ZAGREB (Croatia) June 1 (SeeNews) - The Croatian government said on Thursday it has endorsed a strategy by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), under which the bank intends to invest 200 to 300 million euro ($224.6 million-$336.9 million) annually in the country until end-2020, mostly in the private sector.

The strategy consists of three elements - supporting competitiveness in the private sector, deepening financial markets in order to facilitate SME financing, assisting public companies in order to boost business efficiency, finance minister Zdravko Maric said during a weekly session of the government streamed live on its website.

The EBRD board of directors is to vote on the strategy on June 7.

Since 1993, the EBRD has invested over 3.6 billion euro in Croatia, mostly in the private sector, while also providing grants of 30 million euro for technical assistance.

($=0.8903 euro)