The Croatian Diaspora

ZAGREB, June 9, 2019 - A TV series - The Croatian Community in Chile - by Mariana Campera and Damian Bazan Mamić, produced by the HRT national broadcaster, was presented at the Croatian Heritage Foundation (HMI) in Zagreb last Thursday. The series consists of five documentary episodes with interesting stories about the life of Croatian emigrants. It is estimated that about 200,000 Croatian emigrants and their descendants live in Chile. Campera and Mamić are reporters for the HRT's Spanish-language programme for Croats outside Croatia. The first episode - "To the End of the World and Back" - deals with the…

ZAGREB, June 7, 2019 - The Croat minority in Vojvodina is satisfied with its treatment of the local authorities when it comes to education of Croats in Serbia, however, they request that they can have more representatives in institutions in proportion to the size of the Croat community, local Croat leader Jasna Vojnić said at a meeting with the Council of Europe Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination in Novi Sad on Thursday. The PACE committee convened in Novi Sad to analyse a state of affairs and the experiences of ethnic minorities in Vojvodina considering the exercise of minority rights. Addressing…

ZAGREB, June 5, 2019 - State-Secretary in the Central State Office for Croats Abroad, Zvonko Milas, on Wednesday informed that the office was actively helping the Croat community in Venezuela, which is in a difficult social, economic and security situation. There are just under 5,000 Croats in that community and together with humanitarian organisations, the UN and anyone who can, the Office for Croats Abroad is helping in preserving that community, Milas said, submitting a report to parliament on the office's activities in 2017. The state should have certain "magnets" that will attract some people who are having a hard…

June 3, 2019 - Momentum is building in the relationship between the Croatian diaspora and the entrepreneurs in Croatia, as G2, Meeting Next Generation, returns for its 5th edition later this year. One of the more interesting dynamics in Croatia in recent times has been the attempt to engage the business potential of Croatia's rich and influential diaspora with entrepreneurs in the Homeland. More than 30 billion euro has been sent to Croatia from the diaspora since 1991 and last year diaspora remittances exceeded foreign investment into the country.  The recent 2nd International Conference on Diaspora Tourism in Split was…

The 2nd International Conference on Diaspora Tourism took place in Split on May 17, 2019. TCN meets some of the returning diaspora who have made a success of life in Croatia. Next up, Domagoj Šain, who swapped life in Toronto to start his own business on the island of Korcula. 1. You are from Canada, returned to Croatia, something that many diaspora dream of doing. Tell us briefly about your journey.  I was born in Dubrovnik and when I was 10 years old living on the island of Korcula we left just before the war broke out, in 1989.  As…

The 2nd International Conference on Diaspora Tourism took place in Split on May 17, 2019. TCN meets some of the returning diaspora who have made a success of life in Croatia. Next up, Martina Marincic Kustra of Axsis Projects in Zagreb. 1. You are from Hercegovina, returned to Croatia, something that many diaspora dream of doing. Tell us briefly about your journey. I was born in Hercegovina, lived in Slovenia where I worked for an architecture and engineering company and now in Zagreb for almost 4 years. I don’t have a ‘romantic’ story like my husband Joseph about why I…

The 2nd International Conference on Diaspora Tourism took place in Split on May 17, 2019. TCN meets some of the returning diaspora who have made a success of life in Croatia. Next up, Ante Lucic of Cronnect Me in Zagreb. 1. You are from the Middle East but returned to Croatia, something that many Diaspora dream of doing. Tell us briefly about your journey. Well, even though I like to refer to Syria as my second homeland (because of the impact it had on my life and the way I see the world), I would not actually say I am…

The 2nd International Conference on Diaspora Tourism took place in Split on May 17, 2019. TCN meets some of the returning diaspora who have made a success of life in Croatia. Next up, Joe Kustra of Axsis Projects in Zagreb. 1. You are from the States, returned to Croatia, something that many diaspora dream of doing. Tell us briefly about your journey. I came to visit my grandmother as a child in 84-86 and I spent entire summers here. I made friends that I still have today. I had unforgettable summers and always wanted to return. I’m originally form New…

The 2nd International Conference on Diaspora Tourism took place in Split on May 17, 2019. TCN meets some of the returning diaspora who have made a success of life in Croatia. Next up, Kreso Gotovac of Trigon Capital in Split.  1. You are from Canada, returned to Croatia, something that many diaspora dream of doing. Tell us briefly about your journey.  I left Canada 19 years ago, but I had a very different path in returning. It was a very multistep process, moving around back and forth from neighboring countries until I finally made my home base in Split. Croatia,…

The 2nd International Conference on Diaspora Tourism took place in Split on May 17, 2019. TCN meets some of the returning diaspora who have made a success of life in Croatia. Next up, John Gasparac, Country Managing Partner of PWC. 1. You are from Canada, returned to Croatia, something that many diaspora dream of doing. Tell us briefly about your journey. Initially, my decision to move to Croatia was not to become a returnee. I accepted a 2-year secondment to open the Price Waterhouse office in early 1997.  I did not feel comfortable committing for more than two years. I…