Kutina Company Opts to Make Pet Beds Instead of Closing Down
January the 13th, 2022 - The global coronavirus crisis has put all economic entities into difficult waters, but one Kutina company headed by Marija Fresl, an entrepreneur who has been in the textile industry for many years now, launched Hudog & Hucat, a line of pet products for cats and dogs, last year.
As Poslovni Dnevnik/Marta Duic writes, part of this Kutina company's production was redirected to the production of canvas beds and toys and blankets primarily designed for dogs and cats.
Although only twn months have passed since the launch of this Kutina company's first product line, the beds and pillows from this brand have already found their way to the shelves of the Emmezeta retail chain in Zagreb, Split, Osijek and in the Serbian capital of Belgrade, as well as to some leading pet stores in Zagreb, Rijeka and Split.
“After I finished my studies in clothing technology, I opened a company and a boutique in my hometown of Kutina. I sewed, tailor-made dresses, costumes, wedding dresses... and I started enaging in this work on my mother's home sewing machine. Back in 2000, I bought several machines and started a sewing service for textile companies in Croatia and abroad. We worked for Benetton for many years, and our 40 employees produced 3,000 T-shirts a day. Back in 2015, in addition to the sewing service I offered, I also launched the women's clothing brand Tara fashion, which we've been selling in boutiques across Croatia ever since. I intend to dedicate myself more to this brand during 2022,'' explained Marija Fresl. But, as she added, the coronavirus crisis has hit everyone in the fashion industry hard because the importance of clothes fell into the background almost overnight.
“The option was to put the key in the lock or to try to reorient ourselves, so we adjusted so that we could maintain the production of cotton protective masks, which we initially supplied to large companies, and then later on to leading retail and drugstore chains and pharmacies. However, last year the sales of masks dropped significantly, so we instead took to taking the creation of the Hudog & Hucat brand more seriously, which is based on making pet beds,'' explained this Kutina company's innovative owner.
The production of the Hudog & Hucat line is located in Kutina, in an area covering 350 square metres in which they have about forty industrial textile machines, and wooden beds for them are made by a carpentry workshop which is also based in Kutina.
"Our capacities are large, we're ready to take on some more serious work and large quantities, so we can fulfill even demanding orders in a short time. For example, a truck with pet beds can be loaded in ten days, so our customers receive the goods within three days of ordering them.
I must emphasise the importance of the workshop staff, some of whom have been with me for fifteen years now. I know we can produce a quality product because whatever I imagine in my head, my girls do their best to create and find a solution for even the most demanding crafts. Quality associates allow me to have a high quality range of products for all tastes, as well as for all sizes of dogs,'' said Fresl.
Outside Croatian borders
Their products can be bought in large pet shops and stores across the country, but this Kutina company's goals don't stay within the boundaries of Croatia, and Fresl pointed out that they have just started expanding to foreign markets. They already have a point of sale in Graz (Austria), and are in negotiations with five centres in the region (Slovenia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina) and elsewhere in Europe, as well as across the pond the USA and Canada.
“Back at the beginning, we started with 25 items designed for dogs in several sizes and in a range of colours and different designs. We're planning exclusive products for cats, but also some more new products for dogs. We want to enable our clients to buy both new beds and certain accessories, such as covers, new fabrics and even leashes. We're not lacking when it comes to ideas. We want to sell Hudog & Hucat all over the world, but we'll always produce everything right here in Croatia,'' concluded this Kutina company's owner, Marija Fresl.
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First Course for Directors of Cultural Institutions in Dubrovnik Held
January 13, 2022 - Despite the summer season still being far away, there is no time to lose in the ''Pearl of the Adriatic'', as there is much to plan ahead in the first third of the year. Thus, the first course of the year was held for directors of cultural institutions in Dubrovnik.
A meeting with the directors of cultural institutions in Dubrovnik was held today in the Great Hall of the City, led by Deputy Mayor Jelka Tepšić and Head of the Administrative Department for Culture and Heritage Julijana Antić Brautović, with the aim to plan ahead of the first third of the year, reports Dubrovački Vjesnik.
The first regular course of this year focused on the programs and work plans for the first three months of 2022, as well as the upcoming events. The directors informed about the ongoing activities and announced the programs that the cultural institutions of the City of Dubrovnik are preparing for the Feast of St. Blaise, as well as the programs for the Night of Museums, which will be held on January 28.
This event, which is extremely popular in Croatia and Dubrovnik, should take place mostly "online" this year due to the current epidemiological situation and in accordance with current measures. according to the instructions of the Croatian Museum Society.
A special topic was the preparation of the program to mark the 750th anniversary of the Dubrovnik Statute, as well as numerous other projects that should be implemented during 2022.
If you want to learn more about what the Pearl of the Adriatic can offer you on your next trip, such as activities, tours, points of interest, tips, transport, restaurants, and more; then you should check Total Croatia's guide, Dubrovnik in a Page. Now available in your language!
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Free Tourist Tour of Krk Old Town to Be Held on January 15th
January 13, 2022 - As part of an initiative of the Association of Croatian Tourist Guides, on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the international recognition of the Republic of Croatia, the Kvarner Tourist Guides Association traditionally organizes free organized tours, and this year will be around Krk Old Town.
All interested citizens and visitors can join the tour of the Krk Old Town this Saturday, January 15 at noon, which includes a visit to the Frankopan Castle and the Interpretation Center for the History of Maritime Heritage of the Island of Krk; the place of departure is on the waterfront in front of the sundial, reports Turističke Priče.
The Association of Croatian Tourist Guides organizes the project "Get to know your country", through free guided tours for citizens in Croatian cities, on the occasion of marking the Day of International Recognition of Croatia.
In addition to organizing free tours in cities where ZDTVH member associations operate, free guided tours were organized in smaller cities belonging to the counties where ZDTVH member associations operate, as well as in areas where tourist guide associations have not been established. Prior to the pandemic, this extremely successful project took place at the same time in 60 cities across Croatia.
Given the positive reactions of a large number of citizens and the media in recent years, the project is repeated this year and points to the importance of tourism professionals for Croatia's international reputation, as well as the importance of national identity and cultural heritage.
The tour of the city of Krk will be held regardless of the weather conditions and with strict adherence to epidemiological measures.
Announcements are required to the email address: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. It is necessary to state the number of registered persons and the location for which you are applying. All additional information can be obtained at 0958611913.
You can find more information at the official website of the Tourist Board of the Town of Krk.
For more, check out our dedicated travel section.
Police Official says No Indications Periš' Disappearance due to Foul Play
ZAGREB, 12 January, 2022 - Croatian and Serbian police have been coordinating their activities in the search for 27-year-old Matej Periš of Split since his disappearance in Belgrade, and nothing indicates that his disappearance is due to foul play, Criminal Police Director Antonio Gerovac said on Wednesday.
Speaking at a news conference following a visit to Belgrade by representatives of the Croatian police, Gerovac said that the two countries' police forces have been cooperating on the case since the very start and that at their meeting in Belgrade they exchanged the information collected.
Serbian police have done everything that is usually done in such cases and the search is continuing with the same intensity as on the first day, Gerovac said.
The delegation of the Croatian Ministry of the Interior was received for talks by Serbian Minister of the Interior Aleksandar Vulin and the meeting was also attended by Nenad Periš, father of the young man gone missing.
"Serbian police have a working version of the events which I cannot comment on. Some versions that existed initially have been ruled out," Gerovac said, stressing that there were no indications that Periš's disappearance is due to foul play.
He said that Serbian police have analysed hours of footage from surveillance cameras that caught Periš's movement on the night he went missing.
The Croatian police official would not comment on the information provided by Serbian police on possible drug use, noting that it is still being investigated.
There are currently no holes in the information collected, he said, adding that Croatian police would talk to Periš's friends as long as necessary to clarify some ambiguities.
There are some activities Croatian police can carry out to help their colleagues in Serbia, he said.
Gerovac said that Serbian police have all the capacity to locate the missing man's phone and that they have done all they could have.
Croatian police will analyse information from Periš's mobile phone and forward it to Serbian colleagues, he said.
"The family, friends... are the crucial source of information. Serbian police have talked to them, they have taken a lie detector test which does not indicate their involvement in the disappearance," he said.
In looking for Periš, police are also using drones and thermal-vision cameras and given their assumption that Periš went into the Sava River, neighbouring countries are involved in the search as well, Gerovac said, adding that Croatian police will continue working on the case and stay in touch with Periš's family.
"We hope the case will be solved and he is found alive," he said.
Matej Periš went missing in the night from 30 to 31 January in Belgrade, after leaving the Gotik night club.
He had arrived in Belgrade with his friends for New Year's Eve and was last seen on footage from surveillance cameras, running in the streets of Belgrade.
PM Opens Dormitory in Novska, Town of Gaming Industry
ZAGREB, 12 January, 2022 - The town of Novska, 95 kilometres southeast of Zagreb, has positioned itself as a place open to development of the gaming industry, and on Wednesday Prime Minister Andrej Plenković opened a dormitory for a local secondary school that has introduced a course in game development.
Plenković also visited the local business incubator with more than 60 companies specialising in game development.
The school's principal, Nikolina Fijačko Filipović, said that children from all over the country had enrolled in the new course - game technician - so their accommodation had become a priority.
She thanked everyone involved for the necessary permits, financial support and everything else that had resulted in the opening of the dormitory, located in a building formerly owned by the INA oil company.
Novska Mayor Marin Piletić said that the dormitory would provide accommodation for 21 students.
Sisak-Moslavina County head Ivan Celjak said that by developing the gaming industry Novska had positioned itself as a gaming industry centre, with 61 firms operating in the local enterprise incubator.
"The opening of new companies and the enrolment of students to attend the new course means the arrival of young people and families in Novska," the county head said, noting that students would not have to pay for their accommodation in the dorm.
PM Plenković said the dormitory project took a year and a half to implement.
He noted that the project ran in parallel with the verification of the course for game technicians so that Novska could become a leader in the gaming industry and a new niche of the fourth industrial revolution and digital age in Sisak-Moslavina County.
Plenković said that more than 50% of game development companies in Croatia were registered in Novska, a town that has attracted young people from all over the country, thanks to which the local real estate market has picked up as well.
PM underlines gov't care for Sisak-Moslavina County
Plenković said the government pays special attention to care for Sisak-Moslavina County, notably its post-earthquake reconstruction as well as its development, with incentives for local entrepreneurs having been increased to the maximum.
He expressed belief that the new concept of development, the large number of new small businesses and higher employment in the past five years would attract more young people who would stay in Novska.
The local gaming industry project was launched by SIMORA, the development agency of Sisak-Moslavina County, which, the PM noted, had recognised the opportunity for the development of the gaming industry.
He recalled that in 2017 the government included the gaming industry in the legislative framework while the Finance Ministry financially supported the establishment of the Novska incubator. Every six months the Croatian Employment Service sends 40 young people to Novska to undergo additional training, he said.
There are also plans for a campus in Novska, to be financed from the Just Transition Fund, it was said.
Plenković says Pupovac was in Banja Luka as SNV President
ZAGREB, 12 January, 2022 - PM Andrej Plenković has said Milorad Pupovac was at a celebration of Bosnian Serb entity day as head of the Serb National Council and that parties that have criticised him for that should have done the same in the case of President Zoran Milanović's "love" for Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik.
A number of Croatian political parties have condemned Pupovac's attendance at the ceremony in Banja Luka. Asked about that topic in Novska again on Wednesday, Plenković said that the Serb National Council (SNV), an umbrella association of ethnic Serbs in Croatia, had provided an explanation.
"He went there in his capacity as SNV president, not as a representative of the parliamentary majority, not to mention confabulations about him being a member of the government, or as a deputy in the Croatian parliament. That is a fact, his presence there was explained by the SNV itself. I will not and do not need to be anyone's interpreter," he said.
Pupovac is also the leader of the Independent Democratic Serb Party (SDSS) and member of parliament.
Plenković dismissed interpretations about double standards, considering that in 2019 Croatia's Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ivan Delvecchio, was recalled after attending the same event, adding that Pupovac "is not an ambassador".
Asked if in the case of events such as the marking of Republika Srpska Day one could separate Pupovac's position as a member of the parliamentary majority and that of SNV president, Plenković said that he would like to have seen the same uproar from political parties concerning "Milanović's love for Milorad Dodik."
"There was no such reaction a few weeks ago, quite the contrary. There should be no double standards in reactions," he said, and to a repeated remark from a reporter that one could not disregard the fact that Pupovac is a member of the parliamentary majority, he said that one should put the question to Pupovac.
"You should ask him, I will not interpret the SNV's positions," he said.
Commenting this past Monday on Pupovac's attendance at the Banja Luka ceremony, Plenković said that he was there only for the official ceremony in his capacity as president of the SNV, adding that "there has been significant support there to the post-earthquake reconstruction of Banovina", a reference to post-earthquake aid to Croatia's Sisak-Moslavina County provided by the Serb entity authorities.
"He neither made any speeches nor did he have any special role there," Plenković said then.
Government Preparing Package of Measures to Ease Impact of Energy Price Hikes
ZAGREB, 12 January, 2022 - The government will present a comprehensive package of measures to relieve the effects of the increase in energy prices on households and businesses, Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said on Wednesday.
"We have a number of tools at our disposal, including measures by the biggest distributor, and that is HEP, measures by regulators and finally measures by the government. By the time this issue becomes current, we will have a whole package that will relieve or prevent any major blow to citizens' living standard," Plenković said in Novska while attending a ceremony marking the town's day.
He did not wish to go into detail about what the government's measures might be and whether that meant regulating energy prices, decreasing VAT, issuing vouchers or something else, as has been speculated in the media.
The prime minister noted that unlike in other EU countries, the prices of electricity and natural gas had not increased in Croatia in recent months.
"That is because we have been working quietly, talking and taking care that citizens' standards are not affected," he said.
Plenković said that the government would introduce measures similar to job retention measures to ease the impact of increases in energy and gas prices, which are expected on 1 April.
In that regard, the government "will do everything so that before the heating season ends it adopts a policy framework that will reduce any blow to citizens' standard of living that might result from the increase in energy prices, which is a global trend."
Plenković on Allegations of Insider Trading at Central Bank
ZAGREB, 12 January, 2022 - Prime Minister Andrej Plenković on Wednesday would not comment on the revelation by the Index news website that several Croatian National Bank (HNB) officials had traded in securities of banks that are subject to oversight by the central bank, saying that the matter was complex and that he would comment once he had full information.
Speaking to reporters during a visit to the eastern town of Novska, Plenković said he had spoken with HNB Governor Boris Vujčić on Tuesday, unaware that the central bank governor would appear in the prime-time evening news programme on HTV public television shortly afterwards.
"That's when I heard again most of what he had told me on the news programme," the prime minister said, adding that the chair of the parliamentary Finance and Budget Committee, Grozdana Perić, had formally asked the HNB to present its view on the situation.
"We will see what happens after that. At this point I have as much information on this matter as you do," Plenković told the press.
He added that the Croatian Financial Services Supervisory Agency (HANFA) would most likely look into the matter as well. "After that, we will have a fuller picture. Right now we do not have any other information."
Recalling that the HNB was under the authority of Parliament and under HANFA's supervision, Plenković said: "This matter is not directly connected with the government, but we will be informed."
The Index news website said on Monday that in the last 20 years over 40 HNB officials and staff, including Governor Boris Vujčić and his deputy Sandra Švaljek, had traded in securities of commercial banks which are supervised by the central bank, citing more than 400 transactions whose value exceeded HRK 10 million (€1.3m).
The HNB said in its reaction on Tuesday that Vujčić and Švaljek had not violated any legal provisions, stressing the need to distinguish stocks and shares from corporate bonds.
Vujčić told HTV on Tuesday evening he had not used inside information for personal gain and that he had no knowledge of other HNB staff doing so. He called on anyone with proof of such allegations to notify the HNB and HANFA.
Croatia Logs Record 9,894 New COVID Infections, 27 Deaths
ZAGREB, 12 January, 2022 - Croatia has logged 9,894 new COVID cases and 27 related deaths in the past 24 hours, the national COVID-19 response team said on Wednesday.
This is the highest number of new infections in a single day, with the previous record having been registered on 6 January, when there were 9,058 new infections.
The number of active cases in the country currently stands at 53,051. Among them are 1,822 infected persons receiving hospital treatment, including 220 who are on ventilators, and 22,474 persons are self-isolating.
A total of 3,921,868 people have been tested for the SARS-CoV-2 virus to date, including 21,301 in the last 24 hours.
Since 25 February 2020, when the first case was confirmed in the country, 785,033 people have been registered as having contracted the new virus, of whom 12,983 have died.
A total of 718,999 people have recovered, including 3,644 in the last 24 hours.
Fifty-six percent of the total population has been vaccinated against coronavirus or 66.69% of adults.
To date, 2,272,722 people have been vaccinated with at least one dose and 2,171,126 have been fully vaccinated, which is 63.87% of the adult population.
300,000 Croatians to Have Their Free Health Insurance Cancelled
January 12th, 2022 - Those who have left Croatia but keep using Croatian public healthcare at the expense of the state will soon be removed from the HZZO database
As many as 300.000 Croatians could soon have their public health insurance policies cancelled by the Croatian Health Insurance Fund (HZZO), reports Novi list. Namely, Health Minister Vili Beroš has announced that the HZZO would be cancelling the policies of those insured whose residency or employment status does not grant them the right to free health coverage anymore.
Most of that list consists of citizens who emigrated in the last decade and now work and reside abroad, but retain their Croatian public health insurance at the expense of the state on the basis of being unemployed in Croatia.
A large number of such policyholders prefer to use the services of GPs or dentists when they visit Croatia, as they find it much more affordable than the equivalent service in the country they currently reside in. It’s estimated that two thirds of Croatian emigrants avail of their health insurance benefits in such a manner.
The HZZO states that a considerably large number of people benefit from the rights guaranteed by their public health insurance despite not paying the compulsory insurance contributions. The exact number could become known in a month’s time, once HZZO and the Croatian Employment Service (HZZ) have merged their databases.
All citizens who are not on file with the HZZ, but avail of the free compulsory health insurance on the basis of their unemployment status, will have their health insurance policies cancelled, as well as their dependents.
According to the director of the HZZO Lucian Vukelić, those citizens who are not registered with the HZZ as unemployed persons could lose their free health insurance policies as early as in February 2022, once the two institutions have signed the data exchange agreement.
In recent years, many Croatian citizens have left their homeland in search of work; while the number of HZZ applicants dropped significantly as a result, they mostly remained on file with the HZZO and held onto their free health insurance.
A number of Croatian emigrants were removed from the HZZO database in the summer of 2021, after a data exchange with the Ministry of the Interior showed which citizens had cancelled their residency in Croatia.
According to the HZZO, at present it’s nearly impossible to find out which Croatian citizens work in other countries where they also pay their health insurance contributions and where they should thus avail of public healthcare as well. Even though it’s illegal to have public health insurance in two countries simultaneously, there still doesn’t exist a unified EU database that would reflect where citizens have contributory health insurance and use public health services.
‘Considering that there’s a bunch of different insurance providers in most countries, it’s impossible to obtain the data. You would have to search all over Europe for each policyholder individually to find out if they’re insured in a certain country. It so happens that no one in Croatia ever cancels their health insurance; [employers in] most EU countries are obligated to insure their workers upon employment, and so we end up with an enormous number of people who work abroad and are insured in Germany, Austria or Norway, whereas in Croatia their public health insurance remains covered by the national budget’, said Vukelić.
The HZZO does not have the exact figures regarding potential savings for the national budget if Croatians who are not factually unemployed were removed from the HZZO’s list of unemployed policyholders.
However, if we were to consider the 300.000 people in question, based on the health contribution rate of 16.5% of a monthly gross salary of e.g. HRK 5,000, the state is HRK 2,7 billion out of pocket each year. This does not even take into account the annual costs of health services in Croatia that such policyholders avail of.
The HZZO will also look to cancel the policies of Croatian citizens who have not left the country, but use the benefits provided by their health coverage even though they are not paying the contributions.
An example of this are undeclared workers who neither pay for the coverage nor are they on file with the HZZ, but retain their free health insurance. Such persons will need to register with the HZZ and find legal work, i.e. pay the relevant taxes and contributions.
https://www.novilist.hr/novosti/hrvatska/hzzo-cisti-evidenciju-besplatno-osiguranje-moglo-bi-izgubiti-300-000-ljudi-radi-se-mahom-o-iseljenicima/
Ljerka Bratonja Martinović
