CCGM at the 4th EFOS Business Forum
At the 4th EFOS Business Forum, held on 11 February 2026 in the Aula Glagoljice at the Faculty of Economics in Osijek, the central topic of discussion was the competitiveness of the Croatian economy under the title: “Competitiveness in Focus – What Makes Croatia (Un)Competitive?”
The Forum was organized by the Faculty of Economics and Business in Osijek (EFOS) in partnership with the Croatian Employers’ Association (HUP) and the Croatian Corporate Governance and Management Society (CCGM). It brought together representatives of academia, the business sector, and public administration.
The program opened with an introduction to the topic, followed by welcoming addresses from distinguished guests. The Dean of EFOS, Prof. Sunčica Oberman Peterka, PhD, emphasized the importance of dialogue between academia and the business community and highlighted the role of the Faculty as a meeting place for ideas and concrete development initiatives.
On behalf of the Croatian Corporate Governance and Management Society, participants were welcomed by Ivo Markotić, Vice President of CCGM, who stressed that the quality of corporate governance and the professionalization of management boards are key prerequisites for the long-term competitiveness of companies and the national economy.
The Vice-Rector of Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Prof. Boris Crnković, PhD, underlined in his address the University’s strategic orientation toward strengthening research capacity, innovation, and cooperation with the business sector as the foundation of regional and national development.
The Mayor of Osijek, Ivan Radić, emphasized that the City of Osijek continuously invests in entrepreneurial infrastructure, digital transformation, and the creation of a stimulating investment environment, with the aim of positioning the city as one of the most dynamic economic centers in eastern Croatia.
The central part of the program featured a keynote lecture by Prof. Darko Tipurić, PhD, entitled “Low Productivity as a Developmental Challenge for Croatia.” In his presentation, he stressed that productivity is the foundation of long-term competitiveness and living standards, and warned that Croatia, despite macroeconomic stability and institutional progress, still lags behind comparable European Union countries in terms of productivity growth dynamics. He particularly emphasized the importance of enhancing managerial competencies, corporate governance, innovation capacity, and organizational efficiency.
The program continued with a panel discussion moderated by Prof. Ivana Bestvina Bukvić, PhD. Alongside keynote speaker Prof. Darko Tipurić, PhD, the panel included representatives from academia, business, and institutions who discussed, from various perspectives, the structural constraints of the Croatian economy, the regulatory framework, the investment climate, the labor market, and the need for stronger links between the education system and entrepreneurship: Slađana Ćosić (European Investment Bank – EIB); Josip Ergović (Nexe d.d.); Branka Hitner (Carta d.o.o.); Ivan Jelušić (Orqa d.o.o.); and Zoran Uranjek (Harburg-Freudenberger Belišće d.o.o.).
The discussion concluded with final remarks from the panelists, addressing topics such as demographic challenges, labor shortages, digital transformation, and the development of higher value-added sectors. It was concluded that increasing competitiveness requires coordinated action by the public and private sectors, with a clear focus on productivity growth as the key driver of Croatia’s economic development.
