ZAGREB, 19 Aug, 2021 - Economy and Sustainable Development Minister Tomislav Ćorić told the press on Thursday that Croatia's economy would expand by more than five percent in 2021 on the back of excellent results in the tourist sector so far this year.

Considering the trends in the tourist season and results in July and in the first half of August, I can point out that we in the government expect that our forecasts of economic growth of more than five percent will turn out to be correct, he told reporters after the government's meeting.

If the positive trends in the tourist trade continue in the remainder of the season, the growth can be even higher, he said, adding that he is optimistic about that.

After a downturn of 8% in 2020, the Croatian economy is expected to rebound by 5.2% in 2021, according to the government's projections.

Ćorić added that the government had today decided to allocate HRK 30 million for the completion of an entrepreneurial centre in prefab containers in Petrinja.

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ZAGREB, 19 August, 2021 - The turnover of passengers at Croatian seaports in the second quarter of 2021 reaches 5.4 million, up 81.8% on the year and 41.9% more than in the same period in 2019, according to the national statistical office (DZS).

The port in Split recorded the highest number of passengers -- 739,970 -- which is 115.3% more than in the same period the year before.

The port in Zadar follows with 474,089 passengers or 63.8% more on the year.

Maritime freight increased by by 10.2% with Croatian ports handling 6.2 million tonnes of seaborne goods in the said period.

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ZAGREB, 17 Aug, 2021 - On Tuesday, the Zagreb Stock Exchange Crobex index increased by 0.05% to 1,972.07 points, while the other main index, the Crobex10, dipped by 0.10% to 1,211.70 points.

Regular turnover was HRK 7.8 million.

The most traded stock was the SZAIF fund, turning over more than HRK 3 million. It closed at HRK 22.20 per share, up 8.82%.

Two other stocks crossed the million kuna mark. The Podravka food company turned over HRK 1.5 million, closing at HRK 582 per share (+0.69%), while the Atlantska Plovidba shipping company turned over HRK 1.1 million, closing at HRK 423 (+2.67%).

Thirty-nine stocks traded today, with 14 increasing in price, 13 decreasing and 12 remaining stable.

(€1 = HRK 7.490484)

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ZAGREB, 17 Aug, 2021 - The Croatian Ministry of Finance sold HRK 983 million worth of treasury bills at an auction on Tuesday, which was slightly less than planned.

Ahead of the maturity of treasury bills worth HRK 1.23 billion, the Ministry offered a billion kuna in treasury bills for subscription at the first auction since the last one held on 23 June.

Financial institutions submitted offers worth nearly 1.3 billion, and the Ministry accepted HRK 983 million.

The latest treasury bills were issued with a maturity of one year and at an interest rate of 0.01%, which is by one base point lower than at the previous auction on 23 June when the bills were issued with a maturity of one year and at an interest rate of 0.02%. This low interest rate is a result of surplus liquidity in the local financial system.

After today's auction, the balance of kuna-denominated treasury bills subscribed decreased by HRK 245 million to HRK 14.19 billion.

(€1 = HRK 7.490484)

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ZAGREB, 4 Aug, 2021 - The main Zagreb Stock Exchange (ZSE) indices closed mixed on Wednesday, with the Crobex increasing by 0.20% to 1,957 points and the Crobex10 decreasing by 0.13% to 1,204 points.

Regular turnover amounted to HRK 4.25 million, roughly the same as on Tuesday.

The only stock to pass the turnover mark of one million kuna was that of the HPB postal bank, turning over HRK 1.13 million. Its price went up by 3.6% to HRK 575 per share.

A total of 41 stocks traded today, with 16 of them registering price increases, 12 recording price decreases and 13 remaining stable in price.

(€1 = HRK 7.490424)

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ZAGREB, 3 Aug, 2021 - The main Zagreb Stock Exchange (ZSE) rose on Tuesday for the second consecutive trading day, with the Crobex increasing by 0.21% to 1,953 points and the Crobex10 by 0.38% to 1,205 points.

Turnover at the close of the trading session was HRK 4.26 million, roughly half as much as on Monday, and none of the stocks passed the turnover mark of one million kuna.

The highest turnover, of HRK 801,000, was generated by the stock of the Valamar Riviera hotel company. It closed at HRK 30 per share, up 1.69% over Monday.

A total of 37 stocks traded today, with 12 of them registering price increases, 12 recording price decreases and 13 stagnating in price.

(€1 = HRK 7.498284)

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ZAGREB, 28 July, 2021 - The Zagreb Stock Exchange (ZSE) indices on Wednesday changed slightly, going in opposite directions, while regular turnover was modest, however, overall liquidity was increased by the block trading in HT telecommunication company's shares, amounting to HRK 2.66 million.

The Crobex rose by 0.15% to close at 1,934.02 points while the Crobex10 dropped by 0.11% to 1,192.41 points.

Regular trading amounted to HRK 4.4 million, almost three million less than on Tuesday.

The total liquidity was increased by the block trading in HT shares in the amount of HRK 2.66 million, at a price of HRK 190 per share.

HT shares also generated a turnover of some HRK 203,000 in regular trading, closing at HRK 190.50 per share.

In regular trading, none of the stocks crossed the million kuna mark, the closest to it being Ericsson Nikola Tesla with a turnover of HRK 916,800. Its price rose by 0.30% to HRK 1,660.

Thirty-four stocks traded today, with 19 of them registering price increases, 9 recording price decreases and 6 remaining stable in price.

(€1 = HRK 7.523)

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ZAGREB, 28 July, 2021 - The Kraš confectionery group generated a net profit of HRK 21.9 million in the first half of 2021, an increase of HRK 8.6 million or 64.2% over the same period in 2020, according to its financial statement released on Wednesday.

Consolidated revenue reached HRK 488.2 million, up by HRK 30.4 million or 6.6%, with sales revenue totalling HRK 481.4 million. Sales revenue increased by 15.8% to HRK 257.7 million on the domestic market and by 9.1% to HRK 220 million on the foreign markets.

Expenditure increased by 4.2% to HRK 461.1 million. 

(€1 = HRK 7.523368)

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ZAGREB, 27 July, 2021 - The main Zagreb Stock Exchange (ZSE) indices rose slightly on Tuesday, with the Crobex increasing by 0.07% to 1,931.03 points and the Crobex10 by 0.08% to 1,193.73 points.

Turnover at the close of the trading session was HRK 7.3 million, about 2.8 million higher than on Monday.

The rise in the turnover was mostly driven by the stock of telecommunications equipment manufacturer Ericsson Nikola Tesla telecommunications, which turned over HRK 3.04 million. It closed at HRK 1,655 per share, up by 2.48% from Monday. 

No other stock passed the turnover mark of one million kuna.

A total of 34 stocks traded today, with 13 of them registering price increases, 11 recording price decreases and 10 remaining stable in price.

(€1 = HRK 7.528218)

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ZAGREB, 27 July, 2021 - Finance Minister Zdravko Marić on Tuesday did not accept proposals for a lower VAT rate on beverages and to treat labour costs as a tax deduction, while a representative of restaurant and bar owners said they would have to fend for themselves the best way they can regarding future challenges.

"My message to all restaurant and bar owners in the country, notably those who run bars, is that a very demanding period is ahead of us and that they will have to seek new loans and funding, despite the fact that we had yet another constructive meeting with the finance minister today. We can hope that in a couple of years we will have better working conditions because now that is not the case and we have not come across any understanding in regard to our proposals," Jelena Tabak, who heads the NUU association of restaurateurs, said after the meeting.

Marić recalled that a lower VAT rate was already in place in the tourism sector for accommodation, food and for the serving of food and that beverages were the only products for which VAT had not been reduced.

Commenting on the proposal to exclude labour costs from the base amount for the calculation of the VAT rate in the hospitality sector, the minister said that neither Croatia's nor the EU's tax systems recognised such a measure.

"In terms of taxation, labour costs are indeed recognised costs but in systems in which they should be recognised - the income and profit tax systems. We cannot mix direct taxes with indirect taxes such as VAT," he explained.

Marić recalled the government's measures to help the business sector, from lower taxes to the cancellation of individual contributions, as well as expanding the scope of nontaxable income, which, he said, had resulted in a rise in employment and wages, as evidenced by statistical data.

He recalled the government's job-keeping measures and coverage of fixed costs in the hospitality sector, stressing that data on fiscalisation showed that the hospitality sector had solid results and that the real peak of the tourist season was yet to come.

Dražen Biljan of the bar owners' association of the NUU Zagreb branch said that they were not happy that their proposals were not accepted and that lowering VAT on drinks would not cost the state too much, around HRK 400 million. It would, however, mean a lot for restaurant and bar owners, he said.

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