The Three Seas Initiative Business Forum 2026 took place on April 28–29 in Dubrovnik, alongside the 11th Summit of the Three Seas Initiative, bringing together more than 1,200 participants, including government officials, business leaders, investors and representatives of international financial institutions. Hosted by Croatia as the current presiding country, the event highlighted the growing strategic importance of cooperation between the Baltic, Adriatic and Black Seas region.
The forum focused on key sectors such as transport, energy, digital infrastructure and finance, with particular emphasis on strengthening energy security and developing strategic connectivity projects. Discussions also underlined the increasing role of private capital and financial institutions in delivering large-scale infrastructure, as well as the need to enhance the European Union’s resilience and competitiveness amid shifting global trade routes. During the summit segment, attended by Prime Minister Andrej Plenković and other regional leaders, agreements were signed and joint priorities outlined, reinforcing the initiative’s role as a bridge between Europe and Asia through emerging corridors.
A central moment of the forum was the Leaders’ Panel where participants stressed the economic potential of the Three Seas region, home to around 120 million people and a combined GDP of €3.5 trillion. The strong turnout and active participation signaled growing international interest in the initiative, positioning it as a key platform for investment, regional integration and future-oriented infrastructure development.
Prime minister Plenkovic – together with Borjana Krišto – signed a gas interconnection deal between Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, describing it as a cornerstone of energy independence and bilateral cooperation. U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright emphasized that greater energy availability drives prosperity, underlining the broader strategic importance of such projects.
The forum also spotlighted the Pantheon project, valued at around $50 billion, which includes plans to build a large-scale AI development and innovation centre in Topusko, one of the largest investments in Central and Eastern Europe. The project is expected to create thousands of jobs and significantly upgrade infrastructure, with an estimated €500 million allocated for power grids, transport and digital networks. Croatian company Končar is set to participate through a letter of intent with Pantheon Atlas LLC, with construction expected to begin in 2027 and operations projected to start in 2029
