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BE Zagreb, UKTI launch British Business Centre Croatia

Conrad Bird, the director of the GREAT Britain Campaign, at the launch of the British Business Centre Croatia

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Mr Conrad Bird at the launch of the British Business Centre Croatia

Mr Conrad Bird at the launch of the British Business Centre Croatia

On 29 May the British Embassy Zagreb and UKTI Croatia, with support from Mr Conrad Bird, the Director of the GREAT Britain Campaign, who came to Croatia especially for the event, successfully launched the British Business Centre Croatia (BBCC), a new business platform aimed at promoting trade and investment between UK and Croatia. Minister for Tourism, Mr Darko Lorencin, was the key note speaker from the Croatian Government.

Vedrana Likan, President of the BBCC Board said that the BBCC would like to play a role in helping to make Croatia a more attractive investment destination. “We would like to open the Croatian market to British investors, but also to help Croatian companies interested in the UK”, said Vedrana.

British Ambassador, David Slinn, who opened the event said that the BBCC is part of the UK’s global initiative of commercial diplomacy aimed at increasing growth in UK and helping more British companies export to international markets. BBCC’s opening is part of that global effort, said David adding that the Embassy was also cooperating closely on commercial diplomacy with the Croatian Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs.

Mr Conrad Bird, the Director of the GREAT Britain Campaign, presented the UK Government’s biggest ever marketing initiative to an audience of over 160 private sector business representatives, PR and marketing experts and Croatian Government officials. Conrad said that the GREAT Britain Campaign was not about re-branding Britain, but about generating growth and jobs in UK.

The launch event also included an interesting and lively round table discussion on what could be done to market Croatia as a more recognisable investment destination. One of the suggestions was that Croatia should not think of itself as a small country but as a boutique destination for tourism, industry and investment.

Published 9 June 2014