Once one of the wealthiest of the Yugoslav republics, Croatia’s economy suffered badly during the 1991-95 war as output collapsed and the country missed the early waves of investment in Central and Eastern Europe that followed the fall of the Berlin Wall. Since 2000, however, Croatia’s economic fortunes have begun to improve slowly, with moderate but steady GDP growth between 4% and 6% led by a rebound in tourism and credit-driven consumer spending. The EU accession process should accelerate fiscal and structural reform. While long term growth prospects for the economy remain strong, Croatia will face significant pressure as a result of the global financial crisis. (CIA World Factbook)
Major Croatian owned businesses:
PLIVA
PLIVA is a Croatian pharmaceutical company, based in Zagreb, Croatia. Pliva operates in over 30 countries worldwide and is the leading pharmaceutical company based in Central and Eastern Europe. It specializes in the development, production and distribution of generic pharmaceutical products, including biologicals, cytostatics, and other generics, as well as active pharmaceutical ingredients. It is the largest pharmaceutical company in Southern Europe.
