The world famous IT giant, the American multinational technology and consulting corporation IBM has decided to open a Client Innovation Centre in Croatia in 2017.

At the beginning of May this year it was known that IBM intended to open a technical centre in one of the following countries – Slovenia, Slovakia and Croatia but it was quite uncertain whether IBM would choose Croatia or not.

The Prime Minister Tihomir Oreskovic confirmed IBM's final decision and said that this was a big and proud day for Croatia and a very important way to show other investors that IBM decided to invest here.

IBM will open its technical centre in Zagreb in the spring of 2017 creating around 500 new jobs. The company is currently seeking a location for the new centre in the Croatian capital. According to the words of the Croatian Prime Minister the centre will operate 24 hours 365 days a year and will have the most advanced technologies and tools. It will provide support for users from all over the world. The centre will also cooperate with Croatian universities through the mentoring programs. ‘’Creating high quality IT jobs is a priority for our economy, this investment is very important for us and sends a positive message to other investors’’, concluded the Prime Minister Oreskovic.

Damir Zec, the IBM director in Croatia, says that IBM has been present in Croatia for more than 20 years and that the company made this decision due to the location, business environment and the Croatian labour market. ''This is one of the best days of my career. Croatia left a very good impression and I think it is one of the important factors that influenced the selection of a location for the new centre''. He also thanked the President of Croatia Kolinda Grabar Kitarovic and the Prime Minister Oreskovic.

The USA representatives also supported this project through the American Chamber of Commerce.