Zagreb
ZAGREB, 31 Jan (Hina) – Croatia’s accession to the OECD will support further economic growth, boost competitiveness and strengthen perceptions of the Croatian economy on the global investment map, speakers said on Friday at the conference “Croatia and the OECD: Economic Survey 2026”.
The conference, organised by the foreign and finance ministries, was held after a government session at which OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann presented the OECD’s second Economic Survey of Croatia.
Foreign Minister Gordan Grlić Radman, Croatia’s chief negotiator for OECD accession, said the organisation had recognised the “strong performance” of the Croatian economy and a range of government reforms. He said Croatia was nearing full membership, with the technical phase of the accession process close to completion.
From the outset, he said, the accession process was viewed as a tool to further improve reforms and governance. OECD membership, he added, will give an additional boost to Croatia’s international standing and deliver a range of direct and indirect benefits for citizens and the economy, supporting further growth and higher living standards.
Finance Minister Tomislav Ćorić said the OECD survey acknowledged achievements and implemented reforms, while also underlining the need to continue reforms to strengthen long-term resilience, efficiency and sustainable growth.
Among the recommendations, Ćorić highlighted calls to strengthen fiscal resilience through more efficient public spending, improve the availability and affordability of housing, support the transition to a climate-resilient economy, and adapt demographic and social policies to extend working lives and raise labour market participation.
He said the recommendations were largely aligned with government reforms and investments and that the government would continue to implement them consistently. He added that recommendations from the first OECD survey, published in September 2023, had already been applied through a series of reform measures.
Ćorić cited reforms to state and public sector pay, a new legislative framework for the governance of state-owned enterprises, and efforts to develop capital markets, including the adoption of a strategic framework and the launch of a regional stock exchange integration initiative. He also pointed to the introduction of a property tax and advances in digitalisation, including Fiscalisation 2.0.
Economy Minister Ante Šušnjar said OECD membership would further develop Croatia’s legal framework and economy, adding that OECD guidelines were proving particularly helpful in drafting a national industrial strategy, with a focus on high- and medium-technology industries.
Gordan Kolak, chief executive of engineering group Končar, said OECD membership would enhance perceptions of the Croatian economy globally. “We will be far more visible and acceptable to serious international partners and open up new space for economic development.”
He stressed the importance of cooperation among companies, particularly on large projects and joint appearances at trade fairs or in third markets, adding that Croatia should build its position on innovation, knowledge and new technologies.
Central bank governor Boris Vujčić said OECD accession would broaden the pool of potential investors and have a positive effect on direct investment by signalling institutional security. Membership will also make Croatia more resilient to financial shocks, he said.
Tomislav Radoš, deputy president of the Croatian Chamber of Commerce, said OECD membership would be another key element of global competitiveness for large companies, while indirectly helping smaller firms to raise their competitiveness.
Croatian Employers’ Association president Mislav Balković said accession would be highly beneficial, including through increased trade. OECD membership implies better policies to raise living standards, while businesses expect accession to be accompanied by reforms that lift productivity.
He said it was also important to change the economic growth model, which in recent years has relied on public investment and EU funds. For growth to continue, he added, private sector investment will need to increase, which in turn requires a more efficient and competitive private sector with higher profit margins to invest in new technologies and digitalisation.
Cormann said Croatia needed to continue with reforms to sustain economic convergence.