Croatia-Kosovo economic forum to boost business ties

The Croatia-Kosovo Economic Forum was held in Slavonski Brod, bringing together Croatian and Kosovar business representatives to strengthen cooperation and create new business opportunities.

The host of the forum, organized by the Croatia–Kosovo Business Club, was the Kožul group, which specializes in the production and sale of tools, has been operating for 32 years, employs 190 people, and exports to the European market, CE Report quotes HINA.

The owner of the group, Ivica Kožul, said that Kosovo is close to them and that they want to take advantage of this opportunity.

“Our goal is for Slavonski Brod, as the industrial center of this part of Croatia, to find contacts in the Republic of Kosovo as quickly and easily as possible — whether in business, services, labor, or subcontractors — so that together we can create higher-quality products in our industrial zone,” he stressed.

The forum, which was attended by many company representatives from Brod-Posavina County — including Clarum, several companies from the Đuro Đaković Group, Simplex, Total Bomar, and others — was also attended by the Ambassador of the Republic of Kosovo to Croatia, Martin Berishaj. He recalled earlier Croatia–Kosovo economic forums held in Kosovo in 2023 and in Zagreb in 2024, and announced that a third such forum would soon be held in Kosovo.

“After last night’s formation of the government in Kosovo, this is an excellent step through which we want to open the doors to Croatian companies in Kosovo. As far as Croatia and Kosovo are concerned, we are very closely connected emotionally and in business. We have legislation that is compatible with European values and standards, where capital is extremely well protected, and Croatian companies are warmly welcomed in Kosovo. Kosovo companies are also starting to enter the Croatian market, and we want to expand these opportunities. We see mutual cooperation in the fields of energy, tourism, agriculture, education, and culture,” the Ambassador of the Republic of Kosovo to Croatia said.

Asked whether workers from Kosovo are interested in coming to work in Croatia, he said they see Croatia as a place where life is better and where they can show their value and how much they can contribute to the development of both the Croatian and Kosovo economies.

Ermina Lekaj Prljaskaj, Adviser at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the Western Balkans, Kosovo, North Macedonia and Albania, said that today’s meeting was a continuation of an initiative launched three years ago.

“Kosovo is a large and prospective market. There may be prejudices, but Croatian companies have a special place and certain advantages in Kosovo. Of course, the law applies equally to all investors, but Croatia enjoys a special reputation there,” she said.

foto Irena VUKAS ÇUFALAR