ZAGREB, October 10, 2019 - A two-day international conference called "The diaspora and the homeland" began on Thursday, with participants underlining the importance of expatriates for Croatia's development, recognisability and branding.
Presidential envoy Mirjana Hrga said expatriates were a key topic for the survival of the Croatian state and nation given that more Croats lived abroad than in Croatia.
President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović considers that an unforgivably wasted capital for the country, a resource from which a relatively young and independent state should draw its wealth, she said.
She recalled that the president had proposed establishing a demography ministry a few years ago, which did not happen, but that she would insist on the establishment of a state body to deal with expatriates and immigration.
Hrga said expatriates poured HRK 15.5 billion into Croatia annually and that this was more than all the annual foreign investment.
Zvonko Milas, state secretary at the State Office for Croats outside Croatia, underlined the role of the diaspora in the creation of the Croatian state, saying there had been no Croat community around the world that did not collect money or politically lobby for that.
"Croats around the world must care for Croats in Croatia, and in Bosnia and Herzegovina, but vice versa as well. We must have common values whereby we recognise each other as members of one nation."
Milas said the government must promote the Croatian identity in Croatian communities around the world and that Croats abroad must be included in every state strategy. He underlined the importance of passing a new law on the acquisition of Croatian citizenship for facilitating returns, studying and starting a business in Croatia.
After Ireland, Croatia has the relatively largest diaspora, said Božo Ljubić, chair of the parliamentary Committee on Croats outside Croatia. He added that the Croatian Heritage Foundation had been caring for Croats abroad for over 65 years.
More diaspora news can be found in the dedicated section.
