068 - Investment Opportunities in Croatia – The
Diaspora at the Forefront of Improving the Investment Climate and Spearheading
Foreign Investment
Don Markušić
(Zagreb)
The only consensus in Croatia today is around the fact that only foreign
investment can bring Croatia out of its deep, long lasting recession.
Essentially, I want to make the point that the Diaspora is in a unique position
to kick start investment because they have the X Factor of patriotism and close
ties to the country since it their homeland.
Foreign investors will come when the investment climate is much improved
– “Build it and they will come.” The Diaspora need not wait for the investment
climate to improve because they can contribute to “building it” ie. Whilst they
are entitled to be profit motivated like all other foreign investors, they have
an added motivation, if not obligation, unlike other foreign investors, to
persist and ensure that their investments are handled properly.
It will only take a few success stories to attract other foreign
investors and the Diaspora will have been pioneers in changing and improving
the system. I am not saying that the Diaspora has to take unnecessary risks but
their patriotism will be the motivator to take greater risks for greater
rewards whereas other foreign investors may see the rewards but will not be
prepared to take any risk until others have taken the lead.
Paper presented at the First Croatian Emigration Congress, Zagreb 23 -
26 June 2014.
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