As Poslovni Dnevnik/Lucija Spiljak writes on the 8th of May, 2020, a group of a dozen innovators who have come together owing to the internet portal Pandemija.info, volunteer day and night to make Croatian respirators for the protection of health professionals, and this Croatian product is perhaps best known as CroResp.

"We designed a respirator that protects the whole face, and most importantly - the eyes and the airways. The respirator is made of a diving mask, an adapter and a virus filter ", explained Dr. Ivor Kovic, an emergency medicine specialist and the initiator of both the portal and the initiative. He stated that despite the fact that they don't have official certificates for the use of these respirators in protection against coronavirus, they believe that this solution provides people with greater protection than surgical masks in combination with protective visors.

Hundreds of healthcare professionals have so far requested this Croatian product, and a large number are already being distributed in Croatian hospitals and institutions.

"Although the situation is calming down in Croatia, it's important for medics to be looked after properly because, regardless of the number of patients, they can still become infected and spread the infection without proper protective equipment," warned Kovic. Most orders for this innovative Croatian product are coming from Zagreb, Osijek, Rijeka and Split, and the feedback from doctors and nurses who already use them has been positive.

The team has been counting orders in the thousands, while they also launched a campaign through the crowdfunding platform Croinvest and the association Helping is always in/ Pomaganje je uvijek in. They collected more than 150,000 kuna donated by the citizens, which was needed to supply the first 1,000 health workers with these respirators. The campaign is still ongoing, and at the time of writing, more than 195,000 kuna for this Croatian product has so far been raised.

Helping colleagues through the Pandemija.info portal

"It's uncertain how the pandemic will develop, and CroResp has the ability to protect healthcare workers from the virus in the long run," said Kovic, who went on to talk about how abd where it all started.

Seven years ago, he and his wife, who is also a doctor, moved to the UK where they worked together in various hospitals, and when he temporarily returned to Croatia, the number of infected people began to grow, and examples from neighbouring Italy showed what was happening with the collapse of the health system there. When the couple landed, they had to go into mandatory self-isolation, and Kovic was thinking about how to help his colleagues during that period. This is how the Pandemija.info portal was created, which he started up with several friends and associates.

''We've published educational materials and fast, verified, accurate and professional information for our medics who are under pressure and who need proper preparation. We soon published about 20 different summaries, posters, infographics, with information on the standard of masks, how to use them properly etc. Colleagues from Croatia and abroad started sending us materials, we followed everything that was happening in the world and realised that there was a global lack of protective equipment,'' explained Kovic.

The creators of this Croatian product work entirely voluntarily

The work of this Croatian team is completely voluntary and open, so they're not thinking about patenting the product or creating a business from this situation, because at the same time, they're actively fighting against those who are trying to use the current situation for their own profit.

"From the beginning, we knew that the dynamics of this would depend on what kind of support we will have, what kind of interest there will be and how we will be able to finance it. In the end, it happened that we didn't have any official confirmation; we're not an association and we don't have an account, but we have people who write to us every day and ask for respirators. We couldn't leave them stranded when we'd already 'tickled' them with the fact that such a solution exists,'' he explained.

For more on coronavirus in Croatia, follow our dedicated section.

The coronavirus pandemic has been causing a plethora of issues for countries which primarily rely on tourism for their economies, and Croatia, in which tourism accounts for about 20 percent of GDP, is no exception. The South Korean SRT tourist magazine, however, isn't letting the pandemic get in the way of them praising the country.

As SEEbiz writes on the 9th of May, 2020, the South Korean SRT tourist magazine, published by the railway company of the same name, Super Rapid Train, has included Croatia and the island of Rab among the TOP 8 destinations in the world in its May publication.

The article about the island of Rab points out that in a survey conducted by SRT magazine, many readers chose Croatia as their number one destination. It is also stated that Croatia is a country with more than a thousand islands, including the island of Rab with its exceptional cultural heritage, which is often called the "emerald island" due to its unique blue-green colour. According to the Soyth Korean SRT tourist magazine, the best time for South Korean tourists and readers to visit Rab is the period from June to September.

"After a great report on Croatia in the March issue of SRT, this time the island of Rab has found itself in the company of seven world destinations along with Ica and Paracas in Paraguay, Wellington in New Zealand, Macao, Bettmeralp in Switzerland, Camino de Santiago in Spain, Hawaii and Taiwan,'' said the director of the Croatian National Tourist Board Kristjan Stanicic, adding that at the moment every positive announcement in foreign media contributes to maintaining the image of the Republic of Croatia as a desirable and safe tourist destination worth visiting.

It's also worth mentioning that SRT, as the operator of the super-fast train on the Seoul route, which has a massive ten million inhabitants, and Busan, which has five million inhabitants, transports around 2.5 million passengers a month.

Make sure to follow our dedicated travel page for much more on Croatian destinations.

May 9, 2020 — The island home of olive picking championships, swimming boars, and Boris Johnson on a bicycle has a new guest: the coronavirus. The unwelcome intruder on the island of Brač sent locals scrambling for safer shores just before authorities limited movement.

Brač, off the coast of Split, became a COVID-19 hotspot overnight when 22 new infections emerged on Friday, up from zero. More may be on the way, with 54 reported contacts found and close to 100 tests conducted.

The Civil Protection Directorate decided on Saturday Brač would spend another two weeks adhering to strict measures, including “stay at home” rules and limited travel, which are being lifted across the rest of Croatia.

The spike in infections reportedly sent islanders headed for the mainland Friday and Saturday, as rumors of a quarantine spread. A video shot by N1 reporter Hari Kočić shows the ferry bound for Split packed, with several cars left in the lurch.

Bijeg s Brača nakon što je objavljeno kako bi otok mogao završiti u karanteni? Nisu svi uspjeli stati na trajekt. Mještani kažu kako su bijesni jer su se držali svih mjera, a sada ce ponovno biti zatvoreni! #n1info #korona pic.twitter.com/HNFV0buTSo

— Hari Kočić (@HariKocic) May 8, 2020

“Escape from Brač after it was announced that the island could end up in quarantine?” he wrote. “Not everyone was able to get on the ferry. The locals say they are furious because they have adhered to all measures and will now be locked up again!”

Ivana Marković, Mayor of Supetar on the island of Brač, asked the authorities to send professionals from Zagreb to replace the local Civil Protection Directorate. The mayor is herself in self-isolation after finding herself two degrees of separation from patient zero.

Brač was already battling to keep what’s left of the tourism season alive while also easing life for locals. The island is home to some of Croatia’s more picturesque vistas, including the Zlatni Rat beach. 

It’s also been at the epicenter of the debate over smart development, with some municipalities nixing the creation of new tourism apartments.

Marković called for a freeze on ferry ticket prices, keeping the lower winter rates.

The island’s emergence as a new coronavirus epicenter shows the precarious balance Croatia’s Civil Protection Directorate seeks as it loosens restrictions.

“Let this example be a lesson to us,” Health Minister Vili Beroš said on Friday. “There is no relaxation. We must continue to be careful and keep our physical distance, adhere to hygienic measures.”

Brač’s “patient zero” was a local returning from hospital for non-coronavirus issues and reportedly required care at home, hence the high number of contacts.

May 9, 2020 - Driving through the EU during a pandemic, a trip report from Belgian national Didier van Bellinghen who arrived on Hvar yesterday.

A story which I am sure will be of interest to many... Reproduced in full. 

As countries prepare for the post corona era and loosen measures step by step, I needed to consider to travel back to Croatia and start organizing for the season.  Last November, we travelled back to Belgium after another great tourist season on Hvar and we were still in Belgium when the pandemic broke out. The plan was to travel back to Croatia at the beginning of April but that was not an option anymore with the pandemic being at his peak.  Now that we’re allowed to open our resort and beach bar again in a few days, I decided to travel to Croatia by car.

I can hear you thinking… how did he manage to travel all the way from Belgium to Croatia when people are restricted to stay at home and are not allowed to leave their own county or town.

It’s a combination of several things:

1. I have a registered residence on Hvar. 
2. I have a registered business on Hvar, Castaway Hvar.
3. My company car is registered on Hvar.

I also have a registered residence and a registered business in Belgium which would allow me to travel back and forth if there would be the need.

So how was my experience traveling across Europe during corona?  Well, it was much more relaxed than I imagined.   Before you start dreaming, do know that I had all required documents and that I did the necessary research before to do so.  

Besides the border controls, I expected some random police controls on the roads as well so I contacted each country I would pass and informed myself what documents were necessary to travel across all those countries. For the countries where I would travel through only such as the Netherlands, Germany, Austria & Slovenia, a valid residence card was enough.  For Belgium and Croatia, it was a combination of all documents that gave me the opportunity to leave Belgium and set foot in Croatia.

And so I left on May 7th.  I expected border controls between every country but to my surprise, not every country had border controls in place.  An overview of the borders and what documents they asked me:

Belgium – Netherlands: No border control

Netherlands – Germany: No border control

Germany – Austria: Border control – They asked my ID card and my Croatian residence card

Austria – Slovenia: Border control – They asked me my ID card and my Croatian residence card

Slovenia – Croatia: Border control – They asked me my ID, my Croatian residence card and checked my business registration documents

But don’t be fooled.  On top of the border controls, the police also organizes random mobile controls.  I encountered 5 police controls:  One in Belgium and one in Germany but on the opposite side of the highway.   The third one was on the Croatian highway, on my side of the highway.  The police officer asked me my E-pass (A pass that is delivered by the Civil Protection Headquarters or border police when you can present them a good reason to travel between counties and/or to the islands)  The 2 last police controls were at the ferry ports.  One in Split when embarking and one in Starigrad when disembarking. 

When you have a good reason such as a residency / business in any EU member state, you can travel ‘home’ and you are allowed to cross the countries in between.  Do your research because every country has it own rules, especially when your residency is in that country.

In my case, I was allowed to leave Belgium for work.  I could cross the Netherlands, Germany, Austria and Slovenia without any problem but without any unnecessary stop.  I stayed on the highways. 

Note that all restaurants are closed at the moment in all those countries. You can get some snacks & drinks at the fuel stations but prepare enough food for your trip.

In Croatia, you will get a pass (propusnica) at the border and the following conditions if you plan to stay longer than 72 hours:

1- You have to travel to your residential address within 24 hours

2- You have to use the highway and travel directly to your address

3- You need to stay in self-isolation for 14 days at your home

4- You need to contact the local police at arrival

5- You need to contact a local epidemiologist at arrival and report your health status regularly.

I arrived on Hvar on May 8th in the evening and the next day, the police already came to control if I was at home.  

I want to conclude with this:  This is my situation at this moment and I only report how my experience was.  Things are changing daily so the most important thing is to do your research if you have similar plans.  I seems all pretty frightening but if you do your homework and you have all the necessary documents, it will all go very smoothly as the police, border patrol and Civil Protection Headquarters were very friendly and helpful in my experience.

The opening of the EU borders is a hot topic at the moment.  And Croatia is considering to stop the need of a pass. So it might be a lot easier to travel across EU soon anyhow.

Good luck!

For the latest on the coronavirus crisis in Croatia, follow the dedicated TCN section. 

May 9, 2020 - Certain travel restrictions will be relaxed on Monday - here is where to (and not to) find information on the new bus timetables between Croatian cities.

The corona crisis has been a truly fascinating topic to report on these last few months, and it has been easily the most challenging thing to cover in the five years of TCN. It has brought both hope and despair, although sadly not in equal measures. 

But let's start with the hope. The crisis management and communication of Team Vili has been outstanding from the very first moment. Here is a minister seemingly who is more interested in doing his job and serving the people than lining his own pockets. The outstanding leadership has been mirrored all along the official response - the Viber group, Andrija the app, the excellent Koronaovirus.hr website. 

The official response has been mirrored by IT experts in the private sector. The geniuses over at Velebit.ai have produced outstanding data with updated info for almost everything you could need regarding the crisis. 

Together - this private sector innovation and public sector dedication and communication - gives us a mouthwatering glimpse of how this country could function if we got rid of the big elephant in the room beginning with U.

And sadly, as soon as one leaves the crisis zone being handled by Team Vili, we come back to the depressing reality on the streets of Uhljebistan. 

As we explored recently in Does Croatia Actually Want Tourists? How the Competition is Updating Visitors, official travel information for tourists is embarrassingly bad from those who are paid very well to provide it. In some ways I don't mind, as it brings a ton of traffic to TCN on the articles (such as our latest travel update) we do to make things easier for those wanting to visit.

There are some big changes coming to internal travel on Monday, May 11 - 2 days away. Among the latest wave of relaxed measures, national bus routes will start up again. So where to find the information about which routes are operating and when?

If I wasn't living in the Kingdom of Accidental Tourism, I might start my search on the Arrivals page of the national tourist board. As I do live in the Kingdom of Accidental Tourism, I knew I would find little of use, but decided to see how hard the Kings are working to inform visitors (both future ones once the borders are open, and those who are in Croatia already) about the new bus timetables. This is what I found on the Croatian National Tourist Board's Arrive by Bus page, as well as a link to a sub-page to the bus stations of Sibenik, Rijeka, Pula, Split, Dubrovnik, Zadar, Osijek and Zagreb. If you want to go from Varazdin to Makarska, for example, good luck. There isn't even a friendly fax number to contact. 

Thankfully, there are other private businesses to compensate for the official incompetence. And when it comes to information on the new bus timetables, a big gold star and a chocolate biscuit for the team from GetByBus:

Best regards,

Click on the link above and it will take you to a very detailed overview of bus timetables from Monday. Sretan Put!

For the latest corona news, check out the dedicated TCN section. 

9. svibnja 2020. - Kako će izgledati budućnost letova prema Hrvatskoj u svijetu nakon korone? TCN o tome razgovara s Maxom Oldorfom, izvršnim direktorom (COO) kompanije koja se bavi podacima u zrakoplovnom prometu, ch-aviation.

Jedna od najvećih nepoznanica u svijetu velikih nepoznanica u kojem sad živimo je kako će izgledati budućnost putovanja, posebice u kontekstu zrakoplovnih putovanja. Hoće li zrakoplovne kompanije preživjeti, hoće li preživjeti niskotarifne kompanije, što će se dogoditi s letovima između kontinenata? I što očekivati od letova prema Hrvatskoj s ključnih tržišta kasnije ove godine i sljedeće godine?

Jedna od osoba koja na ta pitanja može dati bolje odgovore od većine drugih ljudi, kako o pitanjima budućnosti te industrije a tako i o pitanjima letova u Hrvatsku je Max Oldolf, jedan od osnivača švicarske kompanije ch-aviation. Ta kompanija podatke o kretanjima u industriji prodaje svojim klijentima diljem svijeta: zračnim lukama, zračnim prijevoznicima i drugima. Oldorf redovito posjećuje Zagreb, jer je kompanijina najveća podružnica u hrvatskom glavnom gradu - o tome pročitajte više u ovoj TCN-ovoj priči na engleskom jeziku. 

Zrakoplovna industrija doživjela je ogromnu promjenu u posljednjih par mjeseci, a posljedice će se osjećati godinama. Kako će se to odraziti na najveće igrače na hrvatskom tržištu? Prije svega, pogledajmo tržište interkontinentalnih letova, koje se u Hrvatskoj razvija posljednjih godina. American, Qatar (za Dubrovnik), Emirates, Air Canada - svi su svoje planove za 2020. odgodili za sljedeću godinu. Hoće li se vratiti?

Općenito, moramo prihvatiti da će svijet od sada nadalje izgledati drukčije, pa mislim da ćemo jednostavno morati živjeti s novom normalom. Neki od ovih letova možda će se vratiti u sljedeće dvije godine, a neke od njih nećemo nikada više vidjeti. Mislim da je dosta izvjesno da ćemo ove godine vidjeti vrlo nizak broj, blizu nuli, interkontinentalnih letova. Ako ne bude drugog i sljedećih valova, možda se neki od letova vrate već sljedeće godine. Ali, moja preporuka je da se treba koncentrirati na vraćanje domaćih letova, pa onda europskih, pa ako tu sve bude u redu, interkontinentalni će se vratiti u nekom trenutku.

Tržišta Velike Britanije i Skandinavije su važna za Hrvatsku. Norwegian je u problemima, Gatwick se prazni, direktor easyJeta kaže da će vraćati "poput startupa", direktor Ryanaira izjavljuje da ako vlada ne bude plaćala za srednje sjedalo, Ryanair neće letjeti. Stvari izgledaju loše. Kako će se promijeniti tržište jeftinih letova za Hrvatsku iz Velike Britanije i Skandinavije? Što će se dogoditi sa cijenama i učestalošću??

Jedino što nas sad treba zanimati jest hoće li biti turističke ljetne sezone u Hrvatskoj ili ne. Rekao bih da, s najnovijim razvojem situacije, sezonu još ne bi trebalo otpisivati. Mnogim ljudima je dosta lockdowna i jedva čekaju otići negdje na put čim im to ponovo bude omogućeno. Količina putnika bit će malena zbog mjera sigurnosti ili straha koji se uvukao u neke građane, ali općenito mislim da će zrakoplovne kompanije početi letjeti čim im to bude dopušteno i budu imali putnike koje trebaju prevesti.

Što se tiče cijena, u kratkom ćemo roku vidjeti neke zaista dobre ponude za putnike. Zračne kompanije će biti prekapacitirane i Ryanair i Wizzair su već najavili da će se boriti za svakog putnika niskim cijenama, dakle u sljedećih godinu ili dvije vidjet ćemo novi rat cijenama na europskom nebu dok se ne smiri situacija na tržištu..

Jednom rečenicom opišite nam stanje u sljedećim kompanijama, s naglaskom na to kakav odnos od njih možemo očekivati nakon korone prema hrvatskom tržištu..

Ryanair: Za njih se uopće ne brinem. Oni će se vratiti punom snagom čim budu mogli stabilno letjeti. Koliko znam, Ryanair održava svoju flotu u posve operativnom stanju, tako da mogu ponovo krenuti u bilo kojem trenutku.

easyJet: I prije ove krize bili su u sukobu sa svojim dioničarima oko toga jesu li prebrzo rasli u posljednjih par godina. Osnivač, Stelios, nije zadovoljan takvim rastom i izjavio je da bi manji easyJet mogao biti profitabilniji. Ova kriza bi ih sad mogla oštetiti, ali ni za njih ne brinem, i oni će se vratiti.

Norwegian: Norwegian je sad već hodajući mrtvac, još uvijek na životu samo zato što su im dioničari i leasing kompanije dali neko vrijeme da se restrukturiraju. Ne računam da će se uopće uskoro vratiti u Hrvatsku.

Eurowings: Mislim da će se oni vratiti slično kao Ryanair i easyJet. Letovi za Hrvatsku dio su njihovog osnovnog biznisa ne-poslovnih putovanja, pa čim se pojavi interes, ponovo će letjeti.

Jet2: Jednako kao i za Eurowings.

Lufthansa: Nešto drukčija situacija, jer se oni ipak koncentriraju na povezanost preko svojih hubova u Frankfurtu i Münchenu, pa imaju više poslovnih putnika od onih koji idu na odmore. Možda u Hrvatsku budu slali manje avione, ali će sigurno biti povezanosti.

BA: Vjerojatno slično kao i Lufthansa, možda će koristiti manje avione.

SAS: Kompanija je iskoristila vrijeme korone da obavi neophodno restrukturiranje, otpuštanje dijela osoblja i slično. Očekujem da će se vratiti. U kojem obliku, to ćemo tek vidjeti.

Croatia Airlines nakon korone?

Croatia Airlines je tijekom ove krize pokazala zašto je bitno imati nacionalnu zrakoplovnu kompaniju. Pružili su ključnu liniju za Frankfurt, letjeli do Kine da bi dovezli zaštitnu opremu, obavili mnoštvo letova kojima su vratili hrvatske državljane u zemlju i slično. Hrvati zaista mogu biti ponosni na svoju zrakoplovnu kompaniju, jer je to nešto s čime bi se Hrvatska zaista mučila da nisu imali nacionalnu kompaniju koja funkcionira.

Imat će također i ključnu ulogu u oporavku hrvatskog gospodarstva, jer će imati mnogo bolju povezanost nego druge zemlje u regiji kad se ukinu ograničenja kretanja. Ali, to je nešto što je propast Adria Airwaysa već drastično pokazala. Adria je propala i nitko nije preuzeo njihove napuštene linije iz Ljubljane. Bilo je povećanja broja letova prema većim hubovima, ali mnoge direktne linije su ipak izgubljene.

Zato je Croatia Airlines toliko bitna za razvoj Hrvatske, pružaju direktne linije koje nitko drugi ne bi pružao. Važno je i da oni plaćaju porez u Hrvatskoj, pa iako im Vlada mora pomoći s vremena na vrijeme proračunskim novcem, taj se novac uvijek vrati, kroz poreze, dodanu vrijednost za zemlju i slično. Jedino što bi Croatia Airlines trebala je pronaći većeg partnera da bi se koristili sinergijski učinci, smanjili troškovi i slično. Dobar partner bi ih izazivao svakim danom da budu sve bolji.

Slično Swissu kojeg sada u vlasništvu ima Lufthansa i koji je bio premalen da bi bio profitabilan dok je poslovao samostalno, ali s većom količinom novca iza sebe postali su nezaustavljivi. Bio sam baš uzbuđen kad sam vidio da je Aegean zainteresiran za njih. Aegean je fantastična kompanija s pametnim, lean poslovnim modelom koji se može nositi sa sezonalnošću, a čak bi i flote tih dviju kompanija bile 100 % kompatibilne. Nadam se da će se ti razgovori nastaviti kad se sve ovo završi. To bi bio sjajan brak.

Očekujete li da će neke nove kompanije ući na hrvatsko tržište, ili da će neke povećati prisutnost na njemu. Na primjer, Wizzair, koji je dosta aktivan u regiji. 

Kao i u svakoj drugoj krizi, neke kompanije će propasti jer su i prije bile u lošem stanju, a druge će u tome vidjeti sjajne prilike. Wizzair je svakako u toj drugoj skupini i sada zaista zauzijamu sve veći dio tržišta. Ulazak Wizzaira na hrvatsko tržište imao bi smisla i vjerojatno će se i dogoditi ako se smanje aerodromske takse na kompetitivnu razinu.

Značajno smanjenje prometa utjecalo je na zračne luke diljem svijeta. Koliko pate hrvatske zračne luke? Koncesija u Zagrebu je već bila kontroverzna. Kako će ova situacija utjecati na to?

Pa, situacija je za sve zračne luke zaista loša, zato će se boriti kao ludi da vrate promet k sebi. Za to se hrvatske zračne luke sada moraju pripremiti. Moraju stvoriti poticaje za kompetitivnost i podržati programe za zrakoplovne kompanije kako bi nastavile dolaziti u Hrvatsku, a ne prebacile svoj promet na druge zemlje u regiji.

Koliki postotak smanjenja prometa očekujete u 2021. u odnosu na 2019. u hrvatskim zračnim lukama?

Rekao bih da je moguće sve između -50 % i sličnog postotka. Trenutačno bih vjerojatno bio sretan kada bi u 2021. imali 20 % pada prometa u odnosu na 2019.

Gledajući prema budućnosti i planirajući, Split bi svakako bio učinkovitiji ako bi imao direktnu liniju prema većem europskom hubu, poput Münchena i Frankfurta, nego sad kad većina prometa ide kroz Zagreb. Što mislite, kolike su šanse da se Split tako poveže s nekim većim europskim hubom?

Mislim da to neće biti jednostavno, jer se Split nosi s mnoštvom sezonskog prometa. Lani su imali 720 tisuća putnika u srpnju, a 35 tisuća u veljači. Svaka kompanija koja bi na to pomišljala morala bi se baviti s tom sezonalnošću. To djelomično ulazi i u vaše pitanje o Croatia Airlinesu i zapravo ističe koliko je ta kompanija bitna za povezanost cijele zemlje. Tijekom ljeta, kad su svi avioni puni, svako može i želi letjeti za Hrvatsku, ali kad dođemo do listopada svi otkazuju letove jer postaju neprofitabilni i ostajete bez pola godine dok ne krene sljedeća sezona. Ako Split želi letove za München ili Frankfurt, to će koštati, i morat će pronaći program koji će pokriti gubitke kompanije od listopada do ožujka. Ako to uspiju napraviti, nešto će se možda dogoditi. Ako ne, ostat će status quo.

Najnovije vijesti iz svijeta avijacije možete pratiti na web stranici ch-aviation.

As Poslovni Dnevnik writes on the 8th of May, 2020, INA has made yet another generous donation, following the large donation it gave to various Croatian health institutions a few weeks ago as part of the fight against the spread of the new coronavirus (COVID-19). 

INA has stated that helping out those who are the most in need motives and drives them, and as such, INA has continued its long-term cooperation with SOS Children's Village Croatia (SOS Dječje selo) in these challenging times we're facing. The company donated 130,000 kuna for the project "Our first 10 years - Stay at home in SOS Children's Village Croatia/Naših prvih 10 godina – Ostani doma u SOS Dječjem selu Hrvatska).''

Thanking INA for the generous donation, Mr. Zoran Relic, director of SOS Children's Village Ladimirevci said: "The month of May in our Children's Village in Ladimirevci is the happiest month because we're celebrating a birthday, and none of these birthdays over the last 10 years has passed without our friends from INA. INA's monetary donation, corporate volunteering to help maintain the infrastructure, Christmas gifts for the children of their own choosing, which INA's employees lovingly bought them, make growing up safer and happier for our kids. We'd like to thank you for ten years of loyalty and support. We stayed at home, and thanks to INA for staying with us!''

In addition to financial support, children in the care of the SOS Children's Village Croatia receivedsweets and cotton protective masks sewn by members of the Kamensko association, which has also become a partner of INA during the crisis caused by the pandemic.

INA's CEO Sándor Fasimon said: ''Even in these difficult times, when we're facing a pandemic and we're threatened by an economic crisis, we're not giving up on fulfilling our responsible role in society. We have always been with those who need help the most and we're proud that for many years we've been able to help children from the SOS Children's Village Croatia in order to more easily achieve quality conditions for creating a caring home for every child. At the moment, that is needed more than it ever was before,''

Adapting the daily lives of 240 children and young people in the care of SOS Children's Village Croatia to the situation caused by the coronavirus outbreak requires additional effort and the necessary resources to be made readily available. Hygiene measures for the prevention of the spread of the infection have been increased, and the children receive all the necessary help and support as they need it. All of this will will be easier to organise with the help of INA's kind donation.

Make sure to follow our lifestyle page for more.

May 9, 2020 - After an impressive coaching career that spanned almost four decades, the most celebrated Croatian water polo coach has decided he's had enough. A look at the legacy of Ratko Rudic. 

Croatian water polo legend Ratko Rudic ended his coaching career this week after parting ways with Italian club Pro Recco, but remains a pertinent part of the water polo world. 

HRT writes that the former Croatia national team coach won nearly everything he could during his admirable career. He planned to say goodbye by raising the Champions League trophy with Pro Recco, but the coronavirus pandemic had other plans. 

Rudic has won 67 medals, both playing and coaching, of which ten were with the Croatia national team from 2005 to 2012. 

Trophies with the Croatia national team
- Gold at the 2012 London Olympics

- Gold at the 2007 World Championships in Melbourne

- Gold at the European Championships in Zagreb 2010

- Gold in the World League in Almaty 2012

- Silver in the World League in Podgorica in 2009

- Silver at the FINA Cup in Oradea 2010

- Bronze at the World Championships in Rome 2009

- Bronze at the World Championships in Shanghai 2011

- Bronze in the World League in Nis 2010

- Bronze in the World League in Florence 2011

He is the only coach in the world of water polo, and the second coach in team sports in general, to lead three different national teams (Yugoslavia, Italy and Croatia) to the Olympic gold medal, and won another three gold medals with three national teams at the World Championships. 

He also competed in four consecutive Olympic finals - as a player in Moscow in 1980, and then as a coach in Los Angeles in 1984, Seoul in 1988 and Barcelona in 1992. He won medals with five national teams from three continents (Yugoslavia, Italy, USA, Croatia and Brazil).

‘Studious’, ‘a good psychologist’, ‘order, work and discipline’, ‘legend’, ‘demanding’ - this is how his former players describe the greatest water polo coach in history.

At the age of 72, Ratko Rudic decided to say goodbye to his coaching career, which lasted almost four decades. Italian club Pro Recco, with whom he planned to win three trophies with this season, will remain recorded as the last act in his magnificent coaching career. 

Rudic was quarantined in Italy for months, and finally returned to his home in Zagreb just a few days ago, where he is in two weeks of self-isolation.

While it is difficult to count all the medals and titles that Rudic won in his playing and coaching career, Rudic says his favorite is from the London Olympics in 2012 with Croatia.

"It was a tournament that we played in great style, where we dominated in all the games we played and where then, Croatia really played a modern, dynamic, safe and organized water polo," said Rudic.

"My first wish was to bring Ratko because I knew what he carried. How is he different from the others? If 90, or 95 or 99 percent needs to be drawn from a player, he will draw 120 percent from everyone," said the executive director of the Croatian Water Polo Federation, Perica Bukic.

"We went through the hardest and the best, and in the end, when you look at all the results, there is only praise," said Croatia water polo representative Andro Buslje.

"He managed to adapt to the times, which only the greatest can do. I think he helped Croatian water polo a lot and laid the foundations outside the pool. Here, even today, there are top results," says Sandro Sukno.

In addition to the gold medal in London, Ratko Rudic won the world and European gold with Croatia. He was ready to retire after London 2012, but a year later, he wanted a new challenge. He took over the national team of Brazil and worked miracles once again.

"Then, in 2015, we managed to win third place in the World League, which never happened. And what makes me especially happy is that at that time, the Brazilian Olympic Committee declared me the most successful coach in team sports. And we know the quality of team sports in Brazil," said Rudic.

The only trophy missing in Rudic's collection is the Champions League trophy. The plan was to make it happen this season with Pro Recco.

"I had a huge desire, motivation and energy for that last trophy, but, unfortunately, a higher power decided, and I failed to achieve it," said the water polo great.

While we will no longer watch the 'Golden Mustache' by the pool, this coaching genius will continue to share his knowledge and advice in the world of water polo.

To read more about sport in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.  

Will the coronavirus pandemic actually provide what Croatia needs in the end to step up its game when it comes to not only digitalisation, but the production and processing of its own produce?

As Jadranka Dozan/Poslovni Dnevnik writes on the 8th of May, 2020, the invitation to Croatian farmers to cooperate is a move from the company ENNA Fruit for the organisation of the production, purchase, distribution and processing of fruits and vegetables. It was created by connecting several companies, with all of them recognising the great synergy potential in the move.

ENNA Fruit has, as such, invited Croatian farmers to cooperate, and that is the title of a press release that was distributed to the media from that company. As we're living in the coronavirus era and we're hearing about more and more companies, associations and businesses needing to further adapt the ways in which they do business in order to stay afloat, such an press release sounds almost like a "routine" announcement, but the story could have more far-reaching consequences and could suggest a significant step forward for Croatia's fruit and vegetable production.

Namely, ENNA Fruit is a new company created by connecting the business and interests of Enna Agro and Marinada, and as was pointed out in the aforementioned press release/announcement, this new company is now taking the leading position in the organisation of production, purchase, distribution and processing of fruits and vegetables from Croatia and its immediate region.

"The Croatian fruit and vegetable market is relatively small and market consolidation is of strategic importance, both for agricultural producers and for buyers. Manufacturers have been given specialised infrastructure that will provide them with the easiest access to the market, and customers are given high-quality goods prepared for use to the highest standards. ENNA Fruit connects primary agricultural production and the market through cooperative relations, its own purchasing centres, involving the processing and distribution of the entire range of fruits and vegetables. This approach ensures quality, continuity and quantity for customers,'' they explained from the company which was registered less than a month and a half ago, with its headquarters in Vukovar.

Its headquarters are at the same address as ENNA Agro, and it is the company by which Pavao Vujnovac, also the owner of PPD, expanded his business portfolio to the field of agriculture. Among other things, ENNA Agro has stepped into the supply of fruit to the massive Konzum sales chain.

This new step forward of this equally new company, in addition to the financial strength of its founder, is also interesting in light of the fact that Vujnovac's PPD, through a joint venture with INA, is also the main shareholder of Petrokemija, a domestic producer of mineral fertilisers.

Marinada, on the other hand, is a company specialising in the production, purchase, storage, packaging and sale of fresh and processed fruits and vegetables. The company's headquarters in Slatina boasts one of the most modern production plants for pasteurised fruits and vegetables in the entire region, and it also has several purchase centres, as well as an established sales office in Zagreb.

All in all, it has a solid infrastructure, and Denis Matijevic, one of the co-owners and members of the company, has long been engaged in expertise in the field of agriculture, among other things, and participation in the development of agricultural development strategies.

Linking the business of ENNA Agra and Marinada is thus considered a logical move with potentially significant synergy effects, especially since the coronavirus pandemic seems to have had a stimulating effect on recognising the importance of food production for Croatia and raising the question of self-sufficiency in general.

Thus, the statement from ENNA Fruits points out that "agriculture, in order to be competitive and sustainable, must be horizontally and vertically integrated."

Through integration, they say, the company wil provide all the necessary inputs for production, knowledge and technology transfer, added value for the products, as well as for the sales market. They added that the situation caused by the coronavirus outbreak only further confirmed the need for the stable organisation of agricultural production and distribution and the integration of the entire process from production to product placement, with the aim of optimising the entire chain.

For more on Croatian agriculture, follow our business page. For all you need to know about the coronavirus pandemic in relation to Croatia, stay up to date with our dedicated section.

As Poslovni Dnevnik writes on the 9th of May, 2020, these coronavirus serological test results could be an important guideline for national-level testing because they give at least a rough picture of how many residents of Croatia have been exposed to coronavirus and got over it without even knowing they'd ever contracted it.

Slobodna Dalmacija has found out that a large number of DIV Group employees were tested last month, including those employed in the Split shipyard. Many people who contract coronavirus are asymptomatic, not realising they are even harbouring the virus. As such, and as previously stated, the results of this serological testing could act as an important guideline for national testing because they provide us with at least a rough picture of how many people have actually contracted it without becoming unwell or being any the wiser.

“In cooperation with the University Department of Forensic Sciences of the University of Split, from April the 23rd to the 28th, we conducted the serological testing of antibodies to 2019-nCoV. 1724 DIV group workers participated in the research, of which 1316 were employees of Brodosplit, which acts as more than a representative sample. During the examination, all GDPR measures were strictly observed, and the coronavirus serological testing was carried out using the AMP Rapid Test SARS-Cov 2 test,'' explained Josip Jurisic, Head of Public Relations of the DIV Group.

The first mass serological testing in Croatia was also commented on prof. Dr. Simun Andjelinovic, professor at the Department of Forensic Sciences at the University of Split.

"We, as scientists, got involved at the invitation of the DIV management to perform this serological testing and scientifically process the results of these tests. What is interesting with these tests is the fact that the infection rate of the tested population is less than two percent. This is a very valuable result, because scientists around the world thought that the prevalence in the population would be much higher.

Such results are the starting point for other coronavirus serological tests, as well as for other preventive measures that will be taken in similar companies and will serve to further develop the system of the safety of workers and their job satisfaction. We'll publish the results of our research in scientific journals and they will be used for all future scientific evaluations of such threats,'' said prof.dr. Andjelinovic.

Make sure to follow our dedicated section for all you need to know about coronavirus in relation to Croatia.