August the 29th, 2025 – Croatia is edging closer and closer to its OECD goal as it becomes an increasingly attractive investment location.

As Sinisa Malus/Poslovni Dnevnik writes, the Ministry of Finance has recently announced the finalisation of the necessary harmonisation for Croatia’s accession to the OECD. The OECD mission in Zagreb represents the last and most important step required for the finalisation of the Report of the Second Economic Survey, which is the only point separating Croatia from officially joining the organisation.

“Of all state administration bodies, the Ministry of Finance is involved in the largest number of OECD Committees (nine) and is the holder of as many as 41 legal instruments. At the same time, we’re preparing the legislative framework for foreign investment and the tax system, which will round off the reform efforts in the accession process,” the Ministry of Finance revealed in a post on LinkedIn.

“The Committee for the Analysis of Economic Development meets on October the 14th, and by then, we’re confident that everything will be ready because Croatia has fulfilled all the requirements for equal OECD membership,” the Ministry, headed by Marko Primorac, added. The presentation of the document to the general public is planned for January 2026, and this, as was reiterated Minister Marko Primorac, will prove that Croatia is a small, open, but strong economy among the most developed countries in the world. That’s why this is one of the main strategic goals of Croatian foreign policy, which we will fulfill,” concluded the Ministry of Finance.

Minister Primorac recently said that the OECD has particularly recognised the efforts that Croatia has made in the context of developing the capital market, as well as the strides it has made in the management of public enterprises. He also announced the completion of the process of establishing a foreign investment screening process with the aim of protecting national interests.

Patrik Macek/PIXSELL

“Croatia began negotiations on joining the OECD back in July 2022. Diplomatic representatives play a key role as the first representatives of Croatia in the world and as important figures in promoting it as a reliable economic partner and destination of opportunities,” explained Minister of Economy Ante Šušnjar during the Conference of Ambassadors, Consuls General, Consuls and Military Attachés of the Republic of Croatia.

Šušnjar also highlighted three strategic goals of the Ministry of Economy; attracting investments, energy security and developing a modern and resilient industry and entrepreneurship. Speaking about the three strategic goals, the Minister presented them in detail and brought them closer to concrete examples. He pointed out that Croatia has received more than 54 billion euros in foreign investments, of which 32 percent was realised in the last five years alone. He particularly emphasised the growth of “greenfield” investments, such as projects by Jabil and FACC.

The Minister stated that the action plan for the period 2024 and 2025 foresees 103 relief measures, the estimated value of which stands at a whopping 364 million euros. The goal is to improve the business climate through administrative relief and reducing parafiscal charges. Croatia, he stated, invests more than 1.4 billion euros in energy infrastructure, while the manufacturing industry accounts for 20 percent of GDP and employs almost 230,000 people. The defence industry employs about 3,000 people and generates annual exports of approximately 70 million euros.

“Croatia is a reliable partner, an attractive investment destination and a country that is building an innovative and resilient economy,” the minister emphasised, calling on the diplomatic network to use its direct access and knowledge of the business culture of its host countries to actively promote Croatian businesses and lobby for the removal of trade barriers.

He also emphasised that through coordinated cooperation between the Ministry of Economy and the diplomatic network, every initiative, from organising business missions to providing specific information to investors, can be maximised.

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