Ports and Maritime Transport as Key Drivers of Growth

Opatija, 20 May 2026 - A report on the strategic significance and potential of the "blue economy", entitled "Croatian Blue Economy – Ports and Maritime Transport as Key Drivers of Growth", was presented in Opatija.

The report was unveiled at a business event organised by Privredna banka Zagreb in collaboration with its parent bank (Intesa Sanpaolo Group) and the research institute SRM Centro Studi e Ricerche, which specialises in energy and maritime transport. The event focused on the competitiveness of domestic ports, the development of maritime infrastructure, international logistics routes, and the challenges of digital and green transition within the sector.

The report provides an overview of the Croatian maritime ecosystem, global logistics trends, and opportunities for strengthening Croatia's role in international supply chains. It highlights that Croatia's position on the Adriatic makes it a natural strategic gateway between the Mediterranean and Central and Eastern Europe. The report also notes that maritime transport is recording steady growth of approximately 3% per year, and that digitalisation and sustainability are key drivers of enhanced competitiveness within the maritime sector. Furthermore, the report points out that investments such as the Rijeka Gateway project, along with integration into TEN-T corridors, are reinforcing Croatia's role as a logistics hub for container traffic and intermodal connections to the European hinterland.

Anton Barbir at a Panel on Logistics Infrastructure Development

Following the presentation of the report, a panel discussion entitled "Navigating the Future of the Adriatic" was held, dedicated to the redirection of trade flows, investment priorities in port and logistics infrastructure, and supply chain resilience as key factors in the long-term competitiveness of the Adriatic region. The discussion featured Anton Barbir, Member of the Management Board of ENNA Group, Robert Blažinović, President of the Management Board of Jadrolinija, Marko Mišković, Member of the Management Board of the Port of Rijeka, and Marin Škufca, Executive Director of Liburnia Maritime Agency.

Mr Barbir underscored the importance of investing in infrastructure projects, particularly rail, to enable goods to be transported swiftly, efficiently and without disruption to markets in the European interior. "The Rijeka Gateway project demonstrates how collaboration between major domestic and international investors can drive economic growth – we have the know-how, a deep-water port with an excellent location, and a rail corridor towards Central and Eastern Europe that we must now modernise and leverage to its fullest potential in order to realise our full capabilities," said Mr Barbir.