Deputy Mayor Boris Pilizota said that the meeting was organised following an initiative that emerged through the Slovenian city of Maribor, where this Chinese company manages the business of Maribor Airport, as well as because Osijek had intensified cooperation with Maribor over the past few years in various segments.

"Considering the airport is important for Osijek and the entire region, we agreed to meet with potential investors. If, after the meeting and once they have inspected the airport they show an interest in further talks, then we will include the government because the state is the majority owner of the airport," Pilizota said.

He added that city authorities believe Osijek is interesting for investors because of its geo-strategic position with four capital cities being located just 250 kilometres away from it - Zagreb, Budapest, Belgrade and Sarajevo. Also, the airport has huge potential for cargo transport, he said.

Head of the county office for investments, development projects and EU funds, Natasa Tramisak said that the county had allocated 800,000 kuna (€107,560) in support for Osijek Airport and that it has put forward a proposal to the government that the next development agreement incorporates reconstruction of the airport's passenger terminal.

We need investors that will bring in passengers and revive cargo transport, which currently is not operating at all, Tramisak said.