CONTENTS
Overview of the investment climate in Croatia ................................................................................. 2
How to access the Croatian market, different opportunities and obstacles ....................................... 4
How to access the Croatian market ................................................................................................ 4
Opportunities and obstacles for foreign investors.......................................................................... 4
Opportunities for foreign investors ............................................................................................ 4
Entrepreneurial (business) zones and free trade zones in Croatia as the investment incentive
measures ..................................................................................................................................... 7
Nordic investments in Croatia and the Nordic companies already operating on the Croatian
market........................................................................................................................................... 10
About the obstacles for foreign investors ................................................................................ 11
Relevant institutions in the Republic of Croatia - Links to web pages and portals in English /
Croatian .................................................................................................................................... 12
Sectors in which the foreign investors have entered with success ................................................... 16
Sectors of the economy in Croatia of the foreign interest ............................................................ 16
General indicators of foreign investments in Croatia .............................................................. 18
Norwegian investments in Croatia ........................................................................................... 18
The sectors of the economy with the highest cooperation potential between Croatia and Nordic
countries ....................................................................................................................................... 19
How to open up a representative or branch office of a Norwegian company in Croatia ................. 21
General information on the foreign companies establishment in Croatia .................................... 21
The establishment of representative office of Norwegian company in Croatia ........................... 22
Excluding from the Register of Foreign Entities’ Representative Offices .............................. 23
Establishment of branch office in Croatia.................................................................................... 24
Business activities requiring special licenses........................................................................... 25
Procedure of company establishment in Croatia.......................................................................... 26
Company establishment through the Croatian Government service HITRO.HR ........................ 29
Relevant institutions and legislation for company establishments .............................................. 30
Role of the local authorities in local establishments, visa versa role of the Central Governmental
institutions ........................................................................................................................................ 33
Nordic Chamber of Commerce in Croatia
Zagrebtower, Radnička 80, HR - 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
email: office@nordicchamber.hr, tel: +385 1 5393 751, fax +385 1 5393 754
www.nordicchamber.hr
Overview of the investment climate in Croatia
The Republic of Croatia with its natural, geographical, cultural and economic potential has all
predispositions needed to become recognizable on the international capital market as an
internationally attractive investment location in the world. It is exactly for this reason that the
attraction and promotion of direct investments is the absolute priority for the country’s economic
development policy at the highest political level, where Government is putting a huge effort to
increase Croatia’s competitiveness on the broader capital market.
The effects of the economic crisis in the world have also had an impact on the development of a
favorable investment climate in Croatia. Investment activity slowed substantially in 2009 and
continued to decline in 2010, partly due to the global financial crisis, and partly to the structural
problems that continue to deteriorate the situation in the Croatian economy. The slow state
administration and judiciary, low demands for products, illiquidity, an insufficient export and
corruption all contributed to a lower interest for the investment on the Croatian market over the last
two years.
In the first two quarters of 2011, it has been recorded a slight growth of foreign investments in
Croatia, which presents a certain improving of investment climate in Croatia. Strong efforts over
the past two years at stamping out corruption have helped to make Croatia a more attractive
investment location. Despite the small market, Croatia is certainly open to the foreign investments
in many ways. It has the capacity and resources to become an interesting destination for foreign
investors due to its great geo-strategic position, quality human capital, modern road infrastructure,
advanced ICT infrastructure and telecommunications, great natural resources and many other
factors.
Attraction and promotion of foreign direct investments in Croatia is one of the top priorities of the
Croatian Government’s economic policy. NATO membership, acquired in 2009, and the closing
accession negotiations for membership in the EU continue to motivate both administrative reform
and stabilization of the economy, which should eventually improve the current investment climate
of the country. In response to the financial and economic crisis and in order to challenge the
recession, the Government launched in spring 2010 the “Economic Recovery Programme”. The
Programme consists of 131 measures in ten areas expected to be implemented within the period of
next ten years. The package of fiscal measures and comprehensive structural reforms set by the
Programme addresses the structural weaknesses of the economy in order to create an environment
encouraging sustainable economic growth. Investment projects and direct foreign investments have
direct impact on the increase of capital availability for Croatian companies, creation of new jobs,
creation of new products, introduction of new production processes and increase in productivity of
all production factors, thus achieving the fundamental objectives of the economic policy and the
overall economic development strategy of the Republic of Croatia. Programme's contribution to
the economic recovery will depend mainly on its effective implementation.
Nordic Chamber of Commerce in Croatia
Zagrebtower, Radnička 80, HR - 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
email: office@nordicchamber.hr, tel: +385 1 5393 751, fax +385 1 5393 754
www.nordicchamber.hr
2
One of the important activities concerning the investment promotion in Croatia, has been the
International Investment Forum ‘‘Invest in Croatia 2011’’ organized by the Croatian Government,
Croatian Chamber of Economy and the Ministry of Economy, Labour and Entrepreneurship in
October 2011. This Forum identified the investment opportunities and provided a platform for
investors and the Government to build new business partnership. Also, this Forum highlighted the
current investment possibilities in Croatia through sessions and keynote presentations delivered by
government officials, leading foreign investors and independent economic analysts.
Regarding the improving of investment climate in Croatia, on the international level the Delegation
of the European Union to the Republic of Croatia has been putting the effort in financial
supporting and assisting Croatia in investment promotions through a number of instruments over
the years. One of these instruments was the CARDS Programme existing until 2007, with the
project ‘’Development of the business and the investment climate in Croatia’’ which the main task
was to support and assist the government institutions in the investment promotions. One of the
most complex EU pre-accession technical assistance project for Croatia in the area of investments,
financed from EU pre-accession funds from 2009 till October 2011, was the IPA programme (IPA
component III C), with its project ‘’Development of Investment Climate’’ which was successfully
implemented and closed on 26 September 2011. This Programme included 20 counties, with more
than 230 representatives of institutions at county, who actively participated in the project and
significantly enhanced their knowledge and skills in the area of investment promotion.
The establishment of relevant institutions with the role of achieving a perspective development for
the investment climate in Croatia would assist in providing better solutions and standards in this
area. At the Ministry of Economy, Labour and Entrepreneurship, operates the Investment
Promotion and Export Directorate, which offers advice and legal expertise for helping with
strategies for investment promotion and removing barriers to investment. The office also works on
developing free trade zones and drafting measures that are intended to help increase both foreign
and domestic investment, and is responsible for the implementation of the Law on incentives for
investments and for the granting incentives, tax and customs benefits to domestic, as well as to
foreign investors.
Attracting investments represents one of main economic priorities of the Government of the
Republic of Croatia. In this respect, the basic aims of strategic economic developments are:
increase in GDP, promoting measures for employment and balanced foreign trade. It has been
expected the substantial investment in energy infrastructure and renewable energy projects,
tourism facilities and infrastructure in tourism, transport and logistics in the perception of
sustainable development and social responsibility. Infrastructure and logistic, energy and
environment, tourism, health tourism, real estate, industry and agriculture represent sectors with
highest investment potential. In this context, it is essential to increase the amount of investments,
both domestic and foreign. Croatia has all the necessary resources and potentials to develop its
investment climate. It offers great opportunities for business growth and the interest for investors,
but still, the authorities as well as the companies, must constantly put much effort to implement all
the positive ideas and measures to encourage the investments into Croatia.
Nordic Chamber of Commerce in Croatia
Zagrebtower, Radnička 80, HR - 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
email: office@nordicchamber.hr, tel: +385 1 5393 751, fax +385 1 5393 754
www.nordicchamber.hr
3
How to access the Croatian market, different opportunities and obstacles
How to access the Croatian market
Croatia’s legal framework treats equally the foreign and Croatian investors for all types of
business. The foreign investment regime of Croatia is liberal, with most business activities open to
domestic and foreign legal and physical persons alike. In addition, the Constitution of the Republic
of Croatia provides several guarantees to foreign investors. However, some activities must be
carried out only under specific requirements, such as special certificate of approval or licenses.
These activities include: banking, insurance, air and road transport, most energy activities and
telecom services.
With respect to acquiring property rights (excluding real estate in areas of special national
concern), foreign investors have the same rights, obligations and legal status as Croatian investors
provided the condition of reciprocity is met. Nonetheless, since 1 February 2009, the provisions on
reciprocity exclude European Union-s citizens or legal entities.
Opportunities and obstacles for foreign investors
Opportunities for foreign investors
The Investment Promotion Act as the most important law regarding investments of domestic and
foreign legal entities and natural persons provides a system of measures for foreign investors, tax
and custom privileges for investors and much other useful information from the interest of foreign
investors. These privileges can be used only to newly established companies within their registered
activities, and exceptionally, in the case of investments in the tourism industry, the holder of
privileges can be an already existing company. Foreign investors have the possibility to enter into
Croatian market through the establishment of representative or branch office of their company, or
through establishing a craft or being a sole trader.
The foreign legal entities and persons have the possibility to invest in Croatia as the follows:
 invest in a company, bank or in an insurance company,
 invest capital on a contractual basis,
 set up as craftspeople or do business as sole traders,
 obtain a concession to exploit natural resources or other assets of interest to Croatia,
 participate in build-operate-transfer (BOT) and build-own-operate-transfer (BOOT)
operations.
The incentive measures regulated by the Investment Promotion Act apply to investment projects
covering the following activities:
Nordic Chamber of Commerce in Croatia
Zagrebtower, Radnička 80, HR - 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
email: office@nordicchamber.hr, tel: +385 1 5393 751, fax +385 1 5393 754
www.nordicchamber.hr
4
▪ Business activities in production and processing
▪ Technology and innovation activities
▪ Strategic business support activities
At the Ministry of Economy, Labour and Entrepreneurship, operates a Directorate called
Investment Promotion and Export Directorate which is responsible for the implementation of the
Law on incentives for investments and for the granting incentives, tax and customs benefits to
domestic, as well as to foreign investors.
In that sense, many opportunities for foreign investors are regulated through:
 tax incentives
 customs incentives
 support for justified costs for the additional education of the workforce relating to the
investment
 support for justified costs relating to new job creation relating to the investment
 incentive measures for the establishment and development of Technology and Innovation
Centres
 special incentives for large investment projects which are of important economic interest.
The period in which the investment must be realized and work places created is three years. The
minimum period in which the investment and created work places must be maintained is five
years, but not shorter than the period in which incentives are being used.
The holder of incentives can be a company registered in the Croatian territory, which uses
incentives, or which aid for initial investment. The Company that wants to benefit from incentive
measures for investments need to submit an Application to the Ministry of the Economy, Labour
and Entrepreneurship prior to investment. All the applications are available on the web site
www.mingorp.hr.
Nordic Chamber of Commerce in Croatia
Zagrebtower, Radnička 80, HR - 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
email: office@nordicchamber.hr, tel: +385 1 5393 751, fax +385 1 5393 754
www.nordicchamber.hr
5
Tax benefits for foreign investors are:
INVESTMENT VALUE
BENEFICIAL
PROFIT TAX
MAX. PERIOD OF MIN. NUMBER OF
USE (YEARS)
NEW WORKPLACES
0.3- 1.5
10 %
10 YEARS
10
1.5 - 4
7%
10 YEARS
30
4–8
3%
10 YEARS
50
More than 8 million EUR
0%
10 YEARS
75
(million EUR)
Other investment incentives for investors relate to:
Incentives Concerning the City of Vukovar:
Law on Reconstruction and Development of the City of Vukovar defines the incentives to be used
for business subjects doing their business activities in the City of Vukovar.
Taxpayers executing activities in agriculture or fisheries in the area of the City of Vukovar and
who employ more than 5 employees, with more than 50% of the employees having domicile and
habitual residence in the City of Vukovar, or in the hill and mountain area, or an area of special
national concern, are exempted in full from the profit tax payment until Croatia joins the European
Union. Taxpayers executing activities, other than in agriculture or fisheries, under the same
conditions as stated above shall pay the reduced amount of tax in the rate of 25% or 75% of the
prescribed tax rate in the period of five years from starting business.
Areas of Special National Concern:
Taxpayers who execute their activities in the areas of special national concern and permanently
employ more than 5 employees, with more than 50% of the employees having domicile and
habitual residence in an area of special national concern for at least 9 months, shall pay the reduced
amount of tax in the rate of 25% or 75% of the prescribed tax rate in the period of five years from
starting business.
More information on the investment incentives are available at: www.investincroatia.org.
Nordic Chamber of Commerce in Croatia
Zagrebtower, Radnička 80, HR - 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
email: office@nordicchamber.hr, tel: +385 1 5393 751, fax +385 1 5393 754
www.nordicchamber.hr
6
Entrepreneurial (business) zones and free trade zones in Croatia as the investment incentive
measures
Free trade zones
In order to encourage foreign investments, Croatia has created additional incentives for foreign
investors in the form of free zones and entrepreneurial zones. Free zones are part of the territory of
the Republic of Croatia, specially segregated and designated for commercial activities conducted
under certain conditions. The zone may consist of a number of separate areas. Apart from the
founders of the free zones, users can be any other local or foreign physical and legal entity
conducting business activities on the basis of agreement made with the founder of the zone. A free
zone may be established in areas such as: sea ports, airports, river ports, next to international
transportation routes. Free zones offer business advantages such as investment incentives,
employment, special tax benefits, while the goods are stored in the zone free of charge. Activities
which can be carried out in Croatian free zones are: production of goods, refinement of goods,
wholesale trade and mediation in trade, services, except retail trade which is not allowed.
Nordic Chamber of Commerce in Croatia
Zagrebtower, Radnička 80, HR - 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
email: office@nordicchamber.hr, tel: +385 1 5393 751, fax +385 1 5393 754
www.nordicchamber.hr
7
In Croatia, there have been established 13 free trade zones:
1 Krapinsko-zagorska slobodna zona
2 Slobodna zona Osijek
3 Slobodna zona Kukuljanovo
4 Slobodna zona Luke Rijeka
5 Slobodna zona Zagreb
6 Slobodna zona Luke Split
7 Slobodna zona Luke Pula
8 Splitsko-dalmatinska slobodna zona
9 Slobodna zona Luke Ploče
10 Slobodna zona Đuro Đaković
11 Slobodna zona Varaždin
12 Podunavska slobodna zona – Vukovar
13 Slobodna zona Bjelovar
At the web page www.croatiafreezones.org, all relevant information on free zones in Croatia are
available, as well as the information on how to become a user of some specific free zones.
Entrepreneurial (business) zones
Entrepreneurial zones are the project of the Croatian government set with the main objective to
stimulate the development of small and medium-sized enterprises by providing benefits of
infrastructure for the entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurial zones are part of the territory of a municipality
or a city in which the infrastructure has been built in advance and where the municipality provides
additional benefits with the aim of stimulating economic activities. Croatian government is
promoting the development of approximately 20 business zones per county.
Compared with free trade zones, that are in the jurisdiction of the government, business zones are
mainly in the jurisdiction of the local authorities. Usually, business zones are the part of the
Nordic Chamber of Commerce in Croatia
Zagrebtower, Radnička 80, HR - 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
email: office@nordicchamber.hr, tel: +385 1 5393 751, fax +385 1 5393 754
www.nordicchamber.hr
8
territory of the municipality or the city and they are provided with the infrastructure in order to
promote economic activities, and these zones can offer to investors additional incentives
(communal fee, etc). In the Republic of Croatia are more than 300 business zones of different
sizes, ranging from ten thousand square meters to couple of million square meters.
Business zone is ready for investment projects for the following reasons:
1. The legal issues have been settled
2. Physical planning documentation has been adopted
3. Land is provided with the utilities, transport and ICT infrastructure
Some of larger business zones in Croatia are:
1. PODI-Šibenik - Šibensko-kninska county
2. Crno - Zadarska county
3. Sv. Helena - Zagrebačka county
4. Ploče Harbour - Dubrovačko-neretvanska county
5. Kukuzovac - Splitsko-dalmatinska county
6. Nova Gradiška -
Brodsko-posavska county
7. ZIB, Rajevo Selo - Posavski Podgajci - Vukovarsko-srijemska county
9. Ambarine, Gradište - Vukovarsko-srijemska county
10. Industrijska zona South – Sisak -Sisačko-moslavačka county
The database of business zones in Croatia is available on the website of the Ministry of Economy,
Labour and Entrepreneurship at: www.InvestInCroatia.org/zones.
Nordic Chamber of Commerce in Croatia
Zagrebtower, Radnička 80, HR - 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
email: office@nordicchamber.hr, tel: +385 1 5393 751, fax +385 1 5393 754
www.nordicchamber.hr
9
Technology parks
The importance of development of knowledge intensive industries directing the transition towards
knowledge based economy as the Croatian strategic goal outlines The Croatian Strategic
Development Framework in the period from 2006 to 2013. Development of Science and
Technology Parks and Business Incubators is prerequisite for future development of innovative
knowledge based start-ups and promotion of Croatia as advanced investment destination. Science
and Technology Parks have aim to support and foster innovative start-up companies from the
incubation phase, through the process of development of product/service/solution to ready-tomarket phase. In addition, Science and Technology Parks are targeting international corporations
to establish R&D, competence centres, as well as the centres of excellence.
In Croatia, there are following technology parks:






Zagreb Technology Park
Technology Development Centre Osijek
Technology Centre Split
Varazdin Technology Park
Science and Technology Park of the University of Rijeka
Industrial park Nova Gradiška
Nordic investments in Croatia and the Nordic companies already operating
on the Croatian market
In regard to the foreign direct investments from Nordic countries, in the last ten years the trend has
been continuously improving. In spite of the administrative barriers that some Nordic and other
foreign investors have been facing; the situation has started to change for the better. Among the
Nordic countries, from 1993 till the third quarter of 2011, the greatest amounts of investments in
Croatia were recorded from Denmark, then from Norway, and the third place is Sweden.
Some of the Nordic companies already on the Croatian market:
ABB d.o.o. (Sweden), www.abb.com
Carlsberg Croatia d.o.o., (Denmark), www.carlsberg.hr
Det Norske Veritas d.o.o., (Norway),
Ericsson Nikola Tesla d.d., (Sweden), www.ericsson.com/hr
Hartmann d.o.o. (Denmark), hartmann-packaging.hr
Nordic Chamber of Commerce in Croatia
Zagrebtower, Radnička 80, HR - 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
email: office@nordicchamber.hr, tel: +385 1 5393 751, fax +385 1 5393 754
www.nordicchamber.hr
10
IKEA – Inter Ikea Centre Croatia, IKEA Hrvatska d.o.o., (Sweden), www.iicg.hr
Nokia Siemens Networks d.o.o., (Finland), www.nokiasiemensnetworks.com
Patria d.o.o., (Finland), www.patria.fi
Rockwool Adriatic d.o.o., (Denmark), www.rockwool.hr
Saab Gripen International AB, (Sweden), www.saabgroup.com/gripen
Tele2 d.o.o., (Sweden), www.tele2.hr
Tetra Pak d.o.o., (Sweden), www.tetrapak.hr
Verdispar International d.o.o., (Norway), www.verdispar.hr
Volvo Trucks d.o.o., (Sweden), www.volvo.hr
About the obstacles for foreign investors
The main obstacle which has the significant influence on increasing the direct foreign investments
is an unfavourable investment structure in Croatia. In the last quarter of 2010, as part of the
Government's activities, measures were taken to remove administrative barriers in order to attract
foreign direct investments. The undertaken measures and incentives have significantly improved
the existing investment climate not just for the aforementioned investors but also for other existent
and potential investors. Some obstacles that foreign investors are facing with are certainly the piles
of documents which foreign investors must collect from the authorized institutions in the process
of entering into Croatian market. Other obstacles relate to a weak judicial system which manifests
it in the long term proceedings in the courts, some contradictory laws incomprehensive for foreign
investors, insufficient protection of property rights and inefficient state administration, lack of
skilled manpower, the cost of labour and so on. But these obstacles have been reducing through
many measures that Croatian government has been taking over. In order to remove the
administrative barriers for foreign investments, the Croatian Government in 2010 carried out the
Action Plan for removing administrative barriers for investments in Croatia. Six ministries have
been charged for its introduction. Some of these measures have been turned to: simplify and speed
up the process of re-issuing of work permits, simplification of company registration, improvement
and acceleration of the implementation system of bankruptcies, speed up the registration at the
Land Registry, increase transparency in customs procedures.
Nordic Chamber of Commerce in Croatia
Zagrebtower, Radnička 80, HR - 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
email: office@nordicchamber.hr, tel: +385 1 5393 751, fax +385 1 5393 754
www.nordicchamber.hr
11
Relevant institutions in the Republic of Croatia -- Links to web pages and portals in English /
Croatian
CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE AND ASSOCIATIONS:
CROATIAN CHAMBER OF ECONOMY
Web page English: http://www2.hgk.hr/en
Web page Croatian: www.hgk.hr
Rooseveltov trg 2, p.p. 630, 10000 Zagreb
Phone: +385 (0)1 4561-555
Fax: +385 (0)1 4828-380
NORDIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IN CROATIA
Web page English: www.nordicchamber.hr
Radnička cesta 80, 10 000 Zagreb
Phone: 01 5393 751
Fax: 01 5393 754
CROATIAN CHAMBER OF TRADES AND CRAFTS
Web page Croatian: www.hok.hr
Web page English: http://www.hok.hr/eng/
Ilica 49/II, 10000 Zagreb
Tel: +385 (0) 1 48 06 666
Fax: +385 (0) 1 48 46 610
CROATIAN BAR ASSOCIATION
Web page English: http://www.hok-cba.hr/en
Web page Croatian: http://www.hok-cba.hr/
Koturaška 53, 10000 Zagreb
Phone: +385 (0)1 6171-270
Fax: +385 (0)1 6170-686
CROATIAN EMPLOYER’S ASSOCIATION
Web page: www.hup.hr
Ulica Pavla Hatza 12, 10 000 Zagreb
tel: +385 1 4897 – 555
fax: +385 1 4897 - 556
Nordic Chamber of Commerce in Croatia
Zagrebtower, Radnička 80, HR - 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
email: office@nordicchamber.hr, tel: +385 1 5393 751, fax +385 1 5393 754
www.nordicchamber.hr
12
GOVERNMENT MINISTRIES AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS:
MINISTRY OF ECONOMY, LABOUR AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Web page English/Croatian: http://www.mingorp.hr/
Ul. grada Vukovara 78, 10000 ZAGREB
Phone: +385 (0)1 6106-111
Fax: +385 (0)1 6109-120
MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND EUROPEAN INTEGRATION
Web page English: http://www.mfa.hr/
Web page Croatian: www.mvpei.hr
Trg N. Š. Zrinskog 7-8, 10000 ZAGREB
Phone: +385 (0)1 4569-964
Fax: +385 (0)1 4551-795
CROATIAN ECONOMIC DIPLOMACY AT THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
AND EUROPEAN INTEGRATION
Web page available in Croatian/English/German
http://hgd.mvpei.hr
MINISTRY OF FINANCE
Web page English: http://www.mfin.hr/en
Web page Croatian: http://www.mfin.hr/
Katančićeva 5, 10000 ZAGREB
Phone: +385 (0)1 4591-333
Fax: +385 (0)1 4922-583
MINISTRY OF FINANCE – Tax and custom administration
Web page English: http://www.porezna-uprava.hr/en/
Web page Croatian: http://www.porezna-uprava.hr/
MINISTRY OF JUSTICE
Web page English: http://www.pravosudje.hr/epravosudje-en
Web page Croatian: http://www.pravosudje.hr/
Ul. Republike Austrije 14, 10000 ZAGREB
Phone: +385 (0)1 3710-666
Fax: +385 (0)1 3710-772
Nordic Chamber of Commerce in Croatia
Zagrebtower, Radnička 80, HR - 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
email: office@nordicchamber.hr, tel: +385 1 5393 751, fax +385 1 5393 754
www.nordicchamber.hr
13
THE COURT REGISTER AT THE COMMERCIAL COURT IN CROATIA
Web page Croatian: https://sudreg.pravosudje.hr/
MINISTRY OF THE INTERIOR
Web page Croatian/English: www.mup.hr
Savska cesta 39, 10000 ZAGREB
Phone: +385 (0)1 6122-111
Fax: +385 (0)1 6122-452
CROATIAN NATIONAL BANK
Web page Croatian/English: http://www.hnb.hr
Trg hrvatskih velikana 3, 10000 ZAGREB
Phone: +385 (0)1 4564-555
Fax: +385 (0)1 4550-726
CENTRAL BUREAU OF STATISTICS
Web page Croatian/English: www.dzs.hr
Ilica 3, 10000 ZAGREB
Phone: +385 (0)1 4806-111
Fax: +385 (0)1 4817-666
CROATIAN BANK FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT
Web page: www.hbor.hr
Trg. J. J. Strossmayera 9, 10000 ZAGREB
Tel.: +385 (0)1 45 91 731
Fax: +385 (0)1 45 91 790
CROATIAN AGENCY FOR SMALL BUSINESS
Web page: www.hamag.hr
Prilaz Gjure Deželića 7, 10000 Zagreb
Tel: (01) 48 81 000
Fax: (01) 48 81 009
Nordic Chamber of Commerce in Croatia
Zagrebtower, Radnička 80, HR - 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
email: office@nordicchamber.hr, tel: +385 1 5393 751, fax +385 1 5393 754
www.nordicchamber.hr
14
CROATIAN EMPLOYMENT SERVICE
Web page: www.hzz.hr
Radnička cesta 1, 10000 ZAGREB
Tel.: +385 (0)1 61 84 606
Fax: +385 (0)1 61 26 039
BUSINESS SUPPORT INSTITUTIONS
HITRO.HR service
Web page Croatian/English: www.hitro.hr/service
FINA – FINANCIAL AGENCY
Web page Croatian/English: www.fina.hr
Koturaška 43, 10000 ZAGREB
Tel.: +385 (0)1 61 27 111
Fax: +385 (0)1 61 28 089
Nordic Chamber of Commerce in Croatia
Zagrebtower, Radnička 80, HR - 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
email: office@nordicchamber.hr, tel: +385 1 5393 751, fax +385 1 5393 754
www.nordicchamber.hr
15
Sectors in which the foreign investors have entered with success
Croatia is the country of many opportunities for business growth and development for foreign
investors. This can be seen through the development of infrastructure quality, continuous working
on further modernization of transport, telecommunication and energy infrastructure, giving great
importance to quality of education and improving the quality of the workforce, turning to the
alternative power sources, and increasingly enhancement of investments in research and
development of human resources. Croatia can, in accordance with its development capacity and
conducting structural reforms, achieve more competitive position in relation to the other Central
and Eastern European countries. There are sectors in Croatia in which foreign investors have
entered into with success and conduct a successful business. Croatian economy is mainly not
dependent on a few particular economic activities. However, some sectors have a greater potential
to retain a leadership role in the attractiveness for foreign investors, as the tourism or financial
sector, then the industry, communications, agriculture and food production, construction, transport,
etc.
Sectors of the economy in Croatia of the foreign interest
Sectors of the economy in which the foreign investors have entered with success are: the maritime
sector, telecommunications, financial intermediations, energy sector, wholesale trade and
commission trade, real estate activities, manufacture of coke, refined petroleum products,
pharmacy, investments in hotels and restaurants.
Tourism
As one of the most important sectors of the Croatian economy, due to the continued growth of this
sector of the economy, increasing number of tourists’ arrivals into Croatia from year to year, there
are great opportunities for foreign investors to invest in Croatian tourism. This can be achieved
through privatization of existing tourist facilities, as well as by building brand new facilities and
tourist development of high quality with a high level of service.
Industry
Future development and strengthening of the Croatian industry depends on the introduction of
modern technologies and new products, the realization of joint investments and establishment of
crucial partnerships with foreign companies and accessing to the new markets. Capable manpower
and highly educated experts in the fields of engineering and computer technology, are of a huge
importance for foreign investment in advanced technologies. Good opportunities for investments
exist within free trade zones and industrial zones, which will further motivate industry for
investments and new technology entry.
Nordic Chamber of Commerce in Croatia
Zagrebtower, Radnička 80, HR - 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
email: office@nordicchamber.hr, tel: +385 1 5393 751, fax +385 1 5393 754
www.nordicchamber.hr
16
Energy sector
Renewable energy sector has large potential for attracting foreign investments especially in the
area of biomass, wind and hydro energy where the use of new advanced technologies and “knowhow” are highly competitive. Environmental technology in line with the sustainable development
policy and high demand of efficient use of non-renewable energy resources offers good potential
for foreign investments.
In early 1994, the Government of the Republic of Croatia adopted the PROHES (Development and
Organisation of Croatian Energy Sector), a scientific research program with the aim to determine a
new strategy for the development of Croatian energy policy.
National Renewable Energy Sources Programs include the following:
ENWIND- wind energy program
SUNEN- solar energy program
GEOEN- geothermal energy program
BIOEN- biomass program
MAHE- small Hydro-Electric Power Plant Program
Pharmaceuticals and biotechnology
The pharmaceutical, chemical, food and beverage industries and agriculture represent the most
successful sectors of the Croatian economy, contributing significantly in terms of revenues,
employment and export. In Croatia are present more than 50 international pharmaceutical
companies, mostly sales representative offices. The pharmaceutical industry represents 4% of the
total manufacturing industry employing 1,7% of the total employment in manufacturing in Croatia.
Croatian pharmaceutical market shows positive growth trends. After a period of accelerated
growth up to 15% annually, in the next few years a growth rate of 7-9% per year is expected.
ICT
Ideal geo-political location of Croatia provides it with an opportunity to become center of software
development activities for global and local companies. Knowledge, creativity and innovativeness
in software development and web content development have been already recognized by many
international companies which decided to set up their representative offices in Croatia in the area
of information technology development as: Siemens, Ericsson, IBM, SAP, Microsoft, Envox.
Automotive vehicle production
In Croatia have been positive examples of several new local companies that achieved complete
integration into international chains of part suppliers for world well-known car producers such as
PSA, GM, Fiat, BMW, Audi, Ford, Renault, Toyota, Volvo, Daimler Chrysler.
Nordic Chamber of Commerce in Croatia
Zagrebtower, Radnička 80, HR - 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
email: office@nordicchamber.hr, tel: +385 1 5393 751, fax +385 1 5393 754
www.nordicchamber.hr
17
General indicators of foreign investments in Croatia
The largest number of direct foreign investments in Croatia by activities from 1993 till the third
quarter 2011 has been achieved in the following sectors: in the first place is the financial
intermediation, except insurance and pension funds (EUR 8.734,5 million), then, wholesale trade
and commission trade (EUR 2.725,5 million), manufacture of coke, refined petroleum products
(EUR 1.613,1 million), real estate activities (EUR 1.539,1 million), manufacture of chemicals and
chemical products, then retail trade, post and telecommunications, etc. Similarly looks the structure
of foreign investments into Croatia in the first two quarters of 2011. In the first place is the activity
of financial intermediation, except insurance and pension funds, then the production of basic
metals, real estate activities, real estate investments, recreation, cultural and sporting activities.
Norwegian investments in Croatia
In April 2002, Croatia signed the free trade agreement with Norway, which is a member of
international organization EFTA. Signing bilateral agreements with the members of EFTA European Free Trade Association, which unites the markets of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and
Switzerland in the area of free trade, contributes to quality of economic cooperation between the
Croatia and the respective countries.
Norwegian financial institutions have shown interest in funding opportunities and opening up lines
of credit for the modernization of Croatian shipyards, ship building and delivery of equipment for
ships built in Croatian shipyards. In addition to shipbuilding, Norwegian investors have shown
interest so far for investment in telecommunications, agriculture, chemical industry and tourism
with special emphasis on health tourism. In addition to these areas, there is the possibility of
business cooperation in the field of energy, mariculture and timber. Recently, the Norwegians have
showed an increasing interest in investing in the business of commercial and residential facilities in
Croatia, expecting a large increase in real estate in Croatia.
Indicators of Norwegian investments in Croatia in 2010 and 2011
The foreign direct investments from Norway in 2010 and in the first two quarters of 2011 to
Croatia have increased for EUR 42,1 million, (EUR 30,9 million in 2010 and EUR 11,2 million in
the first two quarters 2011). It has been recorded a continuous increase of Norwegian investments
into Croatia in the last few years, which explains positive trends in the investments from Norway.
Nordic Chamber of Commerce in Croatia
Zagrebtower, Radnička 80, HR - 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
email: office@nordicchamber.hr, tel: +385 1 5393 751, fax +385 1 5393 754
www.nordicchamber.hr
18
The sectors of the economy with the highest cooperation potential between Croatia and
Nordic countries
Norway
The greatest potential for cooperation between Croatia and Norway is in the sector of shipbuilding
which encompasses a number of related sectors and activities In addition to shipbuilding,
Norwegian investors have shown the interest in investing also in the following sectors:
telecommunications, agriculture, tourism, with emphasis on health tourism, chemical industry, as
well as investing in real estate. In Croatia, there is an increased need for the development and
introduction of energy efficient ‘’green clean technologies’’ in the shipbuilding sector, which is
one of the most important objectives of this sector.
Apart from shipbuilding sector, Norwegian investors have also shown interest for investing into
telecommunications, agriculture, real estate, chemical industry and tourism with special emphasis
on health tourism. According to the statistics for 2010, import products from Norway to Croatia in
2010 mostly were: ships, pumps, mechanical devices, dried fish.
Some Norwegian companies that have entered the Croatian market are CroNoMar, Det Norske
Veritas, and Verdispar International d.o.o..
These companies, at least in one aspect, are involved in the energy and environmental technology
sector: green building, certification, green-clean technologies, and promotion of energy efficient
residential and business buildings.
Denmark
Sectors with highest cooperation potential between Croatia and Denmark are in the following
sectors:
• Shipbuilding
• Agro and food industry
• Energy, especially renewable energy sector
• Health sector
• Wood processing industry; furniture
 Research, development and innovation
 Computer technologies
In the Croatian market are Danish companies like Carlsberg, Rockwool, Hartmann.
Nordic Chamber of Commerce in Croatia
Zagrebtower, Radnička 80, HR - 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
email: office@nordicchamber.hr, tel: +385 1 5393 751, fax +385 1 5393 754
www.nordicchamber.hr
19
Iceland
The economic cooperation between Iceland and Croatia is evaluated as rather modest. Renewable
energy, however, has been recognized as the sector with large potential for cooperation. An
example of such cooperation is the Icelandic company Efla that signed a cooperation agreement on
consultancy with HEP ESCO, a subsidiary of the state run power company HEP d.d. in September
2009. The aim of cooperation is to increase the utilization of geothermal resources in Croatia and
to increase the general knowledge on geothermal resources and their utilization.
Finland
Sectors with highest cooperation potential between Croatia and Finland:
• Military industry
• Innovation and technologies, nanotechnology
• Research in biochemistry, molecular biology
• Wood processing industry
• Tourism, especially health tourism
In Croatia are present Finnish companies like Nokia Siemens Networks d.o.o. and Patria d.o.o.
Sweden
Sectors with highest cooperation potential between Croatia and Sweden:
• Agro and food industry with emphasis on ecological food
• Wood processing and furniture industry: large series of built-in furniture, kitchen and office
furniture
• Energy sector
• Shipbuilding: possible implementation of advanced Swedish technologies into ships; construction
of ships for Swedish clients and opportunity to participate in the privatization of shipyards
• Textile industry, leather processing, leather and footwear manufacturing
• Military industry
• Environmental protection: waste management
• Tourism with special potential in health tourism.
There are many Swedish companies already on the Croatian market like: ABB d.o.o., Saab
International Gripen AB, Ericsson Nikola Tesla d.d., Volvo Trucks d.o.o., IKEA Hrvatska d.o.o.,
Tele2 d.o.o., Tetra Pak d.o.o. and others.
Nordic Chamber of Commerce in Croatia
Zagrebtower, Radnička 80, HR - 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
email: office@nordicchamber.hr, tel: +385 1 5393 751, fax +385 1 5393 754
www.nordicchamber.hr
20
How to open up a representative or branch office of a Norwegian company in
Croatia
In Croatia, a company is a legal entity established and organized in accordance with the
Companies Act. All companies are registered in a court register of the Commercial Court
according to the Court Register Act and the Rules of Court Register Entry Procedures. Under the
Companies Act, it is possible to start a company as a company based on capital or as a partnership,
which is an association of persons. Domestic and foreign investors can establish companies based
on capital in a form of: a private limited company (Croatian: d.o.o.), a public limited company
(Croatian: d.d.), an economic interest association (Croatian: G.I.U.). on the other hand, the
investors can establish an association of persons, in a form of general partnership, and a limited
partnership. Also, in Croatia natural persons can operate in a form of crafts and a sole trader.
General information on the foreign companies establishment in Croatia
For Norwegian legal entities and natural persons, for a company establishment in Croatia, it is
necessary to register the company with the following institutions: Commercial Court, the Central
Bureau of Statistics, Tax Administration, Croatian Pension Insurance Institute and Croatian
Institute for Health Insurance. Also, it is common, but not necessarily, for local attorney or other
legal representative to oversee the process of establishing company and to provide information on
the procedure of establishment. To simplify the procedure for registration of a company, the
Croatian Government has established the web service www.hitro.hr, available in English and
Croatian language. Intention of this service is to enable a quick communication of citizens and
business subjects with the state administration regarding the company establishment in Croatia.
In Croatia, Norwegian companies may establish the representative office or a branch office of their
company. A representative office may be established in Croatia by any Norwegian entity engaging
in business and by a Norwegian business association. Norwegian companies may conduct business
in Croatia by setting up a branch office, or Norwegian representative office in Croatia may
establish one or several branches of its representative office. It is important to emphasize, that the
start-up and operation of branch offices owned by Norwegian companies are governed by the same
regulations that apply to the establishment of branches by Croatian companies.
Nordic Chamber of Commerce in Croatia
Zagrebtower, Radnička 80, HR - 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
email: office@nordicchamber.hr, tel: +385 1 5393 751, fax +385 1 5393 754
www.nordicchamber.hr
21
The establishment of representative office of Norwegian company in Croatia
A representative office in Croatia may be established for the activity of promotion, market
research, supply of information and representation; and it is not a legal entity but it is considered as
part of the entity that has established it. It may not carry out operations that the founder naturally
performs, but may only carry out activities as ordered by the founder. There is an exception for air
carriers’ representative offices which may sell transport documents in line with Croatian
international agreements and with international treaties. It is important to emphasize that a
representative office operates under the name of its founder with the indication of its status as a
representative office. The established representative office has also the possibility of establishing a
several branch offices of their representative office in Croatia.
For Norwegian, or any other foreign representative office to be established in Croatia, it must be
entered in the Croatian Register of Foreign Entities’ Representative Offices kept by the Ministry of
the Economy, Labour and Entrepreneurship, and it may start with its activities only upon entry into
the mentioned Register. The application to enter the representative office must be submitted on the
following address:
Ministry of the Economy, Labour and Entrepreneurship - Croatian Register of Foreign Entities’
Representative Offices
Ulica grada Vukovara 78, 10000 Zagreb
Phone: +385 (0)1 6106-111
Fax: +385 (0)1 6109-120,
Web page: www.mingorp.hr
The application for registration submitted by a Norwegian entity or its authorized representative
should contain the information on the company name, registered office and business activity,
registered address of the representative office in Croatia, basic information about the person
responsible for the operation of the representative office (name, surname, citizen’s ID number,
passport number and issuing country).
For registration into the Register the following documents should be submitted with the
application:
Founder’s decision to establish a representative office in Croatia
Certificate of foreigner’s entry into a register kept in Norway, where the foreigner has its
registered office or other valid document evidencing establishment in compliance with the
Norwegian legislation where the founder has its registered office and showing the
founder’s legal form and time of establishment
 Description of the representative office’s business activity


Nordic Chamber of Commerce in Croatia
Zagrebtower, Radnička 80, HR - 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
email: office@nordicchamber.hr, tel: +385 1 5393 751, fax +385 1 5393 754
www.nordicchamber.hr
22

Decision on the appointment of a person responsible for representative office operations
(manager)
 Evidence of administrative fee payment (HRK 1,000).
Original documents should be submitted together with a certified translation into Croatian, and the
Ministry of the Economy, Labour and Entrepreneurship should enter the representative office in its
Register within 30 days of application and a submittal of necessary documents.
A person appointed representative office manager by the founder should manage the representative
office. The founder should report any change to data for entry into the Register.
The representative office may employ domestic or foreign nationals, but there is also a possibility
to operate without employees. Labour relations, salaries and other work conditions for Croatian
nationals employed in a representative office are regulated by applicable Croatian legislation. The
founder should conclude a work contract with any person it employs, and the conditions contracted
may not be below the minimum work conditions set out in labour legislation and relevant
collective agreements. Norwegian citizens and individuals without citizenship that are to be
employed in a representative office are required to obtain a work permit in accordance with
relevant regulations. The founder of a representative office may open a non-resident foreign
currency and a local currency account with a bank licensed for international transactions. These
accounts may not be used for payment and collection (with the exception of foreign air carriers’
representative offices. The founder is expected to use them for the payment of operational costs of
the representative office.
Excluding from the Register of Foreign Entities’ Representative Offices
To exclude a representative from the register, it must be enclosed the decision of the founder about
closing the representative office in the Republic of Croatia. The Ministry of the Economy, Labour
and Entrepreneurship is authorized to delete the representative office from the Register in the
following cases:







the founder decides to close the representative office
the founder discontinues operation in the country where it has registered office
there is no person responsible for office operations and the founder fails to appoint one
within two months following a reminder from the Ministry
the criteria specified in the relevant regulation are not met
Croatian regulations are violated
activities other than those of representing the foreign founder are conducted
the founder has been sentenced by the relevant court for business violations or offences
more than twice in the course of the previous two years.
Nordic Chamber of Commerce in Croatia
Zagrebtower, Radnička 80, HR - 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
email: office@nordicchamber.hr, tel: +385 1 5393 751, fax +385 1 5393 754
www.nordicchamber.hr
23
Regulations applying to the establishment and operation of foreign representative offices are:


Trade Act - Article 53 (NN 49/03, 103/03, 170/03, 55/04)
Regulation on the Requirements for the Establishment and Operation of Foreign Entities’
Representative Offices in the Republic of Croatia (NN 7/97)
Establishment of branch office in Croatia
Norwegian companies and sole traders may conduct business in Croatia by setting up a branch
office. Norwegian entity with a representative office in Croatia, may also establish one or several
branches of its representative office. The establishment and operation of branch offices owned by
Norwegian companies are governed by the same regulations that apply to the establishment of
branches by Croatian companies. A branch office is not a legal entity. The liabilities and rights
arising from its operation do not belong to the branch office but to the founder. The branch office
operates under its own name. The name should also indicate both the branches and the founder’s
registered office.
The decision on the establishment of a branch office must be notarized, and should contain the
following topics:
 Company name and registered office of the founder and the name and registered office of
the branch
 Business activity of the founder and operations of the branch
 If the founder is a company based on capital, the amount of authorized capital and of stakes
paid for, and if the founder is a partnership, the names of general partners or of the sole
trader
 Name(s) and residence of the individual(s) authorized to represent the founders in branch
operations.
Compared to the representative offices which are entered into Register of Foreign Entities’
Representative Offices at the Ministry of the Economy, Labour and Entrepreneurship, the branch
offices are entered in the court register of the Commercial Court which has jurisdiction over the
area where the branch has its registered office. To register a branch office, it is necessary to apply
for registration and enclose the following original documents and certified translations in Croatian:
 Excerpt from the register in which the founder is entered showing the legal form and the
date when the foreign founder of the branch was established
 Founder’s decision on the establishment of the branch
 Certified transcript of the statement on establishment in accordance with the Norwegian
legislation where the founder has its registered office. Certified abridged financial report
for the previous year of founder’s operation.
Nordic Chamber of Commerce in Croatia
Zagrebtower, Radnička 80, HR - 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
email: office@nordicchamber.hr, tel: +385 1 5393 751, fax +385 1 5393 754
www.nordicchamber.hr
24
The register court may approve entry if the founder has proved that it has been legally established
and that it exists in the country of its registered office, that it has appointed persons to perform
operations in Croatia that are authorized for representation and are resident there, and third, that
Croatian persons are allowed to establish branch offices in the founder’s country under the same
conditions as those that apply to the founder in Croatia. The founder is required to report all data
changes to the Commercial Court.
In the case that the same founder intends to establish several branch offices, the establishment
procedure is carried out separately for each branch. The founder is obliged to authorize for
representation one or more individuals in each branch, with the possibility of authorizing the same
person for several branch offices. Since the branch offices are not legal entities, they may not
independently hold legal rights and obligations. The founder legally holds all rights and obligations
of branch offices. Branch offices are required to keep business records in compliance with
applicable regulations in Croatia: Accounting Act, International Accounting Standards and
Croatian tax regulations.
General information on the crafts establishment in Croatia
Norwegian citizens in the Republic of Croatia can establish craft business under the same
conditions as Croatian citizens and in doing to satisfy the same conditions for establishment, both
general and specific, to conduct a qualified craft. Additional condition is the need to obtain a
business permit issued by the Ministry of Interior laid down by the Aliens Act. A business permit
is both a residence permit on the Croatian territory. A natural person who meets the requirements
for a craft trade license or privilege activity may become a craftsman after entering into the Crafts
register. Crafts Registers are running the county Offices or the Office of the City of Zagreb. At the
same time, the craftsman becomes a member of the Croatian Chamber of crafts and trades.
Regulations governing the establishment of a craft business is laid down in the Crafts Act (NN
49/03).
Business activities requiring special licenses
Certain business activities may be carried out in Croatia only with a special certificate of approval
or consent, license or other document issued by the relevant governmental body or institution.
Without such approval, it is impossible to enter a company in the relevant court register and,
consequently, to start such an activity either.
Those activities include: banks, insurances, road transport, chartered international forwarder, state
surveying and real estate cadaster activities, production of and trade in tobacco and tobacco
products, production of and trade in explosives, energy activities, product compliance testing,
protection and preservation of cultural heritage, trade in and production of drugs and medical
products, trade in and production veterinary drugs, production, repair of and trade in armaments
Nordic Chamber of Commerce in Croatia
Zagrebtower, Radnička 80, HR - 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
email: office@nordicchamber.hr, tel: +385 1 5393 751, fax +385 1 5393 754
www.nordicchamber.hr
25
and military equipment, production of and trade in arms and ammunition, professional activities on
environmental protection, physical planning, tax consultancy, auditing, mine clearance,
telecommunication services, veterinary activities, employment intermediation, security services,
air transport.
Procedure of company establishment in Croatia
There are some the most important instructions on how to establish a company in Croatia:
1. Business residence- In order to be registered, a company must have an official address in
Croatia.
2. Certification of documents -All legal documents must be certified by a notary public.
3. Certified translation - When the relevant document is in a Norwegian language, an authorized
translator must translate it into Croatian.
4. Company bank account - Authorized capital which amounts HRK 20,000 for a private limited
company and HRK 200,000 for a public limited company must be paid into a bank account, and
the receipt of deposit should be enclosed when registering a company.
5. Application for entry into a court register - Entry into a court register is the responsibility of
the register court with jurisdiction over the area in which the entity to be registered is based. The
registration procedure starts by submitting to the relevant register court an application for entry
into the court register. The application, certified by a notary public, contains a request for the entry
of data and is submitted by an authorized person in the company.
With the application for entry must be enclosed the following documents:
1. A document evidencing establishment (articles of association, statement on establishment,
decision by the general meeting, or similar)
2. A list of company owners or general partners or founders with their names and surnames,
residence and citizen’s ID number, i.e., for foreign nationals, passport numbers and issuing
country or company name and registered office, including company number (Cro: MBS)
3. Evidence of payment of the amount required to start a company or of delivery of tangibles
or rights - together with their list, identifying description, appraised value and a land
register certificate if a real estate is in question
4. Evidence showing the management board members appointed for representation and their
representation powers or evidence showing the procurators appointed and their powers,
together with their certified signatures and citizen’s identification numbers (MBG), if
foreigners are in question, their passport number and issuing country
Nordic Chamber of Commerce in Croatia
Zagrebtower, Radnička 80, HR - 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
email: office@nordicchamber.hr, tel: +385 1 5393 751, fax +385 1 5393 754
www.nordicchamber.hr
26
5. If the start-up is associated with certain privileges, or if tangibles and rights are invested,
auditor’s report on the establishment and on the audit of establishment in case such audit
has been performed
6. A list of individuals authorized to manage the company’s business, their names and
surnames, dates of birth, citizen’s ID number (MBG), residence, powers and their notarized
statements that they accept the appointment
7. For a company with a supervisory board, a list of its members along with their dates of
birth and residence
8. A permit from a governmental body if this is legally required for establishment and entry
into a court register
9. A notarized list of management board members to be filed in the court register.
In addition to legally required documents, an application for company establishment must be
accompanied by a notarized statement made by the founder that neither the founder nor the
companies in which the founder holds stakes or shares have overdue liabilities; a certificate issued
by a legal entity authorized to conduct payment transactions showing that neither the founder nor
the companies in which the founder holds stakes or shares have a recorded unpaid payment order
in their accounts, and certificates from the Tax Administration, Croatian Pension Insurance
Institute and Croatian Institute for Health Insurance evidencing that neither the founder nor the
companies where the founder holds stakes or shares have overdue liabilities relating to tax
payment and pension and health insurance contributions. The statement may not be dated more
than eight days prior to submittal of the application.
6. Public announcement of company registration - After entry into a court register of the
Commercial Court, the Commercial Court delivers registration data to Narodne novine (Official
Gazette) and to daily newspapers. Contact information:
Narodne novine - Odjel oglasa i pretplate (www.nn.hr)
10020 Zagreb, Ulica SR Njemačke 6
Phone: +385 (0)1 6652-777
Fax: +385 (0)1 6652-897
7. Company stamp - After receiving the certificate of court registration, it is necessary to make a
stamp of a company.
8. Company number and activity code- A request must be submitted to the Central Bureau of
Statistics to carry out classification in accordance with the National Classification of Business
Activities, to issue a company number and activity code within 15 days from receiving the decision
of court registration.
With the request must be enclosed the following documents:
1. Certificate of court registration
2. Form RPS-1 (available in Narodne novine shops)
3. Copy of the administrative fee receipt
Nordic Chamber of Commerce in Croatia
Zagrebtower, Radnička 80, HR - 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
email: office@nordicchamber.hr, tel: +385 1 5393 751, fax +385 1 5393 754
www.nordicchamber.hr
27
9. Tax number - Upon registration with the Commercial Court and Central Bureau of Statistics,
the new company must be registered with the Tax Administration office, having jurisdiction over
the area where the registered office is located. Registration at the Tax Administration office is
important for the purpose of tax number obtaining. In this process, founder needs to provide
documentation for registration at the Commercial Court and the notification of business entity
classification from the Central Bureau of Statistics.
10. Custom code - If the established company intends to engage in foreign trade, it is necessary to
obtain a custom number. The custom number for legal entities (companies registered with the
Commercial Court) is identical to the identification number assigned by the Central Bureau of
Statistics (CBS) in the Notice of Classification by activities under the National Classification of
Activities. Companies need not be specially recorded in the Register of custom payers, as the
Central Bureau of Statistics submits their identification number to the Custom Administration
(ww.carina.hr).
11. Pension insurance - Employers, legal entities and natural persons subject to the payment of
contributions must deliver the documents to the respective regional office of the Croatian Pension
Insurance Institute depending on the location of the employer’s registered office within 15 days
from the beginning of business operation.
With the registration forms must be enclosed:
1. A copy of the certificate of court registration
2. Notification of business entity classification from the Central Bureau of Statistics
12. Health insurance - Legal entities subject to health insurance contributions must register for
basic health insurance with the relevant regional office of the Croatian Institute for Health
Insurance within 15 days from the beginning date of business operation.
The applicant must submit the Form 1, Form 2 and Form 3 to the regional office of the Croatian
Institute for Health Insurance.
With Form 1 and Form 2, a legal entity is obliged to provide:
1. A copy of the certificate of court registration
2. Notification of business entity classification from the Central Bureau of Statistics
3. Registration form of the Croatian Institute for Health Insurance
4. Evidence of residence of legal entity - certificate from the Ministry of the Interior (Cro:
MUP) or personal ID card.
13. Certificate of minimum technical requirements - A company may start conducting a
business activity, or several of them, after it has submitted to the Commercial Court a certificate
from the competent administrative body on a county level – State Administration office of a
county (County Office for Economic Affairs) evidencing compliance with technical, health,
environmental and other legal requirements for the performance of this activity, or activities
(relating to business premises, equipment and machinery).County Offices for Economic Affairs are
situated in all of 20 counties in Croatia, and perform the administrative works for the county for
Nordic Chamber of Commerce in Croatia
Zagrebtower, Radnička 80, HR - 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
email: office@nordicchamber.hr, tel: +385 1 5393 751, fax +385 1 5393 754
www.nordicchamber.hr
28
which they were constituted. List of state administration offices in Croatia is available on the
website: www.uprava.hr.
Company establishment through the Croatian Government service HITRO.HR
In order to speed up and simplify the procedure of establishing a company, the government service
HITRO.HR was established, which, with more than 60 offices fully covers Croatian territory. It
accelerates the procedure of the company establishment, making the state administration activity
more efficient, flexible and transparent. Hitro.hr offices are located in the branch offices of FINA the leading Croatian company in the field of financial mediation, providing companies, crafts and
citizens a different business services.
E-Company service - new service of HITRO.HR, which is characterized by on-line registration of
a limited liability company. The e-Company is implemented in collaboration of the Ministry of
Justice, Central State office of e-Croatia, Commercial courts, Croatian Chamber of Public Notaries
and Financial agency.
The service HITRO.HR enables the founders to establish a company in only eight working days
through four steps which are required to establish a limited liability company.
Step one – The first step is to name the company to be established. The employees of the
HITRO.HR service will check the register to find out whether a company by the chosen or similar
name already exists. For this reason applicants must prepare alternative names in addition to the
proposed company name. When choosing the name, the founder can use the website of the
Ministry of Justice: http://sudreg.pravosudje.hr, in order to check the name availability.
Step two – By a notary public must be verified the Application for Entry in the Court Register and
certain documents accompanying. When paying a visit to a notary public, it is obligatory to take
passport. All founders and other persons whose signatures are to be verified must be present.
Step three – The application for the registration into the court registry, with all the other necessary
documentation, should be submitted on the HITRO.HR counter in FINA. After the registration into
the court registry, the client will get a Commercial court decision and the OIB (Person
identification number) of the newly established company.
Step four –After acquiring the Notification of classification, the founder can open the bank
account at the HITRO.HR counter in the bank. After collecting the afore-mentioned documents, a
founder must make an official stamp and open a business account so that the initial capital could
be transferred into its company account. The making of an official company stamp can be arranged
Nordic Chamber of Commerce in Croatia
Zagrebtower, Radnička 80, HR - 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
email: office@nordicchamber.hr, tel: +385 1 5393 751, fax +385 1 5393 754
www.nordicchamber.hr
29
at the HITRO.HR counter. Also, at the HITRO.HR counter, can be arranged the opening of
company account, but only with those banks in the case of which FINA handles or intermediates in
handling the account opening procedure. Registration at the Croatian Health Insurance Institute
(HZZO) and with Croatian Pension Insurance Institute (HZMO) can be also arranged and executed
electronically at the HITRO.HR counter.
After the company has been entered into the Court Register and the Register of the Central Bureau
of Statistics, the founder must register its company with the Tax administration whose jurisdiction
is determined on the basis of your company's registered address, for the purpose of entering the
company into the Register of Income Tax and VAT Payers. When registering with the Tax
Authority, it is important to give the Decision on Entry in the Court Register, the Notification of
Classification pursuant to the National Classification of Activities and the Signature Card.
Relevant institutions and legislation for company establishments
Relevant governmental institutions and links:
MINISTRY OF THE ECONOMY, LABOUR AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Web page English/Croatian: http://www.mingorp.hr/
MINISTRY OF JUSTICE
Web page English: http://www.pravosudje.hr/epravosudje-en
Web page Croatian: http://www.pravosudje.hr/
THE COURT REGISTER AT THE COMMERCIAL COURT IN CROATIA
Web page Croatian: https://sudreg.pravosudje.hr/
MINISTRY OF FINANCE
Web page English: http://www.mfin.hr/en
Web page Croatian: http://www.mfin.hr/
Nordic Chamber of Commerce in Croatia
Zagrebtower, Radnička 80, HR - 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
email: office@nordicchamber.hr, tel: +385 1 5393 751, fax +385 1 5393 754
www.nordicchamber.hr
30
MINISTRY OF FINANCE – Tax administration
Web page English: http://www.porezna-uprava.hr/en/
Web page Croatian: http://www.porezna-uprava.hr/
MINISTRY OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
Web page Croatian: http://www.uprava.hr
MINISTRY OF FINANCE – Custom administration
Web page Croatian/English: http://www.carina.hr
CENTRAL BUREAU OF STATISTICS
Web page Croatian/English: www.dzs.hr
CROATIAN INSTITUTE FOR PENSION INSURANCE
Web page Croatian: www.mirovinsko.hr
CROATIAN INSTITUTE FOR HEALTH INSURANCE
Web page Croatian: http://www.hzzo-net.hr/
CROATIAN NOTARY CHAMBER
Web page Croatian: http://www.hjk.hr/
NARODNE NOVINE – OFFICIAL GAZETTE
Web page Croatian: www.nn.hr
Nordic Chamber of Commerce in Croatia
Zagrebtower, Radnička 80, HR - 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
email: office@nordicchamber.hr, tel: +385 1 5393 751, fax +385 1 5393 754
www.nordicchamber.hr
31
CROATIAN BAR ASSOCIATION
Web page Croatian: http://www.hok-cba.hr/hr
Web page English: http://www.hok-cba.hr/en
CROATIAN CHAMBER OF ECONOMY
Web page English: http://www2.hgk.hr/en
Web page Croatian: www.hgk.hr
FINA – FINANCIAL AGENCY
Web page English/Croatian: www.fina.hr
HITRO.HR – service of the Croatian government for quicker, simpler access to information and
services for company and crafts establishments
Web page English/Croatian: www.hitro.hr
Regulations governing company establishment in Croatia are:
 Companies Act (NN Official Gazette; abbreviated: NN] 111/93, 34/99, 52/00, Decision of
the Constitutional Court of RC, 118/2003)
 Court Register Act (NN 1/95, 57/96, 45/99)
 Rules of Procedure for Entry into a Court Register (NN 10/95, 101/96, 62/98, 123/2002)
 Trade Act - Article 53 (NN 49/03, 103/03, 170/03, 55/04)
 Regulation on the Requirements for the Establishment and Operation of Foreign Entities’
Representative Offices in the Republic of Croatia (NN 7/97)
 Decision on the Procedure and Requirements for Access to Court Register Information (NN
138/2002)
 National Classification of Economic Activities Act (NN 98/94)
 Decision on the National Classification of Economic Activities (NN 13/2003)
 Labour Act - NN 149/09, Act on Amendments to the Labour Act (Official Gazette 61/11)
All the aforementioned Acts are disposable on the web page www.nn.hr
Nordic Chamber of Commerce in Croatia
Zagrebtower, Radnička 80, HR - 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
email: office@nordicchamber.hr, tel: +385 1 5393 751, fax +385 1 5393 754
www.nordicchamber.hr
32
Role of the local authorities in local establishments, visa versa role of the
Central Governmental institutions
Regarding the company establishment in Croatia, the founders, both Croatian and foreign, are
required to submit an application and documentation related to the establishment of company to
some central state institutions and to all the relevant institutions at the local level. The role of local
institutions and authorities in the establishment of companies in Croatian territory has a much
greater role than the central governmental institutions. In every county in Croatia have been
established the regional offices and branch offices of central governmental institutions, and as
such, they are responsible for the registration of foreign representative offices and branches
according to the location where the representative or branch office is to be established. If in the
company establishments appear certain facts that cannot be resolved at the regional or local level,
then the request is processed by the second instance institution on the national level.
There are certain central governmental institutions to which the foreign company must directly
address in order to establish a representative office or branch in the Republic of Croatia. As one of
the main central governmental institutions important during the establishment of representative
offices in Croatia, is the Ministry of Economy, Labour and Entrepreneurship. In order to establish
the Norwegian representative office in Croatia, it must be entered in Croatian Register of Foreign
Entities’ Representative Offices, which is kept by the Ministry of Economy, Labour and
Entrepreneurship, and can begin its activities after the registration in the Register. Other central
governmental institution, which the founder should apply when establishing a company in Croatia,
is the Central Bureau of Statistics. This institution is requested to carry out the classification by
industry according to the National Classification of Business Activities, to issue a company
number and activity code within 15 days from receipt the certificate from the Court Registry.
If the founders of the company would like to use word Croatia or any word form derived from it is
to be used in the company name, special consent from the Ministry of Justice and Ministry of
Public Administration is a requirement. For the most applications regarding the procedure for the
establishment of a company, the founder must to address the institutions at the local level –the
regional offices or branch offices of the central state institutions, depending on the location of
company’s registered office.
At the local level, founder may begin to perform his business activity in the Republic of Croatia,
after obtaining the first-instance decision of the competent state administration body in the county
where the company has been registered. In Croatia, there are 20 state administration offices which
are conducting its administrative works in the scope of its county. Concretely, the founder may
start conducting a business activity, or several of them, after it has submitted to the Commercial
Court a certificate from the competent regional administrative body (County Office for Economic
Affairs) evidencing compliance with technical, health, environmental and other legal requirements
Nordic Chamber of Commerce in Croatia
Zagrebtower, Radnička 80, HR - 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
email: office@nordicchamber.hr, tel: +385 1 5393 751, fax +385 1 5393 754
www.nordicchamber.hr
33
for the performance of this activity, or activities relating to business premises, equipment and
machinery.
If the founder would like to establish a company with assist of government service HITRO.HR, it
may apply to the competent HITRO.HR office located in one of the FINA - Financial Agencies in
Croatia, according to the location of the company to be established.
Role of the local authorities in the company establishments:
Court register of the competent Commercial court - For entry into a court register, responsible
is the Commercial court with jurisdiction over the area in which the entity to be registered is based,
according to the territorial jurisdiction. There are seven Commercial courts in Croatia and each of
them are competent and cover the area of two or three counties in Croatia.
Commercial courts in Croatia:
1. Commercial Court in Bjelovar - Bjelovarsko-bilogorska, Koprivničko-križevačka and
Virovitičko-podravska County
2. Commercial Court in Osijek - Osječko-baranjska, Vukovarsko-srijemska, Brodsko-posavska and
Požeško-slavonska County
3. Commercial Court in Rijeka - Primorsko-goranska, Istarska and Ličko-senjska County
4. Commercial Court in Split - Splitsko-dalmatinska and Dubrovačko-neretvanska County
5. Commercial Court in Varaždin - Varaždinska, Međimurska and Koprivničko-križevačka County
6. Commercial Court in Zadar – Zadarska and Šibensko-kninska County
7. Commercial Court in Zagreb - Karlovačka, Sisačko-moslavačka, Krapinsko-zagorska,
Zagrebačka County and the capital city of Zagreb.
Tax administration office- applications for entry in the system of tax payers and obtaining a tax
number (OIB), the founder must submit at the competent regional or branch office over the area
where the registered office is located.
Croatian Pension Insurance Institute- Regional or branch offices of the Institute- legal entities
and natural persons subject to the payment of contributions must deliver the documents to the
respective regional or branch office depending on the location of the registered company office.
Nordic Chamber of Commerce in Croatia
Zagrebtower, Radnička 80, HR - 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
email: office@nordicchamber.hr, tel: +385 1 5393 751, fax +385 1 5393 754
www.nordicchamber.hr
34
Croatian Institute for Health Insurance – Regional office – branch office of the Institute - Legal
entities subject to health insurance contributions must register for basic health insurance with the
relevant regional or branch office over the area in which the entity to be registered is based.
From all the above mentioned it is important to note, that the main role in local establishments
have the institutions on the local level - the regional and branch offices of the central governmental
institutions, over the area in which the company to be registered is based, while the central
governmental institutions have more a indirect role in the company establishments except in the
case of some ministries and the Central Bureau of Statistics.
Nordic Chamber of Commerce in Croatia
Zagrebtower, Radnička 80, HR - 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
email: office@nordicchamber.hr, tel: +385 1 5393 751, fax +385 1 5393 754
www.nordicchamber.hr
35