HBOR – 16th International Conference on Export Promotion
The 16th International Conference on Export Promotion organised by Hrvatska banka za obnovu i razvitak (HBOR) was held under the auspices of the Government of the Republic of Croatia. The conference was attended by almost 300 representatives of Croatian exporters, domestic and international institutions and banks. The conference was opened by Ms Martina Dalić, Deputy Prime Minister of Croatia and Minister of the Economy, Small and Medium Entrepreneurship and Crafts, and was also attended by Mr Marko Jurčić, envoy of the Croatian President and Mr Predrag Štromar, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Construction and Spatial Planning. In her opening address, Ms Tamara Perko, President of the Management Board of HBOR emphasised that exporters had always had strong support of HBOR and that the Bank would continue to provide support for exports as the most important segment of the economy: „Only in 2016 and in nine months of 2017, HBOR provided support for Croatian exports with an amount of HRK 8.4 billion through lending, insurance and issuing of guarantees“, she added. The participants of the panel discussion called „Role of Development Banks in the Internationalisation of Economies“ were Mr Topi Vesteri, President of the Berne Union, Ms Beata Daszyńska-Muzyczka, Chairman of the Management Board of the Polish Development Bank, Mr Vazil Hudak, Vice-President of EIB, Ms Tamara Perko, President of the Management Board of HBOR, Mr Fernando Navarrete, Executive Director of the Development and Export Bank of Spain (ICO), Mr Lutz-Christian Funke, General Secretary of KfW and Mr Sibil Svilan, President of the Management Board of SID. During the panel, the representatives of HBOR and EIB also discussed about a new agreement signed between these two development banks. HBOR and EIB have signed a loan agreement in the amount of EUR 250 million for the promotion of investments of small and medium-sized companies and municipalities. These funds represent a part of the EIB’s Jobs for Youth Initiative aiming to improve the employment of young people below 30 years of age in Croatia. Mr Vazil Hudák, EIB Vice-President, stated at the conference: „ The successful cooperation of EU bank and HBOR dates back to the year of 2000. Up to now, the EIB has granted some EUR 2.2 billion of loans to HBOR allowing it to offer more favourable and attractive lending conditions that better fit to needs of Croatian business entities. HBOR supports investments of innovative companies and in its function of an export bank stimulates Croatian export to other countries worldwide that generates new working opportunities in Croatia“.