After Croatia had applied to host the 2010 Annual Meeting of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the EBRD Board of Directors, at its session on 29th April 2008, accepted the application which was then accepted by all the Governors of the Bank as well. Taking over the organization of the Annual Meeting is a great acknowledgement of Croatia as a country having exceptionally good cooperation with the EBRD and also an event significant in political, economic and social sense. About 2000 people from political and business community from over 60 European and other countries are going to participate in the Meeting: 63 official delegations of the EBRD members (usually headed by the minister of finance), business guests (bankers, investors), other various high-ranking invitees (professors, lecturers, representatives of other international financial institutions etc.) and representatives of civil society (NGO) and other organizations.
Within the Business Forum, a half-day "Croatian Investment Forum" shall also take place in Westin Hotel, on Thursday, May 13th, which will be opened at 2.00 pm by Mrs. Jadranka Kosor, Prime Minister of Croatia and Mr. Thomas Mirow, President of the EBRD. "Croatian Investment Forum" is an exquisite opportunity for the Republic of Croatia to present its market and to attract representatives of numerous international financial institutions and of commercial banks, as well as investors. After the opening of the Forum, three parallel panel sessions are going to take place: Investment opportunities of the Republic of Croatia; Infrastructure development and environmental protection projects, and Tourism development projects and possibilities. After the plenary sessions, the participants will be invited to the official exhibition of Croatian tourism and business potential, „Economy - tourism exhibition" which will be opened, in the Museum of Arts and Crafts, at 5.00 pm, by the Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of the Republic of Croatia, Mr. Ivan Šuker, who will be accompanied by the EBRD Secretary General, Mr. Enzo Quattrociocche, President of the Croatian Chamber of Economy, Mr. Nadan Vidošević and Director of the Croatian National Tourist Board, Mr. Niko Bulić. The exhibition will be opened until the end of the Annual Meeting. The Business Forum provides an opportunity for numerous countries to present their investment potentials. In addition, some other events are going to take place within the Annual Meeting, such as Civil Society Programmes, the EBRD Donors' Meeting, and official delegations bilateral meetings, Signing Ceremonies, Reception for all Participants, Spouses' Programme and many others.
The most important events of the Annual Meeting are EBRD Board of Governors Sessions. The first formal session, representing at the same time the opening of the Annual Meeting and Business Forum, will begin in Westin Hotel, on Friday, May 14th, at 2.00 pm. Prime Minister of Croatia, Mrs. Jadranka Kosor will attend the Board of Governors formal session, as a guest of honour, together with the President of the EBRD, Mr. Thomas Mirow, the EBRD Secretary General, Mr. Enzo Quattrociocche, and the Chairman of the EBRD Board of Governors, Mrs. Christine Lagarde, Minister for Economy, Industry and Employment in the Government of the Republic of France, who will officially open the formal session.
On Friday, May 14th, at 7.00 pm, the Reception for All Participants of the Annual Meeting will take place, at the Klovićevi Dvori Gallery and Gradec Terrace, hosted by Prime Minister of Croatia, Mrs. Jadranka Kosor, Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Mr. Ivan Šuker and the EBRD President, Mr. Thomas Mirow. During the Reception, all guests will be able to visit churches and museums of Upper Town and the exhibition „Bodies revealed" at the main reception venue, Klovićevi Dvori Gallery. They will also have the opportunity to enjoy in a selection of the finest food from all Croatia's regions as well as in live concert performance by opera divas Sandra Bagarić and Martina Tomčić, together with their guests.
Annual Meeting and Business Forum will take place in Westin Hotel, Museum of Arts and Crafts, Mimara Museum, Journalist's House and National Archive.