April 23, 2023 - Another strengthening of diplomatic ties, as Marino Franinović from Pula is appointed Honorary Consul to the Republic of Georgia, reports Glas Istre.
Until recently, Georgia covered Hungary and Croatia from Budapest, but now we have the Embassy of Georgia in Croatia with headquarters in Zagreb and the Consulate of Georgia with headquarters in Pula and consular powers over the consular area that includes Istria and Split-Dalmatia County, Franinović reveals.
Having received the letter of appointment by which the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, Ilia Darchiashvili, appointed Marin Franinović as the honorary consul of Georgia in the Republic of Croatia, the President of the Republic of Croatia, Zoran Milanović, approved Franinović's performance of the duties arising from the aforementioned letter of appointment.
- I instruct the authorized bodies of the Republic of Croatia to enable Mr. Marin Franinović to carry out his duties without hindrance, to enjoy all the rights and privileges that belong to his service and his position, and to provide him with their assistance in everything. In confirmation of this, the seal of the Republic of Croatia has been affixed, it says in the exequatur signed by President Zoran Milanović.
This is how this native of Pula with residence in Zagreb, who has been working around the world for almost two decades, officially became the honorary consul of Georgia in the Republic of Croatia. These days, we talked with Franinović about how his appointment came about, as well as about Georgia, the similarities between that country and Croatia and Istria, and the work he normally deals with.
Professional path
- First of all, someone needs to recognize the human in the human, the human values that mostly come from home upbringing, is the introduction to Franinović's answer to our first question about being appointed honorary consul.
- Live so that your parents are happy and your friends appreciate you. My brother and I were brought up in that spirit, and we should first of all thank our parents for that. However, it is necessary to return to the beginning of my international education, as well as my professional career.
I got my master's degree and completed my MBA in London, then started working for JPMorgan and a few years later ended up at the European Investment Bank based in Luxembourg, as an advisor to Vice President Vazil Hudak. It is a position that opens almost all doors in more than 160 countries of the world and on the basis of which I have made many friendships on a global scale at the highest government levels. Today, it is probably the biggest capital I own, Franinović tells us.
One of the countries where the vice president of the European Investment Bank and he made his significant professional and personal contribution is Georgia, as Franinović says, "a wonderful country of wonderful people."
- After several years of cooperation and friendship, the Government of Georgia offered me the position of honorary consul in the Republic of Croatia last February. Exactly one year later, Mr. E. Zaal Gogsadze, Ambassador of Georgia to the Republic of Croatia, solemnly handed me the exequatur of the President of the Republic of Croatia, which is also the final act of a complex diplomatic procedure.
On the same day, the Georgian ambassador to the Republic of Croatia presented his credentials to President Milanović. The Georgian ambassador was accompanied by adviser and temporary chargé d'affaires at the Embassy of Georgia George Zviadadze. Namely, until recently, Georgia covered Hungary and Croatia from Budapest, but now we have the Embassy of Georgia in Croatia with headquarters in Zagreb and the Consulate of Georgia with headquarters in Pula and consular powers over the consular area that includes Istria and Split-Dalmatia counties, says Franinović.
- If I had to describe Georgia in one single word, the right word would certainly be hospitality. What makes us return to a country and truly love it are the people and their hospitality rituals, says our interlocutor.
- Georgia has an 8,000-year-long tradition of wine production, which makes it the oldest wine region in the world. The Georgian Qvevri method of wine production is one of the world's leading methods, and this long and harmonious coexistence of clay and vines has been producing great results for centuries. In fact, Georgia and Croatia are very similar countries in many respects. There are just under four million of them and us.
Both we and they have a similar share of the tourism industry in GDP. The only difference is that they aspire to join the EU and NATO, while we already enjoy full membership. From an economic perspective, according to the criteria of the World Bank, Georgia is at the very top in terms of ease of doing business. In fact, in all rankings of the World Bank, Georgia is in the top 10 countries in the world. This is really impressive, we can learn a lot from them, especially from the perspective of digital transformation, he points out.
Economic cooperation
- In Georgia, as well as in Croatia and Istria, tourism is one of the key branches of the economy, and they invest a lot in the development of the hotel and tourism industry. This is supported by the fact that this year Georgia was the host country at ITB Berlin 2023 – the world's leading trade fair for the tourism industry. I had the honor to attend the opening together with members of the Georgian Government.
Let's also mention that the secretary general of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) who inaugurated the fair in Berlin this year is exactly Zurab Pololikashvili from Georgia. We can expect it soon in Croatia, Istria and Dalmatia. As for my work in that sphere of diplomacy, I am primarily focused on strengthening the economic cooperation between the two countries. The potentials are huge. On both sides there is a whole range of companies that can find their interest.
At the invitation of the Special Adviser of the Prime Minister of Georgia for Foreign Direct Investments, Vazil Hudak, I was in London two weeks ago at the Georgia Investment Forum. There is an impressive number of companies focused on investments in Georgia, especially from Great Britain, Spain and the USA. Georgia's economy is driven by the country's stable political environment, liberal and free market economy.
This is why the country is ranked number seven in the latest World Bank Ease of Doing Business Index. Georgia's economy is also twelfth in the Heritage Foundations Index of Economic Freedom and eighth in the Frazer Institute's Economic Freedom of the World report, says Franinović.
Since it is an honorary title, Franinović emphasizes that he will be able to enjoy some privileges, but he will not be paid for his work.
- As the word itself says, it is an honorary position that entails various privileges, but does not foresee compensation for work. But there is beauty and personal satisfaction in that. As I mentioned in the introduction, first of all, for this position you have to be recognized as a human being. And not by one person, but a consensus must be reached by several people, in this case members of the Government of the country that nominates you.
Therefore, some values must be recognized; first of all the human ones, and then the professional ones. Because in these cases, there is no policy, and no party membership card that would position you for such a position. By the way, this is not my first honorary function. Namely, after my mandate at the EIB, I became the ambassador of GLOBSEC, the leading organization of the European Union dedicated to strengthening security, prosperity and sustainability in Europe and the whole world. We are currently preparing for the upcoming GLOBSEC Forum in Bratislava in May 2023, which is traditionally attended by more than a thousand key stakeholders from more than 65 countries. Over the years, GLOBSEC has hosted a whole series of honorary guests of the highest world rank, including Pope Francis, says our interlocutor.
Improving relationships
Otherwise, the "core business" of the company where Marino Franinović works is based on renewable energy sources.
- I am a co-owner of a company that plays a significant role in the energy transition process of the Republic of Croatia, with a primary focus on solar energy, battery systems for storing electricity, and at the same time we are building and developing a national network of charging stations for electric vehicles. In the last 13 years, we have built more than 600 projects and have more than 80 employed experts. At the same time, I am the owner of a famous boutique hotel in Bol on Brač, about which you can read from London to New York, says Franinović.
Recently, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Croatia, Goran Grlić Radman, was on an official visit to Georgia. This is the first such visit of the Croatian Minister of Foreign Affairs to Georgia. Grlić Radman met with his Georgian colleague, Minister Ilija Darchiashvili, with whom he discussed continuing the intensification of political dialogue between Croatia and Georgia, as well as strengthening cooperation in the areas of economy, trade, tourism, energy and culture.
After the meeting, the ministers signed a Memorandum of Understanding in the field of diplomatic training. Minister Grlić Radman welcomed the recent opening of the Georgian Embassy in Zagreb, as well as the consulate in Pula, which will surely improve our bilateral relations.
He also met with Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, as well as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development Levan Davitashvili, with whom he signed an agreement between the two governments on economic cooperation.
