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DEPARTMENT
OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
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19
January 2007 – Philippine Ambassador in Austria Linglingay F. Lacanlale
reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs that the Philippines and Croatia
could further explore avenues of trade in the information technology (IT) sector
of Croatia, aside from tourism and construction of hotel/leisure facilities.
Trade
and Investment Promotion Agency Director Slodoban Mikac recently announced that
Croatia is still lacking in investors in big commercial projects. “The Agency
monitors the markets in English-speaking countries like the Philippines,” he
said, adding that Croatia will "be increasingly oriented towards medium and
small investments, both local and foreign."
Ambassador
Lacanlale stated that according to business forecast reports in Croatia, there
would be an increased requirement for skilled, English-speaking IT professionals
due to the growing IT industry in telecom, the government, and in private home
users in Croatia.
The
"e-Croatia" initiative of the government of Croatia is aimed to
complete the computerization of the education systems and networking of
government systems and bring key services like health and justice online.
The
total size of the Croatian IT market is expected to increase from US$ 672
million in 2005 to around US$ 985 million in 2010, with software and services
growing on the back of a steady rise in private sector investments and
consolidation.
Internet
penetration is still relatively low in Croatia, with only an estimated 230
private Internet users per 1,000 among the Croatian population.
“While
Croatia has a small labor force of 1.71 million, it is of high quality and
professionalism,” Director Mikac stated.
World Bank data show that it takes 12 procedures and 49 days to start a business in Croatia, compared with the European average of 8 procedures taking 43 days. Reforms related to its EU accession process will improve these figures and lessen the incidence of corruption as the decade ends. END
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