Trade between Slovenia and Croatia was highest in 2008, exceeding EUR 2.56bn, according to data of the state investment promotion agency SPIRIT.

Berić believes that trade between Slovenia and Croatia can exceed EUR 3bn next year based on the trends recorded in the past months.

Last year, Slovenia's trade with Croatia amounted to EUR 2.55bn and stood at EUR 1.64m in the January-July period in 2014, according to SPIRIT.

The website also shows that Slovenia exported EUR 1.48bn to Croatia last year and it imported EUR 1.07bn from its neighbour to the south.

Meanwhile, data from the Croatian Statistics Office shows that bilateral trade exceeded EUR 2.27bn in the first nine months of this year.

Berić believes the jump in trade was the result of Croatia's joining the EU last year, which simplified international trade procedures and provided a boost to Croatia's exports in general.