If you were to ask the majority of people what they think of the Croatian economic outlook, the response would typically bleak. Is everything really so black, though? It would appear that certain experts, such as Boris Vujčić of the Croatian National Bank have some improved opinions on the Croatian economic outlook for 2020, and GDP growth seems to have replaced a potential slowdown.

As Novac/Marina Klepo writes on the 10th of December, 2019, although it has long been announced that the Croatian economy will experience a slowdown in the coming year, Governor Boris Vujčić is now seeing "something more optimistic'' than the way things looked a couple of months ago.

According to CNB projections for next year, the Croatian economic outlook isn't quite what we were all initially expecting, and it seems that the country's GDP will grow by almost 3 percent, much as it did this year.

The risks to growth are, first and foremost, global and political risks, and as he said when presenting the edition of The Economist's ''The World in 2020'' (Svijet 2020), these risks include trade relations between the US, China and the EU and of course, the tired, old and quite frankly embarrassing story - the largely unpredictable yet undoubtedly extremely negative consequences of Brexit.

He believes that Croatia is currently more prepared for a potential recession than it was back in 2008, because it has succeeded in changing the structure of its economic growth. Before the crisis, he explained, growth was mainly based on imports and the accumulation of debt, and to date, that structure has changed, most notably when Croatia joined the EU, making the export part of the economy much more important, with both external and public debt falling significantly.

Prime Minister Andrej Plenković is no less optimistic about the Croatian economic outlook. The PM said that Croatia would be able to adapt to international circumstances, and that "with a government policy based on fiscal consolidation, structural reforms and attracting investment, it came to a level of resilience". He also added that Croatia enjoyed faster growth from the EU average.

''I believe that we're now even more capable and efficient in absorbing European Union funds, which will be important for investment and economic growth, so I expect a stable situation,'' said Plenković, noting that the situation in Croatia is facilitated by the fact that this year, two out of three respected rating agencies returned Croatia's rating to that of an investment level, which lowered the level of the cost of borrowing, both for the state and for economic entities and residents.

Despite the fact that the structure of the Croatian economy is different today than it was back in 2008, one thing has certainly failed (and quite miserably so) to change, and that is to reduce import dependence.

The CBS trade data just released indicate that this is unlikely to happen soon, either. When it comes to food production, which is the most significant part of Croatian industry and accounts for one fifth of exports, products worth 6.6 billion kuna were exported during the first nine months of this year, which is 445 million or 7.2 percent more than in the same period last year. At the same time, imports of food products increased by as much as  1.3 billion kuna or 11.5 percent, reaching 13 billion kuna.

The CBS also released the first data for ten months of 2019, showing that in that period, total merchandise exports amounted to 94.1 billion kuna, 5 percent more than in the same period last year, while imports reached 155.4 billion kuna and increased by 5.3 percent. Thus, Croatia's foreign trade deficit increased by 3.3 billion kuna to 61.3 billion kuna, while the coverage of imports by exports decreased from 60.7 percent to 60.5 percent.

At the same time, the data for those same nine months shows an increase in exports at a rate of 6 percent, with imports increasing by 6.4 percent, suggesting that October brought with it a slowdown in trade. In terms of sectors, the strongest growth in exports in the aforementioned nine months was recorded by "other transport means", of 40.2 percent, which indicates a stabilisation of the previously dire situation in Croatian shipbuilding. However, that sector's imports have also increased sharply, by as much as 33.4 percent, so there may be some transit involved.

The export of tobacco products (37.9 percent), motor vehicles and trailers (29.1 percent), metals (17.6 percent), pharmaceuticals and rubber and plastics (12.9 percent) increased significantly. Exports of refined petroleum products fell the most, with a fall of 10.9 percent, while imports in this sector rose by as much as 35.9 percent. However, the largest increase was recorded in the import of tobacco products, by as much as 81.8 percent.

Those who sell goods in Germany, despite the announcement of a slowdown in demand, are still keeping up with the challenging pace: exports to the country increased by 5.9 percent in the first nine months of 2019. At the same time, exports to Italy, which still holds the number one position in terms of exports, grew by only 2.4 percent (imports increased by as much as 14.3 percent).

At slightly higher rates, exports to other EU countries are increasing: to Ireland, for example, exports more than doubled (to an impressive 106.5 percent), to Greece it increased by 83.3 percent, to Portugal by 28.9 percent, to Spain by 20.4 percent, and to Romania and Hungary by about 17 percent.

When it comes to Croatia's neighbouring countries, exports to Slovenia fell by 1.9 percent, while exports from that country increased by 9 percent. At the same time, exports to Bosnia and Herzegovina grew at a rate of 15.3 percent, to Serbia 11.2 percent, and imports from these countries declined slightly.

Make sure to follow our dedicated lifestyle and business pages for much more on the Croatian economic outlook.

Are there sharks in Croatia? Yes, of course. Sharks are present in the Croatian Adriatic whether we like to think about them as we dip our feet in it during sweltering summer days or not. The species found there usually pose no threat to humans and tend to keep themselves to themselves, avoiding any kind of contact with us. 

From time to time, however, sharks in Croatia do appear, either on camera delighting those filming and taking photos such as the Mako shark who became a sort of celebrity this past summer, or accidentally turning up stuck in fishermen's nets dotted along the Croatian coast.

As Morski writes on the 9th of December, 2019, Dalmatian fishermen were shocked to find a large Bluntnose sixgill shark (Hexanchus griseus) stuck in their net. The fisherman from Trogir, Marko Šola, recorded this latest footage of a shark in Croatia and commented with his colleague that the animal weighed at least 700-800 kilograms. The shark was caught near Rogoznica, but was soon returned back to the sea safe and sound.

An expert opinion was given to Dalmacija Danas today by the experienced Pero Ugarković, an associate of the Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries and editor of the popular Facebook page Podvodni.hr.

''They're not dangerous, this is a deep-sea species. They rarely appear in shallow waters, mostly at night. Sometimes there are encounters with divers, several of which were recorded in the Adriatic, the last time being in Kvarner.

These are generally smaller because they avoid the light when they're maturing. This species lives in all of the world's seas. In the Mediterranean, as well as in Croatia, it is occasionally caught by nets by accident. The shark from the video footage was returned to the sea shortly after recording it, which is a legal obligation for fishermen. This one in the video weighs about half a tonne,'' Ugarkovic stated.

Make sure to follow our dedicated lifestyle page for more on sharks in Croatia.

As Novac/Jozo Vrdoljak/Privredni.hr writes on the 9th of December, 2019, Bolt, an on-demand transportation platform, has introduced a new service - Bolt Rickshaw, which is sure to attract a lot of interest from both Zagreb locals and tourists visiting the Croatian capital city during this year's Advent. Zagreb is the first city in all of Europe where the Bolt app's users will be able to try out a whole new level of Bolt transport.

Bolt is a platform through which millions of rides are ordered and completed worldwide each and every month, and now some of those rides will be carried out on not four, but three wheels. Bolt is known for being a company which always places emphasis on dealing with the growing problem of pollution, transportation and the hustle and bustle of the city, and this time they are placing emphasis on a ride with them beig an entirely new experience, good fun and something totally different for the beloved and awarded Advent in Zagreb with Bolt.

Thanks to the introduction of Bolt Rickshaw this year, citizens and tourists in Zagreb can visit the most attractive advent sites in no time without spending their time wading through crowds and walking around in very cold temperatures. Each Bolt Rickshaw is equipped with soft blankets that will provide warmth and comfort to the users while they take in the city's sights during the most wonderful time of the year.

The Bolt Rickshaw is available in the centre of Zagreb from 14:00 to 23:00 for the duration of Advent in Zagreb, up until the 1st of January, 2020.

Bolt, formerly known as Taxify, is otherwise Europe's leading platform focused on simpler, faster and more reliable urban transport.

The platform was founded by Markus Villig and launched back in 2013. It has since become one of the fastest growing transportation platforms in Europe and Africa with more than 30 million users in more than 35 countries worldwide.

Make sure to follow our dedicated lifestyle page for much more.

ZAGREB, December 10, 2019 - Six in ten companies in the EU believe that tax rates, swift changes of laws and policies, and complex administrative procedures are their main problems in doing business, according to the findings of a Eurobarometer survey of the business sector's corruption perception.

The findings, published on International Anti-Corruption Day, show a downward corruption trend but 63% of the companies polled consider corruption to be widespread. In 2013, 75% of companies said corruption was widespread.

The corruption survey has been carried out since 2013 every two years. The latest one was carried out by phone in October, covering 7,722 companies in the EU28, including 300 in Croatia.

In Croatia, 76% of respondents consider tax rates to be a problem while 22% think they are not. In the EU28, 63% of respondents believe tax rates are a problem while 35% think they are not.

In Croatia, swift changes of laws and policies are a problem for 80% of respondents (63% in EU28), while they are not for 19% (36% in EU28).

In Croatia, complex administrative procedures are a problem for 70% of respondents (62% in EU28), restrictive labour regulations for 59% (48% in EU28), and inadequate infrastructure for 57% (46% in EU 28).

Lack of means or debt collection procedures is a problem for 64% of Croatian companies (45% in EU28), sponsorship and nepotism for 51% (37% in EU28), corruption for 57% (37% in EU28), and access to financing for 38% (36% in EU28).

Asked how widespread corruption was in their country in their opinion, 91% of respondents in Croatia said it was widespread and 6% that it was rare (63% and 30% in the EU28 respectively).

The feeling that corruption is widespread in their country has dropped in relation to 2017 in companies in 17 member states, while increasing in 11.

More news about the corruption issue can be found in the Politics section.

ZAGREB, December 10, 2019 - For Jadran Galenski Laboratorij (JGL) the Russian market is crucial because 40% of its revenues comes from that market and the company is the second largest Croatian business in Russia, JGL Board chair Ivo Usmiani said during a visit by Russian Ambassador Anvar Azimov to that Rijeka-based pharmaceutical company on Monday.

Ambassador Azimov toured JGL units, talking with his hosts about the company's operations, markets, problems related to business operations in Russia, etc.

JGL specialises in the development and production of sterile products with added value in ophthalmology and otolaryngology.

Company officials say that the company is present on 50 markets but that the Russian market is its biggest and very important market. They see Russia as a partner and build their business story in Russia, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Belarus and almost all former Soviet republics.

JGL employs 205 people in Russia, and its best-selling products are nasal decongestants, skin care products, products against travel nausea and eye drops.

Russian distributors annually buy JGL products worth around 3 billion roubles, Usmiani said, stressing that the company had never come across a closed door in Russia.

JGL has not felt the consequences of sanctions against Russia or problems between the EU and Russia and the biggest uncertainty is whether on 1 January 2020 serialisation of pharmaceutical products will go into force on the Russian market because in that case the Rijeka company will have to change its product packaging, as well as how drug registration will be implemented in the Eurasian Union.

For JGL it is also important how macroeconomic growth in Russia will look like in the coming years and how it will reflect on Russians' purchasing power.

Azimov said that the situation would be stable. The Russian Federation wants good relations, he said, adding that the sanctions imposed on Russia were harmful both for Russia and for other countries.

Russia could realise many investments in Croatia and help more, for example in shipbuilding and gas supply, he said.

More news about relations between Croatia and Russia can be found in the Politics section.

ZAGREB, December 10, 2019 - The Croatian Democratic Union's (HDZ) presidential candidate Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović held an election rally in Zadar on Monday, calling on voters to go to the polls, and in a comment on her rivals, she said that some had sown discord for their own gain while some, who today sang patriotic songs, had been out of the country during the 1990s war.

She said that five years ago, when she was elected president, pessimism reigned in Croatia.

"Some used to say that Croatia was an accidental state and you know best how you fought for it," Grabar-Kitarović told those who gathered for the rally, thanking war veterans and all victims of the Homeland War.

Speaking of Croatia's first president, Franjo Tuđman, she said that Croatia would mark the 20th anniversary of his death on Tuesday and recalled that she had put up his bust in her office and proposed introducing an order named after him, to be awarded to those who promoted Croatia's freedom and national identity.

In a comment on Tudjman's work, she said that one had to be guided by a sense of responsibility.

"He made mistakes, I make them, we are all human, the easiest thing is to shun problems because then you definitely do not make mistakes," she said, adding that "the sin of omission is a major sin and those who led Croatia after President Tuđman pushed it into 'the region', where it does not belong."

More news about Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović’s campaign can be found in the Politics section.

December 10, 2019 - No guided tour is the same, but there is one company in Croatia that guarantees quality, innovation, engagement and the personal touch each time - roadtesting the Secret Zagreb experience. 

As we approached the Zagreb funicular for our 19:30 late November appointment, I was a little nervous as to how this would go. It has been a long day, it was not warm, we still had a 75-minute drive home, and if the kids were grumpy, this could really backfire. But then I figured that there was not much point living close to Zagreb if we did not experience what it had to offer as a family. But still, it was cold, dark, the day and been long, and the kids' enthusiasm for one of Daddy's Great Ideas - a walking tour with some 'teta' - was lukewarm at best. 

And there she was, waiting, dressed in black, including her hooded head, holding a lantern which was not lit. 

"Good evening, I am the Black Queen, and I need your help."

There was no recognition that we had met before, that we were friends even, no 21st welcome, but straight into character from the character of the Black Queen, who had risen from a 100-year sleep with the dragons somewhere below Zagreb. 

I looked anxiously at the kids - how would they react?

They were hooked. 

And from that moment, for the next two hours, the artist formally known as Iva Silla, charismatic owner of Secret Zagreb, led my kids (and their parents and aunt) on a mesmerising tour of the upper town of Zagreb in her persona of the Black Queen. A modern version of the Pied Piper of Hamlin, pointing out fascinating things along the way, dropping in appropriate jokes, then moving on. 

We were all made aware from the start that, in addition to the tour, we would have to fulfil a task at the end to help the Black Queen. A list of clues would send us scampering all over the old town to retrace the steps of where we had been and the things we had learned to solve a clue which would provide the code to unlock the padlock of the lantern that the Black Queen held in her hand. Once unlocked, more clues would lead to the candle being lit, so that she could go back to where she had come from. 

The kids were mesmerised. Having resigned myself as a parent of two daughters attached to their gadgets, this was a revelation. Pens were found, notes taken on the palm of their hands, questions asked, suggestions made - in fact, they were far more engaged than the three adults. But the Black Queen did not break from character once, which made her mysterious, slightly intimidating, but totally transfixing. 

Some very simple techniques of storytelling were used to superb effect. As this was the first time the Black Queen had returned to Zagreb above ground in 100 years, she was easily able to reference the past and have us appreciate the changes. 

"Yes, this is the shortest funicular in the world," she told us as we made the short ascent to the upper town, "but standards have really gone down. Last time I was on it, 100 years ago, they had first, second AND third class."

The Black Queen was looking forward to showing us the view from the top. 

"You will love the endless cornfields you can see from the edge of the city. But wait, what's this? What has happened? The last time I was here, the last building in the city was that yellow one over there (the Croatian National Theatre). Where have all the cornfields gone?"

Simple techniques to allow tourists to appreciate how Zagreb has changed in 100 years. 

Sleeping Dragon Quest is inspired by interesting local legends. Before the game begins, our tour guide in a costume presents old tales about dragons and some mystical history. She gives them a book of instructions and tasks. The winner is the first team to solve all the riddles and finds the last required location.

HIGHLIGHTS:

storyline based on Zagreb legends

solve riddles and find the clues within the oldest part of town

stories about dragons brought back to life

And so we walked, following our Pied Piper, learning all about the dragons, the secret societies involving dragons, forgotten graveyards, earthquakes masked as stirring dragons. All expertly and engagingly told, but in a way that really brought the past to life and revealed knowledge of events and characters of the time. 

And the Black Queen somehow knew her audience. 

"But I hear you are from Varazdin, the Baroque town, yes?. Well, don't be angry, but they say that the very best Baroque building in Croatia is this one in front of you. Haha. Let's move on!"

With most people in the city centre the night before the opening of Advent in Zagreb, we more or less had the streets of the upper town to ourselves, and there was a certain magic being guided (or was it glided?) around by the Black Queen. It had been just over an hour and we had taken in SO many facts, stories and impressions. But how much had we retained?

Despite our reluctance, the Black Queen was quietly insistent in her assertion that the quest would work better if we split into groups of two. Realising that Aunt Tina was smarter than both parents combined, the girls took their clues from the Black Queen and headed off in the direction of the main cemetery, leaving my wife and I asking each other how much we had been listening. 

The clues were presented in lovely rhyming couplets, and off we went, retracing our steps. Five clues would yield a letter each, which in turn would produce the three-digit code to unlock the lantern. We saw our competing team racing eagerly through the dimly lit, but very romantic streets, and it was little surprise that they managed to get all the clues before us. Having unlocked the lantern, however, we were not yet there - there was one more step, to get the lantern lit. And in order to do that, another task had to be performed. One which was mastered by a beady-eyed 11-year-old who was so engrossed in the Black Queen's world that I doubted she would need a gadget for a week. 

An absolutely fantastic family activitiy, and the Black Queen kindly had time to join us for a hot chocolate after the tour, where she reverted to the lovely Iva we all know and love. 

And this, for me at least, was the best part of an excellent evening, as Iva was VERY interested to get our feedback on every aspect of the tour.  For what perhaps many people who take her tours do not realise is that she is the creative and pioneering author of all of them. Many of them, such as Badass Women of Zagreb, and the 19th century tour where you, the tourist, are accused of a crime and have to find clues to prove your innocence, are Iva's ideas alone. And not content with being just the creator, her expert delivery as such an engaging guide completes the perfect package. 

"Dad, that was the best tour we have ever been on. I really liked the way the Black Queen told us everything but then we had to go and solve clues. It was really great, and so was the Black Queen. You know some really cool people."

The aura of me being a cool Dad survives for another week. Thank you, Black Queen...  

Learn more about how Iva can inspire you as the Black Queen or her many other personas on the Secret Zagreb website. 

The flu season in Croatia began unusually early this year and based upon the number of patients the epidemic is currently in an upward trajectory. Laboratory tests have confirmed 270 cases of Type A H1N1, a pandemic type which was called "swine" flu in 2009, when the virus was first isolated.

Vladimir Draženović, a virologist at the National Center for Influenza at the Croatian Institute of Public Health, reported that several cases with multiple complications have already appeared, according to Ivana Krnić/Jutarnji List on December 9, 2019.

Actual Number of Flu Cases Closer to 3000

- Considering that there are already 270 reported cases, we can safely assume that the actual number of those affected is closer to three thousand. Patients have experienced severe complications. We are getting calls from other European countries and colleagues are asking us what is happening in Croatia - says virologist Draženović.

He added that as many as ten percent of the patients have developed pneumonia. Adding encephalitis and myocarditis to the list means that number of flu patients experiencing severe complications is closer to twenty-five percent. Also, according to Draženović, it is unusual that about a dozen newborns have fallen ill.

Only Seeing H1N1 (Swine Flu) in Croatia

- We are getting inquiries from Europe since we only are only seeing the H1N1 type, which is also unusual because instances of all the other viruses are being reported outside the country. This flu virus, currently the only one in Croatia, has created major problems, from serious complications for many patients to fatalities - says Vladimir Draženović.

- We encountered one patient who was vaccinated and still got the flu and experienced inflammation of the brain sheath. However, this patient was vaccinated only three days earlier, so the vaccine has not yet started to work - says Draženović, adding that it takes about two weeks for the vaccine to take effect.

Get Vaccinated!

It is worth pointing out that the flu season has started to appear earlier and last longer.

- Until recently, this was the situation in January, but obviously trends are changing - says Draženović, who still recommends getting vaccinated.

This year, the vaccine was dispensed in record time, so besides 360,000 doses, another 30,000 have ordered to be distributed across the country. Since these vaccines are intended for at-risk groups, others can order the vaccine through a pharmacy, take it to their doctor, and get vaccinated there.

Follow our Lifestyle page for updates on the flu season in Croatia.