Fincantieri strengthens industrial cooperation in Croatia through industry day

Fincantieri hosted an Industry Day in Zagreb, bringing together the Croatian industrial ecosystem to explore opportunities for cooperation across shipbuilding, engineering, advanced manufacturing and defense. The initiative is part of Fincantieri’s broader strategy to strengthen long-term industrial partnerships and foster collaboration across the naval value chain.

Under the patronage of the Embassy of Italy in Croatia, the event brought together representatives from the Croatian Government, Parliament and institutions, leading Italian institutions, as well as more than 20 local companies. Participants included Ambassador of Italy to Croatia, Paolo Trichilo, State Secretary of the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Croatia, Matej Bule, Chairperson - Foreign Affairs Committee Croatian Parliament, Andro Krstulović Opara, Director of Department I - Industrial Policy and International Relations Department of the Italian National Armaments Directorate (DNA), Major General Luigi Casali, VP Sales of the Fincantieri Naval Vessels Division, Mauro Manzini, and VP International Institutional Affairs of Fincantieri, Carlo Romeo. The event provided an important opportunity for dialogue and knowledge-sharing, helping to identify areas of common interest and potential cooperation between Italy and Croatia.

The initiative also reflects Fincantieri’s commitment to supporting industrial cooperation in Croatia within the framework of the Croatian Ministry of Defense’s program for the acquisition of two Multi-Role Corvettes. In this context, the event offered an opportunity to identify industrial capabilities and competences that could contribute to the program, while supporting long-term value creation for Croatia’s shipbuilding and defense sectors.

By bringing together shipyards, engineering companies, technology providers and industrial players from across the country, the initiative facilitated discussions on future cooperation opportunities. Leveraging Fincantieri's global expertise in naval shipbuilding, advanced maritime technologies and underwater capabilities, participants discussed how industrial know-how, technologies and supply-chain capabilities could contribute to future naval programs and support the long-term development of Croatia’s industrial base.

Moreover, the initiative further built on the momentum created by the Memoranda of Understanding signed recently with Croatian shipyards Brodotrogir Cruise d.o.o. and Iskra Shipyard LLC, which establish a framework for cooperation in design, engineering and shipbuilding activities. The event expanded this engagement to a broader network of Croatian stakeholders, further strengthening the foundations for long-term cooperation between the two countries’ industrial sectors.