Zagreb - Trade between Slovakia and Croatia reached €1.6 billion last year, Speaker of the Croatian Parliament Gordan Jandroković said in Bratislava on Thursday, adding that this represents “the highest figure in our history”.
“Trade exchange reached €1.6 billion last year, the highest level in our history,” Jandroković said at a joint press conference with his Slovak counterpart Richard Raši.
He noted that more than half a million Slovak tourists visit Croatia every year, stressing strong interest in further strengthening economic ties.
Jandroković also highlighted the Three Seas Initiative (3SI) as a potential framework for deeper cooperation, pointing out that this year’s economic forum in Dubrovnik attracted more than 1,400 participants.
“We have seen an unprecedented level of business interest in cooperation within this initiative,” he said, referring to sectors such as transport, energy and information technology.
The Three Seas Initiative was launched in 2015 on the initiative of Croatia and Poland to boost transport, energy and digital connectivity among countries located between the Baltic, Adriatic and Black Seas. Croatia is chairing the initiative this year, with Slovakia set to take over next.
“There is significant potential, and we hope Slovakia will continue to successfully lead this initiative. We are ready to contribute in any way our Slovak partners consider useful,” he said.
Jandroković added that relations between the two countries are friendly and partnership-based, highlighting the good status of ethnic Croats in Slovakia and the Slovak minority in Croatia.
On EU enlargement and the Western Balkans, he said Zagreb and Bratislava share similar views.
“We want enlargement. It can contribute to the stability of our continent, but it is crucial that countries seeking membership fulfil the necessary conditions and then become part of the wider European community.”