Top 10 Croatian Cities in Terms of Highest Enterprise Earnings
As Poslovni Dnevnik writes on the 11th of September, 2020, last year, there were 63,598 enterprises in the top 10 Croatian cities with the highest average earnings, and they employed 498,387 employees.
Entrepreneurs from Zagreb, Porec and Rijeka made the largest consolidated net profit last year and are leading the list of 10 Croatian cities with the highest earnings, according to an analysis published by the Financial Agency (Fina). Among the top 10 Croatian cities according to the net profit criterion are Sveta Nedelja, Dubrovnik, Velika Gorica, Vukovar, Zadar, Varazdin and Rovinj.
Fina notes that compared to the ranking list from 2018, Split, Karlovac and Nasice dropped off the list, and the new ones on the ranking list are Sveta Nedelja, Zadar and Varazdin.
The consolidated net profit of entrepreneurs in the top 10 Croatian cities last year amounted to 23.5 billion kuna, while the consolidated net profit of all enterprises in Croatia stood at 31.3 billion kuna. Last year, there were 63,598 entrepreneurs in the above listed cities, and they, as stated, employed 498,387 workers.
The analysis of the data from these cities confirms the large concentration of business of enterprises, taxpayers of profit tax, in the 10 aforementioned cities, whose share is 46.7 percent in the number of enterprises 51.4 percent in the number of employees, 62.7 percent in total revenues, 66.7 percent in period profit, 51.9 percent in period loss and 75.1 percent in net profit.
The reason for that, as stated by Fina, is primarily due to the share of enterprises and businesses based/headquartered in the City of Zagreb, which is logical.
Zagreb-based enterprises, all 45,608 of them with their 372,776 employees, unsurprisingly realised the highest net profit, of 18.5 billion kuna, which is 59 percent of the net profit of all enterprises operating in the country.
They are followed by businesses from Istrian city of Porec who achieved a consolidated net profit of 706.1 million kuna back in 2019, and enterprises from Rijeka with a profit of 641.8 million kuna.
Enterprises from Sveta Nedjelja, who realised a net profit of 621.5 million kuna, are in fourth place on the list of the top 10 Croatian cities in terms of net profit, while enterprises down in Dubrovnik are in fifth place with a net profit of 597.6 million kuna.
Businesses from Velika Gorica near Zagreb are in sixth place with a net profit of 558.7 million kuna, enterprises from Vukovar are in seventh place with a net profit of 504.5 million kuna, and Zadar-based companies who realised a net profit of 497.1 million kuna last year are ranked in eighth place.
At the bottom of the list are the enterprises from the continental Croatian town of Varazdin with a net profit of 487.6 million kuna, taking ninth place, while companies from Rovinj, with net profits of 362.4 million kuna are in the tenth place.
According to Fina, HEP, Pliva and Hrvatski Telekom/Croatian Telecom (HT/CT) contributed the most to the good results of companies based in Zagreb, Valamar Riviera did the same in in Porec and Plodine did so in Rijeka.
Maba-Com, in bankruptcy, contributed the most to the results in Sveta Nedjelja, Adriatic luxury hotels did so in Dubrovnik, Lidl Hrvatska did so in Velika Gorica, Prvo plinarsko drustvo did so in Vukovar, Tankerska plovidba did so in Zadar, Gumiimpex-GRP did so in Varazdin and Maistra did the same in Rovinj.
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How Much Have Croatian Camps and Hotels Earned This Tourist Season?
September the 12th, 2020 - The Croatian tourism industry has taken blow after blow ever since the coronavirus pandemic broke through into the country back in spring this year. Croatian camps and hotels have had an extremely difficult time in drying to decide when to open, how to adapt to the epidemiological measures, or whether to bother opening their doors at all.
Despite the temendous amount of woes which plagued (and quite literally) tourism in Croatia, which is an economic branch of vital importance, accounting for around 20 percent of the country's GDP, the Croatian tourist season actually recorded far better results than were ever initially expected back during those dark lockdown-dominated days and weeks. With travel restricted and everything up in the air as the virus spread, many Croatian camps and hotels thought that there would be no season to speak of whatsoever, and the predictions from those in the industry were dire.
As summer arrived, flights began operating again and more and more Croatian camps and hotels began opening their doors. This was aided by Croatia's previously excellent epidemiological picture when compared to other countries in Europe, especially the terrible situations in both the United Kingdom and nearby Italy, and for the most part, the calculated risk of opening Croatia up to tourists paid off, resulting in a far better season than anticipated and a decent income level.
Now that the season is all but over and the cases of infection have begun to climb rather dramatically, just how well did Croatian camps and hotels actually perform when we look at the real figures?
As Poslovni Dnevnik/Marija Crnjak writes on the 11th of September, 2020, this year, Croatian hotels accounted for about 44 percent of last year's turnover during the summer season, with revenues that are 5 to 15 percent lower than physical indicators, according to a survey by the Croatian Tourism Association, which was revealed recently at a press conference at the Ministry of Tourism by Veljko Ostojic.
This shows that there was price pressure, to which some hotels responded. Croatian camps had better demand, they realised 57 percent of last year's overnight stays.
Minister of Tourism Nikolina Brnjac revealed that in the season, Croatia realised 5.2 million tourist arrivals, which is 54 percent of the level of traffic from 2019, from 39.8 million overnight stays, or 62 percent of last year's traffic.
This is significantly better than expected from the rest of the Mediterranean. The director of the Croatian Tourist Board, Kristjan Stanicic, revealed that the CNTB's revenue this year will be around 200 million kuna, which is 150 million less than last year, but he pointed out that this will be enough for the campaigns that are being prepared for 2021.
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WiFi4EU: Croatian Telecom Enables Free WiFi in Various Locations
As Poslovni Dnevnik writes on the 11th of September, 2020, Labin and the municipalities of Gracac and Brtonigla are some of the Croatian locations which, as part of the WiFi4EU initiative, which has the aim of introducing free WiFi for citizens and visitors to public locations, were awarded a voucher in the amount of 15,000 euros.
Thanks to many years of successful cooperation with Hrvatski Telekom/Croatian Telecom, Labin and the municipalities of Gracac and Brtonigla have chosen the popular provider as a reliable technological partner and the best contractor to technologically provide public free WiFi internet for their citizens within the wider WiFi4EU initiative.
In addition to replacing the existing network with a new, faster and better network, equipment was installed in six new locations in Labin - Tito Square, San Marco promenade, the city market, Zelenice street in the city centre, the Kature playground and on the waterfront in Rabac - thus expanding the city's free internet coverage network. The WiFi4EU project has provided high-quality free internet to the citizens of Labin, as well as their guests, and it raises the standard in Labin, since today's way of life is closely linked to technology and communication.
"WiFi4EU is one of the many projects we're implementing in Labin. With this project, we're continuing to improve the infrastructure of our city to fit the time in which we're living. In the current situation, such projects are extremely important because they enable citizens to continue doing their jobs, to maintain ties with family and friends and to facilitate their adaptation to the new changes,'' said the Mayor of Labin, Valter Glavicic.
In the municipality of Gracac, Croatian Telecom has installed a total of thirteen access points, at five external and eight internal locations. This enables free WiFi internet access at locations such as the administrative building of the municipality of Gracac, KIC "Napredak" Gracac, the library and reading room and in Nikola Tesla street and Skolska street as well as at the Park of St. George. Thanks to the WiFi4EU programme, locals and visitors will have high-speed Internet access in major centres of public life such as squares, parks, libraries, public buildings and the like.
A place in continental Istria, the municipality of Brtonigla, also expressed their confidence in Croatian Telecom, choosing it as a partner in the implementation of a project that provides free internet access in public areas. Free WiFi signal covers all squares in Brtonigla, the area in front of the Tourist Board, Main street, the park near the church of Sv. Zeno, the area in front of the Aleksandar Rukavina Gallery and the football field, as well as the stands in the sports zone of the settlement. In the settlement of Nova Vas, the main square of and the surrounding areas are covered with free WiFi signal, while in the settlement of Fiorini, two access points have been set up in order to cover almost the entire area with free internet.
"I'm extremely satisfied with the way the WiFi4EU project was realised and the support of Croatian Telecom. Our region, among other activities, is also tourist-oriented throughout the year because, in addition to seasonal summer tourism, cyclo tourism is very popular here in other months and we're open to all forms of further cooperation, especially when it comes to digitalisation and modernisation,'' said Paolo Klaric, Mayor of Brtonigla.
Croatian Telecom is otherwise the largest private investor in digital infrastructure in Croatia which has been continuously investing in the quality and development of mobile and fixed network infrastructure for years.
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Croatian Ex-President Faces Long Recovery After Surgery
September 11, 2020 - Today, the Croatian media has reported that the former Croatian President and the current International Olympic Committee member, Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, underwent surgery on her spinal cord on Friday.
Jutarnji list reports that the surgery has been a complete success and that the Croatian ex-president will be released from hospital on Saturday. It is expected that her full recovery will take several months.
Although it's obvious that nobody wants to spend time in hospitals, especially so during an infectious disease epidemic, the former president obviously had reasons to undergo surgery. She underwent an anterior cervical discectomy and fusion with instrumentation on her C4 and C5 vertebrae.
It's a kind of surgery that releases the pressure put on the nerve roots and/or spinal cord by a herniated disc or bone fragments. The disc gets removed during the surgery through an incision made in the front of the neck, thus releasing the pressure created by a slipped disc, as they remove the pressure surface. The space between the bony vertebrae is empty after a disc is removed. To prevent the vertebrae from collapsing and rubbing together, a spacer bone graft is inserted to fill the open disc space. The graft serves as a bridge between the two vertebrae to create a spinal fusion. The bone graft and vertebrae are fixed in place with metal plates and screws.
We'd like to wish the former president Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović a speedy and successful recovery!
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FinMin Violated the Principle of Good Conduct, The Conflict of Interest Commission Says
ZAGREB, Sept 11, 2020 - The Conflict of Interest Commission found on Friday that FinMin violated the principle of good conduct by participating in a decision by the Croatian Bank for Reconstruction and Development (HBOR) to grant a loan to a company owned by his friend Josip Stojanovic Jolly.
The procedure against Maric was launched in December last year due to the possibility of bias because, in his capacity as finance minister and president of the HBOR supervisory board, he did not excuse himself from the decision to issue a loan to Stojanovic's Olympia Vodice company, which was issued with an HBOR loan for the construction of a hotel even though he had made it clear in his statements to the media that Stojanovic was a friend of his.
The commission decided on Friday that Maric was not in conflict of interest but rather that he had violated the principle of good conduct, which is not subject to any penalty.
The commission also found that Maric had not violated the law by attending a World Cup match in Russia where he was seen in Stojanovic's company, as Maric provided evidence that he personally paid for his ticket.
In a second case, the commission found that Zagreb Mayor Milan Bandic and members of parliament who crossed the floor and joined his parliamentary group had not violated the law.
The commission decided on each individual member of parliament who crossed the floor and joined Bandic's party and whether they were rewarded for that with some counter-favor. The commission found that no violation had occurred with regard to the Conflict of Interest Act.
The procedure involved Mayor Bandic and Members of Parliament Marija Puh, Mladen Madjer, Milanka Opacic, and Sinisa Varga who crossed the floor in parliament, as well as Deputy Mayor of Donja Stubica Luka Grabusic and Radoboj Mayor Andjelko Topolovec who too joined Bandic's party.
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HEP Puts into Operation Largest Solar Power Plant in Croatia
ZAGREB, Sept 11, 2020 - The HEP power company, on the southern island of Vis on Friday, put into operation the largest solar power plant in Croatia, worth HRK 31 million, 3.5 MW in power and expected to produce five million kWh of electricity a year, enough for 1,600 households.
With this first large solar power plant on a Croatian island, Vis has its own source of renewable energy and greater security of electricity supply, notably during summer when consumption is higher, it was said at the inauguration.
SE Vis is the first of seven solar power plants HEP will put into operation this year as part of an HRK 750 million cycle of building such plants from 2019 to 2023.
HEP CEO France Barbaric said the company expected to realize over HRK 4 billion in investment projects this year, a record amount, "notably projects with a large domestic component with which we are strongly contributing to the development and stability of the Croatian economy. Our focus is on projects which will improve the quality of life on the islands."
The inauguration of the largest solar power plant in Croatia is the beginning of what will happen in the next ten years, said Ivo Milatic, state secretary at the Economy Ministry.
He recalled that in 2017 the government had embarked on a new energy policy focusing on investment in green energy. "This power plant is the best example of such investment and, on behalf of the government, I congratulate HEP and Koncar on the realization of this valuable investment for Croatia's energy and economy."
Koncar is the company that built SE Vis.
HEP said a 1 MW, 1.44 MWh battery would be installed by SE Vis, the first of this size in Croatia, to balance the power supply system and keep the grid on Vis island stable.
HEP is investing about HRK 1 million in the improvement of the island's power infrastructure and next year it will invest almost HRK 30 million in numerous projects.
"SE Vis, together with the other solar power plant projects under construction, such as SE Vrlika, and those under development, such as the Bogomolje plant on Hvar island and others, will keep Split-Dalmatia County the leader in renewables in Croatia," said county head Blazenko Boban.
HEP announced that it would build additional 1,500 MW production capacities by 2030, nearly half of which would be wind parks and solar power plants, which matches the power of the Krsko Nuclear Plant.
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YTD Tourism Results Better than Expected
ZAGREB, Sept 11, 2020 - In the first eight months of this year, 6.8 million tourists visited Croatia and generated 47.5 million overnight stays, which was at 41% and 53% respectively of last year's levels.
YTD tourism results are better than expected following the outbreak of the coronavirus infection, according to a statement made by Tourism and Sports Minister Nikolina Brnjac and the Croatian Tourist Board (HTZ) director Kristijan Stanicic at a news conference in Zagreb on Friday.
Of those 47.5 million overnight stays, the lion's share, 84%, were made in July and August, and in those two months, Croatia registered 5.2 million holidaymakers.
Addressing the news conference, Minister Brnjac thanked the stakeholders and businesses in the tourism sector for those results.
"Clearly, nobody finds this situation easy, however, the sector has shown that it has been well prepared and we thank everyone for these results," she said.
The minister says that the government adopted the right measures in a timely fashion to help keep jobs and liquidity in this industry.
The gradual reopening of the borders paved the way for the arrival of tourists, and the results are better than expected in all types of tourist accommodation, she added.
"Nautical tourism is one of the segments that has fared well, and currently there are about 300 mega-yachts in Croatia. We hope that this good season will continue."
Government assistance schemes for the tourism and hospitality industry will be in effect until the end of this year to help the sector make good preparations for 2021, and the minister recalls that part of the money will be ensured from the European Union's funds.
She announced the preparation of a strategy for sustainable tourism with the engagement of experts in drawing up the document.
About 200,000 tourists currently vacationing
HTZ director Stanicic said that about 200,000 tourists were currently vacationing in Croatia.
He said that HTZ campaigns on social networks had registered hundreds of millions of visits.
Stanicic also commented on some negative campaigns on foreign markets that were unfavorable for Croatia.
We tried to respond to that "with certain positive and fact-based messages," he said.
When asked about the financial effects of the tourist turnover, Stanicic said that one should wait for the end of the year.
The director of the Croatian Association of Tourism (HUT), Veljko Ostojic, said that given the circumstances, the results in the sector were the best possible.
In hotels, overnight stays in the first eight months were at 30.4% of the levels in the corresponding period last year, Ostojic said, warning that the financial effects would be even lower.
Ostojic and the head of the Association of the Croatian Travel Agencies (UHPA), Tomislav Fain, agreed that the assistance provided by the government had been essential to keep the sector in motion.
The head of the association of marinas within the Croatian Chamber of Commerce (HGK), Sean Lisjak, told the news conference that marinas were satisfied with this year's results.
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Liverpool FC Take Croatian National Football Shirt Design For Next Season
Friday 11 September 2020 - “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery” as Liverpool FC take Croatian National Football Shirt design for the next Premier League
You might have thought that the UK Premier League champions were all but finished with Croatian football. This summer they let go Dejan Lovren from their ranks, shipping the Croat off to FC Zenit Saint Petersburg for a price widely thought to be €12 million. However, your thoughts may well have been wrong.
Recent images reveal that their ties with Croatia are not so nearly over, as Liverpool FC take Croatian National Football Shirt design for the next season.
Could it be an acknowledging nod of respect? Could they be trying to steal some luck in order to keep the most-cherished title in English football? Could it be a coincidence?
The latter is less likely when you consider that the sponsor for each shirt is one and the same - Nike. Whatever the reason, Croatian football fans – and, indeed, some Liverpool FC fans – were quick to spot the similarity. Comments were soon made by both on Liverpool FC's social media.
“We might as well have played with a Croatian away kit.” wrote one Liverpool fan, early in the comments. At the time of writing, his observation was 'liked' by almost 200 Liverpool FC supporters. Football fans from all over the world are familiar with the Croatian away shirt, having seen it repeatedly at the last World Cup.
“So we've got the same goalkeepers top as England and now we've also got Croatia's away shirt.” wrote another fan. Others also made a link between the departed Lovren and the fact that Nike sponsors and manufactures the shirts for both teams teams.
Further new acquisitions for Liverpool FC this summer include Greek left back Konstantinos Tsimikas, bought for a similar price for which they allowed Lovren to go. The team also has no less than seven young players arriving back at the club, following loan spells which were considered key to their development. Liverpool Under 23 players Curtis Jones is also expected to take the leap into the first team in the approaching season. Will this be enough to fend off the super-spending Manchester City, Chelsea, and Manchester United for yet another year?
At least one Croatian fan spotted the similarity too. Dino, who commented on Liverpool FC's Facebook post, was not in the mood for poetry or jokes.
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Milanovic's Policy of Reconciliation Praised by German President
ZAGREB, Sept 11, 2020 - German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier supports the policy of reconciliation in Croatia pursued by Croatian President Zoran Milanovic, it was said after their meeting in Berlin on Friday.
In his first months as head of state, President Milanovic took important steps in the process of reconciliation with the Serbs and the Serb minority in Croatia, and we are grateful to him for that, Steinmeier said.
The German president said he supported his Croatian counterpart on this brave path. This path launched by Croatia will hopefully be an inspiration for others to build bridges, he added.
The Croatian president began his two-day official visit on Thursday by meeting with representatives of Croatian associations in Germany.
Milanovic thanked his host for inviting him and for supporting him on the path of reconciliation in the region.
I have been pursuing the policy of reconciliation for twenty years and I believe for the first time that we have interlocutors for such policy in Croatia, Milanovic said, adding that he would continue this policy in the future.
Successful Croatian presidency of the EU
The two presidents also discussed the strengthening and functioning of the European Union in the present circumstances of the coronavirus crisis.
With the aid package adopted in June, the EU demonstrated solidarity that is not even remotely possible elsewhere in the world, Steinmeier said.
He praised Croatia for a job well done during its presidency of the Council of the European Union in the first half of the year.
Strengthening the EU is the most important task and Croatia managed to do that with its presidency under very difficult circumstances. Now it is up to us to continue this work until the end of this year, the German president said.
One of the topics discussed was the fight against the coronavirus pandemic, and the Croatian president expressed hope that the epidemiological situation in Croatia after the summer tourist season would calm down.
I hope the Croatian counties included on the German red list will disappear from that list, Milanovic said.
Excellent bilateral relations
Both presidents said that relations between Germany and Croatia were excellent.
Germany's policy towards Croatia has always been predictable in a positive sense, meaning reliable, Milanovic said.
The two presidents also highlighted efforts in providing humanitarian aid to migrants who have been left without a roof over their heads following a fire in the Moria refugee camp in Greece.
I have heard that the Croatian government has decided to take in a certain number of displaced persons, which I consider a nice and humane gesture and I support it, Milanovic said.
Steinmeier denied claims that the EU's common policy on migrants had collapsed.
During its EU presidency, Germany will work with the European Commission on promoting the common refugee policy, he said.
Milanovic was the first statesman to be received with military honors after a months-long pause caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
During the day, the Croatian president is scheduled to meet with Wolfgang Schauble, Speaker of the Bundestag. He will end his two-day visit by meeting with Mario Ohoven, head of the German association of small and medium-sized enterprises (BVMW).
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Nightclubs Strike Back at Headquarters, Weekend Party Starts at 19:00
September 11, 2020 - The Voice of Entrepreneurs Association and members of the Initiative of Bars and Nightclubs have been warning the competent institutions for days that, due to the epidemiological measures in force, over 1000 facilities will be completely closed and workers will be fired. For this reason, nightclubs strike back as they have organised an action "5 hours forward, 25% backward" during which, on September 11 and 12, they will be open from 19:00 to 24:00, Slobodna Dalmacija reports.
The measure restricting work until midnight has been extended and it has been announced that it will be extended until the end of the year. That is why many nightclubs have decided, in compliance with all epidemiological measures, to open their doors this weekend from 19:00, five hours before midnight.
''Our goal is to open clubs at a time when we're allowed to work, for people who support us and send a message that we aren't spreaders of the virus as we're being stigmatised to be. Friday is exactly 28 days since the work ban, the number of patients isn't falling, and the minister is extending the measures. We ultimately turned out to be the culprits for everything, regardless of whether we adhere to the measures or not. We don't complain about the set rules, keeping a distance, measuring temperatures and the like, we can respect all that, we just ask to be allowed to work. I'd like to invite everyone who supports us to visit the clubs that are part of the action on Friday and Saturday,'' said Bozidar Bulic, the owner of a disco club.
''It's worth recalling that more than 15,000 employees and associates (musicians, singers, security guards, marketing agencies, beverage distributors, DJs, photographers, public address and lighting technicians) will lose their jobs in the difficult economic and social situation ahead, if such measures are continued. The Voice of Entrepreneurs Association supports all those who want to work,'' the Association stated.
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