Today's 3rd Croatian Exporters Convention gave out awards to the best Croatian exporters in 2007. Ericsson Nikola Tesla was awarded the first Golden Key as the major exporter among large companies. Croatian Prime Minister, Ivo Sanader presented the Golden Key to Gordana Kovačević, president of Ericsson Nikola Tesla. The Prime Minister pointed out the number of exporting companies had increased over a period featuring macroeconomic stability and fixed exchange rate for kuna. 

In her speech G. Kovačević emphasized the export success resulted from the employees’ competence and hard work. She expressed her thanks to all of the company’s 1530 employees, most of them being university graduates.

“We receive this award in a year marking our fifty years lasting presence in export markets; the award therefore has symbolic nature. Innovative ideas and their accomplishment are the foundation of our constant presence in a demanding and highly competitive (export) market, but also a warranty for our future development. As the largest Croatian exporter of highly sophisticated information and communication solutions and services and also as a research and development oriented company, we shall further contribute to economic growth and to export restructuring in Croatia”. She expressed her good wishes for all exporters to create competitive products to cross the borders with and find their place in the markets worldwide.

Beside the awards presented to companies in respective categories, golden keys were given to most successful companies in ten foreign markets that are highly important for Croatian business; the Russian Federation was evaluated as the market with best prospects for success.

Ericsson Nikola Tesla was the winner in the large companies contest and was also awarded a Golden Key for the Russian Federation.

The round table discussion held after the awarding ceremony was moderated by Ante Babić, participants were Damir Polančec, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industry, Darinko Bago, president of the Croatian Exporters Association and Chairman of Končar Board, and Gordana Kovačević. D. Polančec said, to achieve success Croatia would have to concentrate on export of knowledge-based products and technologies and only then on low labor costs. Sectors providing excellence and knowledge-based technologies should be in focus when discussing governmental measures to encourage export and business.

G. Kovačević talked in favor of this; she said that 70 percent of the company's earnings came from export and 30 percent of that amount from knowledge export. Continuous investment in people, research and development, collaboration with Faculties of Electrical Engineering, employment for best graduates – all this creates a basis for future growth. 

Communication Ericsson Nikola Tesla