FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENTS IN REPUBLIC OF CROATIA - OPPORTUNITIES FOR SMALL AND MEDIUM SIZED ENTERPRISES

Abstract

Inozemne izravne investicije primjer su globalizacije u kojemu se prelijevaju novčana ili druga sredstva između dviju zemalja radi poboljšanja poslovanja postojećeg poduzeća. Prema istraživanju UNCTAD-a (2019) ovakva vrsta ulaganja i dalje je najčešće korišteni oblik ulaganja iako se ono smanjuje već treću godinu za redom i to zahvaljujući padu u Europi. Ovaj trend potvrđuje i istraživanje A. T. Kearneya (2019) koji za pad investicija krivi političke i ekonomske rizike unutar tih tržišta, rastući protekcionizam te globalnu i regionalnu geopolitičku nestabilnost. Isti trend aktivan je i u Republici Hrvatskoj, koja u 2018. godini bilježi smanjenje inozemnih izravnih investicija iako se gospodarska situacija popravlja. Nadalje, prema Doing Business izvještaju te Indeksu globalne konkurentnosti Republika Hrvatska je u 2018. godini zabilježila pad na ljestvicama te su i dalje kao najproblematičniji faktori istaknuti neučinkovita vladina birokracija, nestabilna politika, administrativne barijere, visoka porezna davanja, korupcija, nedostatak inovativnosti i otežani pristupi financiranju. Iste probleme identificirala su mala i srednja poduzeća koja čine 99,7% gospodarskih subjekata u Republici Hrvatskoj te kao takva čine čine okosnicu razvoja gospodarstva. U ovome radu identificirani su problemi s kojima se bore mala i srednja poduzeća prilikom privlačenja inozemnih izravnih investicija na primjeru pet poduzeća koja su investirala u mala i srednja poduzeća te su dane određene preporuke budućim investitorima, kao i općenite preporuke za poticanje investicijske klime.Foreign direct investment is an example of globalization in which money or other assets are spilled between the two countries to improve the business of the existing company. According to the UNCTAD (2019), this type of investment is still the most commonly used form of investment, although it has been decreasing for the third year in a row due to the decline in investments in Europe. This trend is confirmed by the research by A. T. Kearney (2019) who blames political and economic risks within those markets, growing protectionism and global and regional geopolitical instability. The same trend is also seen in the Republic of Croatia, which recorded a reduction in foreign direct investments in 2018, although the economic situation is improving. Furthermore, according to the Doing Business Report and the Global Competitiveness Index, the Republic of Croatia recorded a fall in the charts in 2018, while the most problematic factors have stayed the same: the ineffective government bureaucracy, unstable policy, high administrative barriers, high tax rates, corruption, lack of innovations and difficult financing. The same problems were identified by small and medium-sized enterprises that make up to 99.7% of economic entities in the Republic of Croatia and as such make up the backbone of the development of the economy. This paper identifies problems that small and medium-sized enterprises are struggling with to attract foreign direct investment. The example of five companies that have invested in small and medium-sized enterprises is given, giving specific recommendations to future investors, as well as general recommendations for making an investment climate stronger and more attractive