Croatian Entrepreneur Mate Rimac Invests in Gruntek
July the 20th, 2022 - Croatian entrepreneur Mate Rimac has decided to invest in a company that couldn't possibly have less to do with cars if it tried - Gruntek.
As Poslovni Dnevnik writes, the remarkably talented Croatian entrepreneur Mate Rimac, known for his dogged determination to succeed in a society which still doesn't provide much of a welcoming or transparent environment for entrepreneurship, joined the ''gardens of the future'' during the second year of existence of Gruntek, the largest producer of eco-vegetables.
Rimac's investment in the the Croatian-made Gruntek will provide it with a very welcome spring in its step and a chance for it to go after its big plans for the future, that is, to enter foreign marketd. This is also the first agro project in which the Croatian entrepreneur Mate Rimac has invested, and they have stated from Gruntek that they are honoured that its persistence and high quality have been recognised by someone of Rimac's status in the business world.
''We're now one step closer to realising some of our big plans for creating a greener and more sustainable future: Gruntek encourages the urban population to purchase organic vegetables directly from their producers, without the use of middle men or intermediaries; it's transparent, more favourable and goes without creating any waste from packaging and throwing away excess food from store-bought items, which is inevitable when it comes to purchasing from retail chains.
Gruntek has no such problems; given the fact that we don't use any plastic during the production process, nor do we use it in packaging and distribution. Our users are already used to the natural look and taste of our vegetables and don't have any plans whatsoever to return to buying them from mass production,'' Gruntek pointed out.
For more on Croatian entrepreneurs, inventions, startups and other companies, make sure to check out our dedicated business section.
Remarkable Croatian Company Infobip Enters Israeli Market
July the 20th, 2022 - The impressive Croatian company Infobip has entered yet another new market as part of another brave business move, this time in Israel.
As Poslovni Dnevnik/Darko Bicak writes, the Croatian company Infobip, which is now multinational has included Israel as a new destination in which they'll operate and employ new people, and now their global business network has more than 3,500 employees worldwide.
As was announced recently by the Croatian company Infobip itself, this cloud communication platform is only continuing with its ongoing and very enviable global growth.
The start of operations in Israel was announced by Infobip to the leading customer experience experts who gathered in the city of Tel Aviv to discuss the upcoming trends and challenges in the sector, and with this move, it is going to continue its strategy of having a truly global presence - after expanding into the Estonian market back in May, it is now actively recruiting in Israel as well.
Israel is one of the current technological leaders of the world, with more than 3,000 high-tech companies headquartered in the country. As many as 71 of them are listed on NASDAQ, which puts Israel in second place in terms of the number of companies on that American stock exchange, after the USA itself.
In Israel, the Croatian company Infobip will offer its users access to the market-leading CPaaS platform, enabling them to expand their communications across multiple channels and connect more strongly with their customers on a global scale.
"Israel is an important strategic market for Infobip thanks to it having the world's leading startup ecosystem, which totals more than 6,000 startups and about 80 unicorns. In our expansion into this new market, the support of the Israeli ambassador Ilan Mor, to whom we thank for his great help, was extremely important.
Numerous Israeli SaaS and cybersecurity platforms are exceeding expectations and are looking for a communication partner with a global perspective. With a reach in more than 200 countries around the world, our platform is the market leader and can help new and existing clients from Israel to strengthen ties with their own customers around the world," said Ivan Ostojic, a member of Infobip's Business Development Board. Growing companies based in Israel can now join Infobip's much talked about Startup Tribe programme, as well.
This is a very unusual programme that aims to bring together the most innovative startups from across the world and give them access to the tools needed to interact with their various clients on multiple communication channels.
“Through our Startup Tribe programme and our broad portfolio of scalable capabilities, we can support and partner with Israeli companies regardless of their stage of development. We're looking forward to being part of their journey and helping them communicate with their clients on a global level," added Ostojic.
Investments in the Israeli technology sector are continuously growing, which has resulted in a share of employees in high-tech companies of as much as 10 percent. Israel will be one of more than 70 countries in which the Croatian company Infobip is present, and where it will offer its leading CPaaS solutions.
Last week, Infobip announced that it had taken over the business technology portal Netokracija. The goal of this takeover, they explained, was to further strengthen the programming community through the creation of additional content designed for IT specialists.
For more, make sure to check out our dedicated business section.
After 93 Years, Historic Croatian Football Club Going Bankrupt? Inter Zaprešić in Trouble
July 20, 2022 - Inter Zaprešić, the first Croatian Football Cup winner in 1992, is going down in history.
Once upon a time, the famous Pele held the plaque of the then Inker, the Croatia national team played in Zaprešić, and the yellow jersey was worn by Luka Modrić, Eduardo da Silva, and Vedran Ćorluka.
Inter Zaprešić today has no coach, no players, and only a month is left until the start of the second league championship.
Now, the club from the Zagreb suburbs is going into bankruptcy due to a debt to the players of 235 thousand euros, reports Gol.hr.
It all started with the coronavirus pandemic. After that, the Zaprešić club lost court cases with two former players, Russian Serder Serderov and Bulgarian Borislav Tsonev.
Due to debt of 235,000 euros, Inter's transfer window has been blocked, which in turn means that they cannot bring in players, neither seniors nor juniors.
Unfortunately, this is not the only debt of the Croatian club, but as Branko Laljak told Dnevnik Nova TV a few days ago, these are debts that can be lived with.
A glimmer of hope was offered by possibly communicating with Dinamo. Damir Krznar would sit on the bench, and young talents would replace Maksimir with Zaprešić, but Dinamo did not hold their end of the bargain and ultimately gave up on the idea.
At the last moment, the possibility of a new potential investor appeared, but that also didn't work out. A club assembly was called for Thursday, where the new investor was supposed to be presented, but nothing will come of it.
Zaprešić announced that this week they would withdraw from the First Football League, i.e., the second tier of Croatian football, and, by all accounts, will leave their place to NK Croatia Zmijavci.
In the next few days, the club will be liquidated:
"I don't know what to tell you; it's over. We need to keep our dignity and be serious; this week, we will withdraw from the second league competition. We tried everything, but so many things have come together against us, and there is no way out," Laljak told 24 Sata and added that the football school would continue with its work:
"We have to see what will happen with the football school; for sure, we will continue to work with them, but the only question is under what name. There will be no more Inter," he said and sadly concluded:
"We were supposed to have the Assembly, but nothing will come of it. All potential investors withdrew from this story".
To read more about sports in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page.
PM Plenković and World Champion Carlsen Open Chess Tournament in Zagreb
ZAGREB, 19 July 2022 - The tournament called "SuperUnited Croatia Grand Chess Rapid&Blitz" within the Grand Chess Tour 2022 kicked off in Zagreb on Tuesday at a ceremony attended by Prime Minister Andrej Plenković.
The tournament that will run through 24 July features the world champion, Norwegian Magnus Carlsen as well as Alireza Firouzja, an Iranian-French chess player, Ian Nepomniachtchi, a Russian chess Grandmaster, Wesley So, a Filipino American chess Grandmaster, then Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, an Azerbaijani chess Grandmaster who is a two-time World Junior Champion (2003 and 2005) and a three-time European Team Champion, French Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, who is currently the No. 1 ranked player in France as well as a three-time French champion, Leinier Dominguez, a Cuban American chess Grandmaster, Dutch Jorden Van Foreest, and Bulgarian Veselin Topalov, who earned the title of Grandmaster at the age of 17.
At the ceremony in the Westin Hotel, PM Plenković said that this was the third tournament of this kind in the Croatian capital.
Chess is a fascinating sport bringing together millions. It is fortunate for Croatia that Garry Kasparov holds its citizenship. This fact also contributes to the promotion of chess in Croatia, he added.
Plenković thanked Kasparov and the organizers for bringing this tournament to Zagreb for the third time.
Recalling that the tournament is taking place in Zagreb against a backdrop of challenging times and Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Plenković highlighted that as a wider global contest.
Russia's invasion of Ukraine has changed the world in many ways. For years, an amazing intellectual Kasparov has spoken about the noxiousness of the policies pursued by Russia with Vladimir Putin at its helm, and this situation has made it clear, said Plenković adding that "one must be aware of the times and tell the truth at the right time and at the right place."
The sponsor of the tournament is Croatia's Tourism and Sports Ministry, with a prize fund of USD 175,000. The winner of the tournament will receive $40,000 and the tenth-ranked player can count on a prize of $7,000.
To read more about sport in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page.
Union Announces Strike of Croatian Flight Controllers Over Burnout Issues
ZAGREB, 19 July 2022 - The HSSKL trade union of Croatian flight controllers on Tuesday said that its members will go on strike at 0700 hrs Thursday over burnout and exhaustion issues.
On the first day of their industrial action, the number of planes flying over Croatia will be reduced to 40% of the total prescribed capacity, and the traffic at airports will not be affected until Saturday.
However, on 23 July the union threatens to reduce the capacity of the total planned planes at all the Croatian airports, except in Osijek, by 50%.
The HSSKL union today expressed hope that the unionists will reach an agreement with the management of Croatia Control in charge of the air traffic management in addressing the issues of burnout and exhaustion of flight controllers.
The negotiations on this matter started on 24 March according to the union that demands changes in the organization of shifts for flight controllers and has warned of the shortage of professionals in this sector.
For more, check out our politics section.
Paternity Leave as New Benefit from 1 August
ZAGREB, 19 July 2022 - The amended Law on Maternity and Parental Allowances, which introduces paternity leave for employed and self-employed fathers, will go into force on 1 August this year.
The funds required to implement the new allowance this year will amount to almost HRK 91 million (€12 million) and HRK 273 million (€36.4 million) on an annual basis as of next year.
The new entitlement, paternity leave, refers to employed and self-employed parents for the duration of 10 working days for one child, or 15 working days in the case of the birth of twins, triplets or simultaneous birth of several children. The right can be used until the child is six months old at the latest, and the father can use it regardless of the mother's employment status.
The purpose of paternity leave is to allow fathers to be more involved in the care of children and participate in the early years of the child.
Wages will be paid in full during the time of this leave
Wages will be paid in full during the time of this leave according to the Central State Office for Demography and Youth.
For more, check out our lifestyle section.
Availability of Books Helps Integration of Ukrainian Refugees Says Minister
ZAGREB, 19 July 2022 - During the handover of books by Ukrainian authors to the National and University Library (NSK) on Tuesday, Culture Minister Nina Obuljen Koržinek said that their availability in Croatian libraries can help refugees from Ukraine to integrate more easily into their new environment.
The handover was held as part of the "Ukrainian books on the shelves of the world's libraries" project, launched at the initiative of the wife of the Ukrainian president, Olena Zelensky.
"This is our contribution to efforts to make the Croatian and Ukrainian people closer to each other in these difficult times and our contribution to help the refugees integrate as easily as possible during their stay in Croatia and to help them with the availability of books," Obuljen Koržinek said.
NSK Director-General Ivanka Stričević said that the books, which were donated to them by the Ukrainian Embassy in Croatia, represent a wealth that will be passed on in future times when the war in Ukraine ends.
"We want to help our libraries respond in the best way to the needs of their users, Ukrainian citizens who find themselves in their environment, and to create the foundations for future cooperation," said the director.
As a sign of solidarity and support for Ukraine, NSK launched a series of activities, including free admission to the Library for Ukrainian refugees over the age of 16 and the publication of three special bibliographies and thematic collections "War in Ukraine."
The purchase and distribution of books by Ukrainian authors in Croatian libraries was initiated jointly by the AidHub foundation together with Croatia's Ministry of Culture and Media in order to help publishers who have found themselves in a difficult situation.
"Our goal is to acquire books by Ukrainian publishers who suffered greatly in these war circumstances. We are also working on an initiative for every Croatian publisher to print at least one book in Ukraine in order to at least help save jobs in that country," said Mišo Nejašmić from AidHub.
In addition to the purchase of books for Ukrainian citizens who took refuge in Croatia AidHub is working on the organisation of a summer camp, where 700 children of different ages will stay, most of whom will be high school graduates. They will spend time in the camp learning the Croatian language.
Ukrainian books are already available in more than 200 libraries, said Ukrainian Ambassador Vasyl Kyrylych.
"The Ukrainian book is aimed at Ukrainians who have the urge to read. The book is the depth of the sea, it is alive if it is read," said the ambassador.
This is not the first such donation in Croatia, as books by Ukrainian authors were donated to public libraries across the country at the end of June.
For more, check out our lifestyle section.
Champions League 2nd Qualifying Round: Dinamo and Shkupi Draw 2:2 at Maksimir
July 19, 2022 - In the first leg of the Champions League 2nd qualifying round, Dinamo and Shkupi draw 2:2 at Maksimir Stadium in Zagreb.
Dinamo had their first European test of the season tonight against the champion of North Macedonia, Shkupi. The two teams met at Maksimir Stadium at 21:00 for the Champions League 2nd qualifying round.
Dinamo entered tonight's match as big favorites. According to Transfermarkt, the North Macedonian champion is worth only 5.5 million euros, while the Croatian champion is valued at 100.5 million.
The match was refereed by 39-year-old Romanian Rad Petrescu.
The starting lineups saw Dinamo coach Ante Čačić leave Mislav Oršić on the bench.
Lineups
Dinamo: Livaković - Moharrami, J. Šutalo, Perić, Ljubičić - Mišić, Ademi - Špikić, Petković, Ivanušec - Drmić
Shkupi: Naumovski - Brdarovski, Dzelil, Margvelashvili, Sheji - Putita, Faustin, Alvarez - Hamidi, Danfa, Adetunji
Match report
Dinamo's first real chance came in the 10th minute. Perić crossed, and Petković chested to Ademi, who shot ten meters over the goal. Dinamo used their first sub in the 17th minute as Theophile entered for an injured Josip Šutalo.
Dinamo was shocked in the 25th minute. A big mistake by the defense between Mišić and Theophile saw Queven take advantage and shot past Livaković for 0:1.
Dinamo had a few more chances but didn't equalize until the 44th minute. Ademi scored off a Moharrami cross for 1:1 at the half.
The second half started with one change - Menalo entered instead of Špikić
Ljubičić had a chance in the 49th minute but shot near post. Oršić was subbed on for Drmić in the 64th minute.
Ademi was shown a yellow card in the 72nd minute for simulation after diving in the penalty area.
Dinamo continued to have chances in the second half and was relentlessly attacking Shkupi's goal. Bruno Petković finally scored to put Dinamo ahead at 2:1 in the 86th minute.
But the euphoria didn't last long. A quick attack and a volley over Livaković saw Shkupi equalize at 2:2 in the 89th minute, which is how the match ended.
The second leg will be played away on Tuesday, July 26, at 21:00.
To read more about sports in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page.
SuperSport Croatian Football Cup Draw: First Matches August 31
July 19, 2022 - The SuperSport Croatian Football Cup draw was held on Tuesday, revealing the preliminary matches of Croatian clubs looking for a spot in the round of 32.
The draw for the preliminary round of the SuperSport Croatian Football Cup was held on Tuesday in Zagreb. The pairs that will try to fight for the main part of the competition, in which 16 clubs with the best cup coefficient in the past five seasons are already placed, are known, announced HNS.
The winners of all county cups and 11 finalists of those county associations with the largest number of registered clubs participate in the preliminary round.
There are several former first division teams (Međimurje, Neretva, Marsonia, Dubrava, Belišće) who will seek a place in the round of 16 through the preliminary round, in which, if they pass, they will host a favored opponent. Some of them will be visited by the best Croatian first league clubs.
The scheduled date for playing the preliminary round matches is August 31.
Recall, Hajduk won the Croatian Cup last season, beating Rijeka 3:1 in the final at Poljud in May. It was the first trophy for Hajduk in 9 years. Hajduk had last won the Cup in 2013. Dinamo won the Cup in the 2020/2021 season, while Rijeka won the Cup in the two seasons prior (2018/2019, 2019/2020).
SuperSport Croatian Football Cup preliminary round
Sava Strmec - Bednja
Moslavina - Međimurje
Solin - Funtana
Nehaj Senj - Primorac Biograd
Neretva - Grobničan
BSK Bijelo Brdo - Marsonia
Radnik Križevci - Dubrava
Nedelišće - Varteks
Virovitica - Mladost Ždralovi
Tehničar Cvetkovec - Mladost Petrinja
Belišće - BSK Buk
Bjelovar - Gaj Mače
Slavonac Bukovlje - Borinci
Papuk Orahovica - Karlovac 1919
Vuteks Sloga - Jadran Poreč
Bistra - Vodice
Teams in the round of 32
Rijeka
Dinamo
Hajduk
Lokomotiva
Osijek
Istra 1961
Gorica
Slaven Belupo
Inter Zaprešić
Šibenik
Rudeš
Varaždin
Vinogradar
Oriolik
Cibalia
Split
To read more about sports in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page.
Croatia's Coronavirus Update: 1,151 New Cases, 11 Deaths, 1,018 Recoveries
ZAGREB, 19 July 2022 - In the past 24 hours, 1,151 coronavirus cases, out of 4,078 tests, and 11 related deaths have been registered in Croatia, the national COVID-19 crisis management team said on Tuesday.
There are 8,599 active cases, including 547 hospitalized patients, 17 of whom are on ventilators, while 4,207 are self-isolating.
To date, Croatia has registered 1,169,342 coronavirus cases, the death toll is 16,169, and 77.11% of adults have been vaccinated.
For everything you need to know about coronavirus specific to Croatia, bookmark our dedicated section and select your preferred language if it isn't English.
