April 23, 2021 - Data analyzed by the Croatian Bureau of Statistics saw Croatian Employment in March 2021 rise compared to February but is overall lower than last year.

Employment in Croatia is overall down for 1.5% - concludes an article in Slobodna Dalmacija. This is the result of a statistical analysis conducted for this year's March compared to March 2020. The biggest fall in employment is evident in the hotel industry and hospitality. Last March, 410 people were employed in the sector, adding to the total number of 61,913, but that number is smaller for 5,087 people compared to last year when the number of employed in hotel tourism and hospitality counted 67,000.

„Compared to February, the total number of employed (in March) is up by 0.8% but compared to the same month last year; the numbers are down by 1.5%“, Slobodna Dalmacija quoted the explanation of Croatian Bureau of Statistics.

The process manufacturing industry also counts losses. Despite 2,129 newly employed people who boosted 225,287 workers in the sector, that number is down by 2000 workers less as last year the count was 227,287.  

Merchants count a rise of 803 new workers, 201,117 in total. But, this time last year the total number was 205,167, so this year's there are 4,050 people less in the sector.

On the other hand, several sectors can celebrate victory over statistics from 2020.

The construction sector hired 1,060 new workers. 100,234 people in total this year gives a 5924 boost compared to last year's 195,193 employed people.

Education has 1,094 new workers this month, 120,246 in total. This time last year's there were 117,891 people in total, which suggest 2,355 people increase.

Public service, social security, and defense sectors increase by 648 people to a total of 111,785. In conclusion, 1,325 more people are welcomed to the sector, compared to 2020 when there was 110460 in the mentioned sectors.  

Expectedly, health and social care sectors in March counted 102,636 employed, which is a 1,392 increase compared to last year's 101,244 employed people.

In absolute numbers, the mentioned sectors had the biggest influence on the total rise of employment in Croatia last month, which jumped to 11,302 people, 1,518,034 in total.

 The Bureau added that when counting all minuses and pluses, last year's numbers are better, but the progress is happening in this year nonetheless.  

Additionally, the average salary in Croatia is  7038 kuna, pointed out Slobodna Dalmacija.

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ZAGREB, 22 April (Hina) - Diplomatic representatives of Croatia and Israel met with local cantonal authorities in Široki Brijeg in Bosnia and Herzegovina on Thursday to discuss joint economic projects for which Croatia has earmarked funds this year.

Non-resident Israeli Ambassador Noah Gal Gendler said after the meeting with government representatives and businessmen that he was exceptionally pleased with the talks.

"The objective is to exchange ideas and after that to include the private sector because they know how to very quickly recognise potential. As the state of Israel, as the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as cantons and naturally as the Republic of Croatia, we will support those efforts," said the ambassador. He expressed satisfaction that Israel will help the development of this area by sharing its knowledge and experience.

Diplomatic advisor in the Croatian Embassy in BiH Mladen Glavina underscored that this is about connecting business people and exchanging ideas between the three countries.

"Our aim is long term, to achieve in the next few years as many contacts as possible between business people on the three sides," said Glavina. This all started last year with contacts between the foreign ministries of Croatia and Israel and is continuing today, with concrete cooperation to follow, said Glavina, announcing that the Croatian government will assist in this trilateral cooperation and that certain funds have been allocated for it.

West Herzegovina Canton Prime Minister Zdenko Ćosić said that together with businessmen he would visit Israel in an effort to make way for their cooperation.

Representatives of Croatia and Israel visited three cantons in BiH that border with Croatia over the past three days in an effort to motivate economic cooperation between the three countries.

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ZAGREB, 22 April, 2021 - The main Zagreb Stock Exchange indices gained on Thursday, the Crobex by 0.30% to 1,883.42 points and the Crobex10 by 0.16% to 1,173.71 points, while regular turnover was HRK 8.5 million, twice as much as on Wednesday.

The most traded stock was Končar - Electrical Industry, turning over HRK 1.7 million. The price of its share was stable at HRK 685.

Forty-three stocks traded today, with 20 going up in price, nine going down and 14 staying the same as on Wednesday.

(€1 = HRK 7.567595)

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ZAGREB, 21 April, 2021 - The Zagreb Stock Exchange (ZSE) indices dropped slightly on Wednesday, going down for the second day in a row, while turnover was somewhat higher owing to a block transaction with Končar - Electrical Industry shares.

The Crobex dropped by 0.09% to 1,877.80 points and the Crobex10 decreased by 0.28% to 1,171.80 points.

Regular turnover was HRK 4.4 million, around 600,000 less than on Tuesday, but total turnover was boosted by a block transaction with Končar Electrical Industry shares in the amount of HRK 3.4 million.

In regular trading, two stocks crossed the million kuna turnover mark, the Podavka food company, which turned over HRK 1.1 million and the Atlantska Plovidba shipping company, which generated a turnover of HRK 1.07 million.

Podravka traded at HRK 550 per share, a price increase of 0.56%, while Atlantska Plovidba rose by 5.77% to HRK 220 per share.

Thirty-seven stocks traded today, with 15 going down in price, 12 going up and 10 staying the same as on Tuesday.

(€1 = HRK 7.566672)

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ZAGREB, 20 April, 2021 - The main Zagreb Stock Exchange indices decreased on Tuesday, the Crobex by 0.12% to 1,879.46 points and the Crobex10 by 0.23% to 1,175.07 points, while regular turnover was HRK 5.8 million.

Only one stock crossed the million kuna mark, the Adris tourism and insurance group, turning over HRK 1.1 million. It closed at HRK 408 per share, up 0.25%.

Forty-one stocks traded today, with 18 going up in price, 11 going down and 12 staying the same as on Monday.

(€1 = HRK 7.560764)

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ZAGREB, 16 April, 2021 - The main Zagreb Stock Exchange (ZSE) indices weakened for the third consecutive day on Friday amid modest trading, the Crobex decreasing by 0.19% to 1,878 points and the Crobex10 by 0.28% to 1,176 points.

Both indices also ended in the red week-on-week -- the Crobex went down by 0.55% and the Crobex10 by 0.73%

Of the sectoral indices, the industrial index saw the biggest decline, of 0.5%, while the construction index was the only one to go up, by 1.53%.

Today's regular turnover was HRK 4.9 million, or HRK 600,000 less than on Thursday.

The stock the HT telecommunication company generated the highest turnover, of nearly HRK 1.6 million. Its price remained unchanged at HRK 191.5 per share.

A total of 39 stock traded today, with seven of them registering price increases, 19 recording price decreases and 13 remaining stable in price.

(€1 = HRK 7.567447)

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ZAGREB, 16 April, 2021 - The Croatian National Bank (HNB) generated a profit of nearly HRK 266 million in 2020, achieving a positive result for the second consecutive year, but the profit was almost three and a half times lower than in 2019, according to the central bank's audited financial statement released on its webpage.

For the sake of comparison, the HNB had posted a profit of just over HRK 927 million for 2019.

Of last year's profit, HRK 53.2 million was paid into the bank's general reserves and HRK 212.8 into the state budget, in accordance with the Act on the Croatian National Bank.

The financial statement also shows that the HNB last year generated HRKK 591.7 million in net interest income, which is nearly HRK 88 million or 17.4% more than in 2019.

At the same time, net fee and commission income was HRK 34.4 million, or 11% higher, while operating income was HRK 703.3 million, or 48% lower compared with 2019.

The HNB's operating expenses in 2020 reached HRK 419.5 million, or 6% more. In 2020, the HNB had an average of 690 employees, which is 19 more than in 2019, and total employee costs were HRK 203 million.

(€1 = HRK 7.567447)

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ZAGREB, 15 April, 2021 - The main Zagreb Stock Exchange (ZSE) indices fell for the second day in a row on Thursday, with the Crobex decreasing by 0.22% to 1,882 points and the Crobex10 by 0.17% to 1,179 points.

Turnover at the close of the trading session was HRK 5.56 million, about a million less than on Wednesday. An additional HRK 4.68 million was generated by a block transaction with the stock of the Atlantic food and retail group at HRK 1,560 per share.

The only stock to pass the turnover mark of one million kuna was that of the Adris insurance and tourism group, turning over HRK 1.4 million. The price of its share rose by 0.45% to HRK 444.

A total of 43 stocks traded today, with 16 of them registering share price increases, 11 recording price decreases and 16 remaining stable in price.

(€1 = HRK 7.562610)

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ZAGREB, 15 April, 2021 - Strawberry picking season has begun in the Vrgorac area in southern Croatia and the Vrgorac strawberry association told a news conference on Thursday that this year  600 tonnes of high quality strawberries can be expected from local fields.

Vrgorac high-quality strawberries will already be available at farmers' markets as of tomorrow the association's president Milan Franić said.

According to Franić, about 600 tonnes are expected from this year's yield which will bring in a revenue of HRK 12 million for producers in the Vrgorac area.

"We have good weather conditions and will produce a standard quality. The yield will be high and of good quality for almost all producers however 15 family farms affected by last year's floods in Kokorići will not have any yield this year because the floods destroyed their greenhouse and crops," said Franić.

He added the price of strawberries is HRK 25 (€3.3) per kilogram, which is far below their price in the European Union where their cost ranges from €7 to €10.

"We are happy however that Vrgorac strawberry farmers will generate a revenue of HRK 12 million for the HRK 5.6 million that they invested, which is good for Croatian circumstances. We will continue to invest in improving the quality of our strawberries of which 80% are produced in tunnel greenhouses which protect them from rain, hail and frost and guarantee they are produced without any pesticides" said Franić.

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ZAGREB, 14 April, 2021 - The Zagreb Stock Exchange (ZSE) indices weakened slightly on Wednesday amid modest trading, the Crobex by 0.04% to 1,886 points, and the Crobex10 by 0.08% to 1,181 points.

Of the sectoral indices, the construction index saw the biggest decrease, of 1.56%, while the industry index increased the most, by 0.28%.

Today's regular turnover was HRK 6.5 million, HRK 3.2 million more than on Tuesday.

The highest turnover, of HRK 1.68 million, was generated by the preferred stock of the Adris insurance and tourism group. Its price went up by 0.49% to HRK 410 per share.

The only other stock to pass the turnover mark of one million kuna was Zagrebačka Banka, turning over HRK 1.22 million. Its price remained unchanged at HRK 56 per share.

A total of 43 stocks traded today, with 14 of them recording share price increases, 15 registering price decreases and 14 remaining stable in price.

(€1 = HRK 7.571658)

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