trilok Gurtu participated in the 21st Musical Biennale Zagreb and enthralled the audience in April 2001.

A Croat-Indian Society set up in June 1994 has been active in organizing social and cultural events including classical dance performances, animation films based on Indian mythology, various documentaries on India and its traditions. An Agreement of Cooperation was signed between the Diplomatic Academy of Croatia and the Foreign Service Institute (FSI) of the Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi in January 2000. Seven Croatian diplomats have attended the Professional Course for Foreign Diplomats (PCFD) at FSI, New Delhi. Shri Santosh Kumar, Secretary & Dean (FSI) attended the conference of Deans at Dubrovnik, Croatia, on 29-30 September 2003.

An Agreement on Cooperation in the field of Culture, Science and Technology, Education and Sports, was signed during Croatian Culture Minister Božo Biškupić's visit to India from 4-6 March 1999. Biskupić visited the Department of Slavić and Ugro-Finish Languages, Delhi University, and travelled to Trivandrum to inaugurate a commemorative plaque on the occasion of the 250th birth anniversary of the Cannelite monk Bartolomeo. Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Darko Bekić visited India to participate in the Conference on "Dialogue on Civilizations" held at New Delhi on 9-10 July 2003. A Croatian Film Week, inaugurated by Biskupić, was held from 4 to 13 March 1999 at India International Centre, New Delhi. "Lado", Croatia 's biggest professional folk dance and music ensemble, gave several performances in Mumbai, Chandigarh and New Delhi during 1999, under ICCR sponsorship.

A Programme of Exchanges in the Fields of Culture, Science and Education between the Governments of the Republic of India and the Republic of Croatia for the years 2001, 2002 & 2003 (CEP) was signed on 25th July 2001. In May 2002, and in February, 2004, Indian Film Festivals were organized in cooperation with the Ministry of Culture and Zagreb Films. Croatia participated with six films in the 33rd International Film Festival of India in New Delhi from 1st to 10th October 2002. A 5-member Kathak Dance troupe led by Dr. Navina Jafa visited Croatia from October 15 to 20, 2002, and performed in Zagreb, Rijeka and Varaždin under the CEP. The performances at all these venues were very well attended and highly acclaimed. An Exhibition of Indian Dolls and Dresses was held from 26 November to 10 December 2002 at the Ethnographic Museum of Zagreb. A 34-member group, Nrityadhara, from Mumbai, participated in the 37th annual international folklore festival in Zagreb from July 16 – 20, 2003. A Rajasthani Folk Music Group of Langas and Manganiyars visited Croatia from 13 to 16 October 2003 and gave two performances in Zagreb, under the Cultural Exchange Programme. A 11-member Odissi dance troupe from the Orissa Dance Academy, led by Guru Gangadhar Pradhan gave 16 performances at the Summer Festival at Dubrovnik and other major towns in Croatia in July-August, 2004, which was very well-received and generated lot of interest and demand for regular participation in the Summer festivals. Zagreb Spring Quartet gave four performances in India in October 2004; a Sanskrit professor from Jadavpur University gave two lectures at Zagreb University in November 2004; a semi-classical/popular songs troupe performed in Zagreb and Varaždin in November 2004; a Puppet troupe gave performances in Vukovar and Varaždin in December 2004; an 11-member Bharatnatyam troupe led by Ms. Snehalata Kandan performed in Dubrovnik, Kastav and Varaždin Summer Festivals in August 2005.

A 10-member Indian percussion music group “Tala Tarangini”  led by Shri T.A.S. Mani and sponsored by ICCR  performed at Dubrovnik, Split, Rijeka and Zagreb from 10-16 August, 2006.   Plan to hold an exhibition of Indian miniature paintings in Zagreb is kept in abeyance due to irreconcilable differences over insurance of the paintings. Two Indian classical music and dance troupes led by Shri Purbayan Chatterjee (Sitar) and Ms. Kavita Dwibedi (Odissi) will be in Croatia during 8-14 August 2007 for performances at Dubrovnik Summer Festival and in few other cities.

Under the Distinguished Visitors' Programme of ICCR, Dr. Ivica Prlender, General Director of the Dubrovnik Festival visited Delhi, Pune, Goa in February 2005, and Budimir Loncar, Special Adviser to the President of Croatia, in December 2009.   Under the same programme, Prof. Meenakshi Mukherjee visited Zagreb to participate in a English language workshop organised by the University of Zagreb in 2005 and Prof. Klara Gonc Moaeanin of the Indology Department of the University of Zagreb participated in an International Indology Conference in Goa in February 2007. ICCR sponsored visit of Prof. Mislav Jezic of Indology Department of Faculty of Philosophy, Zagreb University, to Warsaw in 2005, Vilnius in 2006 and Sofia in 2009 for the Indology Conferences held there.

Three Croatian students were granted scholarship to study Hindi language for a year with the Kendriya Hindi Sansthan, Agra , in the academic year 2002 – 2003 and another three in 2003-04. Two Indian students came to Croatia during 2001 and 2002 to study Croatian language. Indian Embassy conducted Hindi classes from September 1997 to June 2001. Croatian language is being taught at the University of Delhi. The Embassy had nominated the Assistant Professor teaching Hindi in the Zagreb University to attend the Regional Hindi Conference held in Budapest in 2002 and Bucharest in July 2004.  Hindi Day is celebrated by the Mission every year.

As many as 35 leading Sanskrit scholars from all over the world attended the Fifth Dubrovnik International Conference on the Sanskrit Epics and Puranas (DICSEP4) at Dubrovnik in August 2008 under the auspices of the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts. Earlier, four DICSEP Conferences were held in Dubrovnik in August 1997, August 1999, September 2002 and September 2005.
The Mission in association with the Croatia-India Friendship Group in Croatian Parliament celebrated the UN International Day of Non-Violence and 140th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi in the Parliament, on 2 October 2009. 

ICCR established a long-term Hindi Chair in the Zagreb University in 2009.

INDIAN COMMUNITY

Indian community in Croatia is small with around ten families spread over the entire country.

18 Feb 2010