As a neighboring country, Croatia is traditionally an important target market for Hungarian products and services, with demand rapidly increasing. Hungarian exports to Croatia have been rising steadily for years, surpassing €2.4 billion last year, primarily due to the volume of machinery, electrical goods, chemical products, and mineral products.

To identify additional areas for cooperation and foster further collaboration—particularly at the SME level—the CED and the Hungarian Embassy in Zagreb organized the "Focus on the Coastal Region" business meeting in Rijeka. This professional conference included product presentations and B2B meetings.

A total of 27 Hungarian companies participated, aiming to showcase their high-quality food products, such as poultry products, free-from foods, and Hungarian specialties like Pick salami and Tokaji wines. On the Croatian side, 25 companies, mainly from the HoReCa sector, were invited to consider including Hungarian products in hotels, restaurants, and retail outlets.

“Our goal is for these high-quality Hungarian food products, including Hungarian gastronomic treasures, to become even more widely available on the Croatian market, offering consumers competitive quality and gastronomic value. Given that Croatia is one of Europe’s top tourist destinations, the presence of Hungarian products in Croatian stores and menus could even pave the way for new markets abroad,” said László Csík, Managing Director of the CED, at the event.

Support for Hungarian Companies through a Representative Office

Since 2015, CED has operated its regional office in Osijek, Croatia, which has become an essential partner for Hungarian companies interested in the Croatian market. The office assists Hungarian businesses in successful market entry by organizing B2B meetings, monitoring business and investment opportunities, and representing companies at relevant trade fairs and exhibitions.