October the 25th, 2021 - A well known foreign company, the Belgian Gourmet company, has chosen Croatia and more precisely the Dalmatian hinterland in which to do business. The country and the area of Vrlika were chosen as the best among an array of other locations.

As Novac/Jutarnji/Slobodna Dalmacija/Toni Pastar writes, the Belgian Gourmet company is heating up its project involving a chocolate factory in the work zone of Kosora near Vrlika, and one journalist from Slobodna Dalmacija was among the first ''tasters'' of the chocolate made by "The Belgian Chocolate Group".

Products from their plant over in Belgium were offered to the public because the start of production under Dinara will start in just a month or two, when the shipment of products from Vrlika to the rest of Europe and the world will begin.

Vrlika has built a Business Centre covering about 2,000 square metres in the Kosore zone, which has six incubator production spaces and the same number of offices. The aforementioned foreign company has leased four spaces, which it is hastily merging into one single entity and is installing a new plant in which production will start, and this will primarily be vegan chocolates.

The Belgians have registered the Belgian Gourmet company for their entrepreneurial venture here in Croatia, based in Kosore. Starting up the future factory is the main task of Luc Laureys, one of the co-owners of the Belgian Gourmet company and its chief technologist.

Croatia was chosen among several countries

''We picked Croatia out of a group of several countries, and of the micro-locations we considered, Vrlika was the most suitable one of all for us. Our plan is to build a large factory, so for this project, in the immediate vicinity of these incubators, we purchased a plot covering 27,500 square metres from Vrlika itself. Until the construction of that factory, we decided to start production on a smaller scale in order to receive the planned work in all segments, from the supply of raw materials to the training of new employees,'' they claimed from the Belgian Gourmet company.

When can the start of production in the leased incubators be expected?

''The installation of plants and production lines is in progress. When it comes to the technical part, we'll be finished in about a month, and by then we will, I believe, remove the all of the administrative obstacles and prepare the necessary workforce.

Is the plant new?

''Yes, we ordered these new machines from the manufacturer solely for the factory in Vrlika. We've invested around three million euros in their purchase, and when we build a larger production facility in the neighbourhood, we will only relocate them and supplement them if necessary.

How many workers do you plan to start with?

''We will start production with twenty employees and we'll then gradually increase that number.

When do you plan to build a factory on the purchased plot in Vrlika and how much do you plan to invest in that?

''Our goal is to build a new factory within two years. I can't state the amount of investment because we don't know the construction prices in Croatia. In Belgium, such a factory would cost us about eleven million euros. We plan to have 120 employees in the newly built factory, meaning in about two years.

When the construction of the chocolate factory in Vrlika was first announced, it was expected that it would encourage the development of dairy farming and milk production. According to you, there will be none of that because milk won't be being used in the Belgian Gourmet company's production of chocolate in Vrlika...

"The Belgian Chocolate Group" is the third largest chocolate producer in Belgium. In our range we have a number of products, many of which, in addition to cocoa, the main ingredient is milk. In the global market, the trends are seeing an increase in the consumption of vegan chocolate and other sweets.

When we founded the Belgian Gourmet company, we registered for the production of cocoa, chocolate and candy products. In Vrlika, we decided on vegan products. Many who eat our products at first will find it difficult to distinguish them from the classic, non-vegan ones. We estimate that the market for sweets as we produce will have the highest growth among people who don't want to eat food of animal origin.

You've announced that you will make maximum use of the raw materials produced in the area. What will you be able to use from local producers in Vrlika?

''These are primarily nuts, whose production we'll certainly encourage. Basically, we'll be able to get everything we need for production from Vrlika, Dalmatia and Croatia, and none of it will be being delivered from distant destinations.

Jure Plazonic, the mayor of Vrlika, also joined the conversation.

It turned out that our Business Centre and its six incubator premises, which we mostly financed from European Union (EU) funds, were a total success. We believe that this could really bring about a turnaround in the life of Vrlika, that it could bring it all back to life. This project with the Belgian chocolate producers is our mainstay.

They started in a similar way nine years ago in Vietnam. Today, the factory there has 300 workers. With my associates, I was maximally engaged in helping these Belgian investors. As soon as a problem arises, we work to solve it immediately, we open the door to them and I must say that we're doing it all very successfully.

What does Vrlika expect from everything?

''I already said, we expect a return to life for Vrlika. The factory needs workers. These will be the currently unemployed young people from Vrlika who, in addition to a secure job, as a source of livelihood, will feel good enough to start a family here. We expect that some of the displaced Vrlika citizens will return because they have family houses and then they'll also have the proper preconditions for organising life here, and we already have cases where several people from distant cities have applied for the selection of the first 20 employees.

We'll be happy to see such people in Vrlika because they won't be daily migrants, such as workers from Sinj, Knin or Drnis, but will instead settle in our area, and we will encourage them to do so.

Mr. Laureys says that without the support of you and your associates, everything would have gone much more slowly...

'''Our goal is for our partners from Belgium to pass on their good experiences to their own business acquaintances, in order to arouse interest among them so that after they move to a new factory, those who are interested, on their recommendation, can arrive at the emptied incubator premises here in Vrlika.

For more, check out our business section.

February 29, 2020 - A meeting was held in Sinj for the informal clusters association of the tourist boards of Inland Dalmatia.

Ferata.hr reports that the meeting was attended by State Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism, Tonci Glavina, Mayor of Sinj Kristina Križanac, Mayor of Vrlika Jure Plazonic, Mayor of Dugopolje Perica Bosancic, Mayor of Klis Jakov Vetma, and directors of tourist boards of Vrlika, Trilj, Sinj and Dugopolje - Dijana Maras, Andriana Ivkovic, Monika Vrgoc, and Tomislav Balić.

The meeting discussed the model of merging the tourist boards of Inland Dalmatia into a single cluster, due to pulling funds from the Ministry of Tourism intended for underdeveloped tourist areas, as well as from funds intended for associated tourist boards through quality joint projects.

 The tourist boards of Inland Dalmatia have so far participated in a series of joint projects and would continue to do so in the official form with the new legislation. This is one of the first meetings on the informal association of Inland Dalmatia tourist boards.

To read more about Inland Dalmatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.

Renewable energy sources are increasingly being harnessed on the Croatian coast, where there is ample wind and sun. In addition to wind power plants, which are multiplying every year, the construction of solar power plants is also on the rise.

There is one plant in Istria, which became operational in 2018, and three more will produce electricity in early 2020: on the islands of Cres and Vis and near Vrlika according to Morski on November 26, 2019. With investments of HRK 80 million, Croatian Electric Company (HEP) will add four new power plants to their network with a total capacity of 11.6 megawatts (MW). In the long term, they plan to complete solar power projects with a total power of 350 MW by the end of 2030.

The Kaštelir solar power plant has a capacity of 1 MW and an expected annual production of about 1.5 million kWh, which will meet the electricity needs of about 500 households. The power plant is equipped with solar panels manufactured by the Solvis company in Varaždin. This plant has been operating since December 2018. It has a contract with HROTE (Croatian Energy Market Operator) as a preferred producer within their incentive system. Here is an aerial video of the plant.

The location permit for the Cres solar power plant was obtained in June 2018 and that plant is being developed by the County of Primorje-goranska. The location of SE Cres is about 2 kilometers north of the settlement Orlec on the island of Cres. The power plant is 6.5 MW with an expected production capacity of 8.5 million kWh per year, which will meet the electricity needs of about 2,500 households. The total value of the investment is HRK 41 million. Preparatory work on the site is underway and the power plant will begin operating in 2020. Here is a simulation of the Cres power plant.

The Vis solar power plant will be located on the hill of Grizova Glavica, near the village of Žena Glava, about 3.6 kilometers southwest of the town of Vis and about 4.8 kilometers east of Komiža. HEP purchased the project from Končar-Obnovlji izvori energie (Končar Renewable Energy). The expected annual output is 4.2 million kWh, which will meet the needs of about 1,400 households. This investment is valued at HRK 25.3 million. The power plant is under construction and is expected to be operational by February 2020.

The Vrlika Jug solar power plant represents the completion of the first phase of planned construction in the southern part of the Kosora working zone in the town of Vrlika. The power plant will have 2.1 MW of power and an estimated annual output of about 2.9 million kWh. Construction will be completed in the first half of 2020, according to HEP.

For more information on HEP solar plant projects, check out their website here.

To keep updated on renewable energy projects in Croatia, follow our Business page here and our Lifestyle page here.

October 14, 2019 - The future tourism development of the Cetina region will be based on the development of active and adventure tourism and untouched natural beauties. It will be presented under the slogan "Untamed Dalmatia". 

On Monday, the results of the promotional activities for the project 'Sinj u sridu', an integrated program financed by European funds, aimed at the reconstruction, renovation, and revitalization of cultural assets of the City of Sinj for their greater valorization, were presented at the Sinj City Hall. The project partner responsible for the implementation of the promotional activities was the Public Institution RERA S.D. for the coordination and development of Split-Dalmatia County (JU RERA S.D.). This resulted in a mobile application and web portal for the Cetina region and a promotional catalog of cultural heritage in Croatian, English, Italian, and German. The framework for these activities was provided by the Cetina Krajina Branding Strategy.

The mobile application "Cetinska Krajina" and the web portal www.cetinska-krajina.hr have been developed to meet the needs of visitors who are motivated by the desire for new experiences and experiences, gastronomy and enjoying the beauties of natural heritage. The app is available for Android and iOS devices, and one of the special features is that visitors can use the navigation tool to create a tour route to their preferences. Nineteen cycling trails in the area of Sinj, Trilj, and Vrlika have also been integrated into the mobile application.

The presentation was attended by the mayor of Sinj, Kristina Krizanac, Jozo Sarac, director of JU RERA for the Coordination and Development of Split-Dalmatia County, Feđa Milivojevic from Urbanex Ltd., creator of the branding strategy, Martina Horvat from Kocka d.o.o., in charge of developing the mobile application and web portal Cetinska krajina, as well as other representatives from the tourism sector in the Split-Dalmatia County region. 

"The goal of 'Sinj u sridu' is to encourage stronger valorization of the natural and cultural heritage of this region and ultimately increase the employment and standard of living of our fellow citizens. We want Sinj not only alive in August when the Alka and the Assumption of Mary are held, but also the rest of the year. That is why the renovation project included the fortress Stari grad, Kamičak fortress, Palacina building and streets in the city center, and the Sinjska Alka Museum,” said Križanac.

The director of JU RERA, Jozo Sarac, emphasized: "The final goal of implementing the activities defined by the Cetina Krajina Branding Strategy is to increase the arrival of tourists to this area." Sarac presented the Cetina Krajina Branding Strategy document to the representatives of municipalities and cities, that is, representatives of tourist boards as the bearers of tourism development in the Cetina region.

The branding strategy covered the cities of Sinj, Trilj, and Vrlika and the municipalities of Dicmo, Hrvace and Otok. The tourism potential of the area is articulated in the Branding Strategy, which also defines the visual identity of the Cetina region, the brand and communication strategy and the action plan for the implementation of the Branding Strategy. Future tourism development of the Cetina region should be based on the development of active and adventure tourism and untouched natural beauties. It should be presented under the slogan 'Untamed Dalmatia'.

The 'Sinj u sridu' project, as well as the development of promotional materials and the implementation of promotional activities, were co-financed by the European Union from the European Regional Development Fund and the Competitiveness and Cohesion Operational Program 2014-2020. The total value of the project amounts to HRK 66,594,231.17, of which the European Union grant is HRK 55,597,793.26.

For more information, visit www.strukturnifondovi.hr.

To read more about traveling Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page.

October 5, 2019 - Rožarica, or Our Lady of the Rosary, is a holiday that is especially marked in the area of Vrlika - and because of its rich program, it is not exclusively religious. It is a time when the people of Vrlika gather, who are traditionally very attached and proud of their region. And this time of year, they rush home to commemorate this holiday with fellow locals and their guests.

Seemingly only a small town in Inland Dalmatia, Vrlika is unusually rich in traditional amenities and a cultural heritage that is carefully guarded - whether it be indigenous desserts from Vrlika’s cuisine, such as the famous uštipak, or genuinely unique intangible goods, such as the emblematic comic opera “Ero s onoga svijeta”, which over time has become a true ambassador for Vrlika in the world.

There is no better time to experience this picturesque town and its surroundings. You can check out the program of events below. 

September 12, 2019 - The Vrlika City Cup will be held on September 14, 2019, from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm in Vrlika (Kosore / Brzica), while the National Model Airplane Championship will be held on September 9, 2019, from 9:00h do 2:00 pm in Vrlika (Kosore / Brzica), organized by Aeroclub Split.

The Vrlika Tourist Board looks forward to a good time and invites all visitors to come enjoy this extraordinary event.

July 19, 2019 - The 6th World Championships of Vrlika Uštipak will be held on Saturday, July 20, 2019, at 19:00 at the Česma in Vrlika.

On the spot, contestants will mix the dough for the uštipak (the famous fry bread from Inland Dalmatia), which will then be evaluated by the jury.

Apart from winning the Championship, the best will be awarded prize money, though it is no easy task for the jury - for how does one choose the best? Namely, the shape, appearance, color, fat, and salinity are evaluated.

This gastro event is extremely important for Vrlika and was designed to preserve and promote uštipak as a traditional product of the area.

On Saturday, July 13, Vrlika has prepared a full day events for its citizens and visitors. 

The morning kicks off with a dog show organized by the Cynology Association ‘Vrlika’, which will be held under the shade of the Vrlika fountain. 

In the afternoon, the 4th competition of hunter’s goulash will be held, organized by the Hunting Association "Svilaja”.  The traditional foodie fest is already well-attended, and visitors will have the opportunity to taste delicacies from valuable chefs who will work hard all afternoon selecting different spices to make their goulash the tastiest for the jury. This event will also take place at the Vrlika fountain. 

The Vrlika Tourist Board invites everyone to join tomorrow’s programs, where the entrance is free!

June 21, 2019 - The Sports Fishing Society “Šaran” from Vrlika informs all its members and lovers of the sport that on June 22, 2019, the fly fishing competition “Vrlika Cup 2019" will be held!

The competition will take place on the Cetina river at Begovac starting at 9:00 am, and applications for competitors must be received by 8:30 am. You can also register by calling the mobile number 0911222426.

After the contest ends, the party continues with a feast prepared by the Sports Fishing Society “Šaran” from Vrlika!

June 6, 2019 - Need something to do this weekend? You should head to Vrlika!

Namely, the Tourist Board of Vrlika invites everyone to the Garjak Rowing Center on Saturday, June 8, 2019, where the 2nd Mini Cup Regatta of the Rowing Federation of Dalmatia! The event begins at 9 am.

You can find the invitation below.