The UAE and Croatia explored potential areas for collaboration and initiatives to promote sustainable economic growth, with an emphasis on the importance of fostering private sector partnerships across priority sectors.
During a meeting between visiting UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi and Ante Šušnjar, Croatia’s Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development, the two sides also addressed strategies to streamline supply chains, which will help drive mutual prosperity and long-term economic resilience.
The priority sectors identified for fostering private sector partnerships include agriculture, manufacturing, renewable energy, infrastructure, transportation, and tourism.
The discussions between the two ministers also focused on means to unlock new pathways for enhanced trade and economic cooperation between the two nations.
During the meeting, Al Zeyoudi highlighted the significance of Croatia as a strategic partner in the Emirates’ efforts to deepen its economic engagement with Europe.
“Strengthening global trade and economic ties remains at the core of our strategic priorities, enhancing the UAE’s position as a pivotal player in the global economy. Our commitment to working with key partners such as Croatia ensures sustainable growth and supports trade frameworks that deliver mutual benefits,” the minister said.
Ante Šušnjar welcomed the UAE’s proactive role in fostering bilateral ties, commending the depth of opportunities that this partnership brings to both economies.
“The UAE-Croatia partnership serves as a successful example of how strong economic cooperation can drive mutual growth and generate lasting benefits for both nations,” the Croatian minister said.
The discussions also highlighted the rapid growth of non-oil trade between the two countries, which increased by 4 per cent from $107 million in 2022 to $110.7 million in 2023.
A key growth driver was a significant 265 per cent rise in re-exports from the UAE, totalling $15.65 million, alongside a 12 per cent increase in UAE exports to Croatia, which reached $43.03 million.
This momentum carried forward into the first half of 2024, with bilateral trade expanding by 44.8 per cent, compared to the same period in 2023, totalling $78.9 million.
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