15th Museum Night to Take Place on January 31
ZAGREB, January 13, 2020 - More than 200 museums, galleries, libraries, archives, educational institutions and organisations from Croatia and neighbouring countries will participate in the 15th anniversary of Museum Night on 31 January, with this year's theme being anniversaries, the Croatian Museum Society said on Monday.
All the institutions participating in the event will be open to visitors from 6 pm until 1 am in an effort to raise awareness about the importance of "museum past, present and future," the event's organisers said on their website.
Over the past fifteen years, hundreds of thousands of people have participated in Museum Night and one of the most significant achievements of the event is that it has attracted a new audience because so many people "discovered" museums on Museum Night and later became regular visitors.
"The 15th Museum Night in a row is another opportunity for museum workers and others to offer the public various experiences, including museum collections, expert, scientific, educational and entertaining content, virtual tours of museums, historical buildings and protected heritage sites, and the application of digital technology, which has opened unimaginable opportunities of inspiration, interpretation and presentation of museum content," said the organisers of Museum Night, Vesna Jurić Bulatović and Dubravka Osrečki Jakelić.
More news about museums can be found in the Lifestyle section.
Trump Is My Idol: Croatian Tycoon Vladimir Kraljević Gushes
“I was with Trump the night he decided to attack Iran,” gushes Croatian American tycoon Vladimir Kraljević, who was at an exclusive New Year’s Eve party with the US president, the night he made that fateful decision. It felt tenser than usual that night. He came to the party late and was among the first to leave. But he still said to me, "Love you man."
It all started abruptly and took place in 30 seconds. Trump got up from the table and headed for the exit. Frowning, he crossed the hall, then noticed a man he knew among the crowd. Vladimir Kraljević waved at him immediately, and Trump in a rare rush of goodwill that evening, smiled and pointed his thumbs up. It was a sign that Kraljević could approach him, as he excitedly recounted his in-person encounter with the US President.
Trump's Ardent Supporter Gets to Shake His Hand
“A firm handshake, two or three sentences and a photo opportunity, that's how it always goes with Trump,” Kraljević tells me. I am your ardent supporter, and a loyal American from Europe; was the first thing he said to the president and put out his hand.
"Love you, love you man," Trump replied as Kraljević's wife breathlessly pulled out her cellphone and took pictures of them together, according to Tomislav Novak/Jutarnji List on January 12, 2020.
Trump patted Kraljević on the shoulder and then, with Melania dressed in a spectacular Givenchy dress, retired for the evening. It was just past midnight, at the luxurious Mar-a-Lago resort, and the world had just sailed into 2020. At Trump's traditional New Year's party of 740 people, Vladimir Kraljević and his wife Marija were the only Croatians and among only a few from Europe who attended.
Kraljević Witnesses History in the Making
So, by chance, Kraljević witnessed a crucial moment in history, because Trump made a risky decision at his resort that day: to execute Iranian General Kasem Suleimani and put him in danger of a serious conflict with Iran.
“It felt like Trump was a little more tense than usual that night," Kraljević remembers. The US president is among the first to arrive at his New Year's party, giving speeches, a toast, and sometimes leading the countdown to midnight while the entire ballroom watches the ball roll down Times Square in New York.
“This time he was among the last to arrive. He briefly addressed the press at the entrance, and immediately after midnight he was among the first to leave. He didn't hold a toast,” describes a disappointed Kraljević ten days later at the Esplanada Hotel, a sort of Kraljević pop up office, where he often holds court and receives reporters as a Miss Universe Croatia license holder.
Tuđman Ordered Kraljević to Obtain Miss Universe License
That license is also the most important link between him and Trump. The US president was one of New York's leading businessmen when he bought the stumbling enterprise from ITT in 1996, and along with NBC, turned it into an event that is watched by more than one billion people. And Kraljević, who was living in New York at the time, was contacted by President Franjo Tudjman himself regarding the license Trump owned.
“I remember as if it were yesterday, it was three o'clock in the morning when the phone rang in my apartment. I heard a voice on the other end when I answered, but didn't immediately recognize that it was Tudjman, Kraljević recounts.
“Kraljević, by God, so everyone, including Serbia, is licensed for Miss Universe. Bring that opportunity to us in Zagreb, it will be a great promotion of the country,” the late Croatian President proclaimed to him.
After meeting Tuđman in Zagreb, Kraljević reached out to Trump through his acquaintances and settled the license and gained a rather powerful acquaintance at the same time. A member of the Republican Party member since the 1970s, he has managed to get a coveted seat at Trump’s exclusive New Year's Eve celebration.
Membership Fee for Trump’s Mar-a-Lago $200,000
This is a very exclusive event for Mar-a-Lago club members and Trump's closest friends. And the cost of joining the club is about 200,000 USD (180,000 EUR) upfront, plus an annual fee of 14,000 USD (12,500 EUR). The price tag of a chair at the New Year's Eve party was 560 USD (504 EUR) three years ago, according to foreign media, but that has risen to a thousand USD (900 EUR).
“Once they approved me for a table with eight seats, preparations began for the trip, which lasted four months in total. I needed to find people to come with me and my wife, Marija, and hand over my passport for a background check,” he tells me.
Regarding the background check, Kraljević assumes that the CIA plays a role. In the end, besides Marija, they were joined by Michael Pfaller, one of the sponsors of Miss Universe Croatia and entrepreneur from Graz; New York entrepreneur Charles Paris, and Stephen Fanuka, an interior designer for the rich and famous whose father is a Croat from Ugljan.
People Arrive at Mar-a-Lago by Limo or Private Plane Only
They arrived from Paris three days early, and the Kraljevićs stayed at their summer residence in Pompano Beach. Then they headed to the Mar-a-Lago resort in a rented limo the afternoon of the party. Or as Kraljević points out, it’s a place where taxi drivers refuse to drive. People only fly to Mar-a-Lago in private jets or arrive in limousines.
“We waited half an hour in the limo. During this time, the Secret Service checked our information and the limo itself, from the undercarriage to the engine. The level of security was intense but very professional and friendly. The day before, we had to send over the limo driver’s personal information even though he had to leave us at the entrance. Once they checked everything, we were allowed inside, through the first, second and third entrance,” says Kraljević.
Despite all these checks, everything went without a hitch, so right before 7pm, they finally found themselves in line for the red carpet draped across a perfectly landscaped lawn, where they arrived at a welcome cocktail set up by the outdoor pool. Each guest was personally greeted by managing director, Bernd Lembcke, who was very hospitable.
“During the welcome cocktail, we chatted with other guests. Some of them were curious about how we had arrived, specifically on what kind of private jet. They were confused when we told them Lufthansa,” he laughs.
“And the ensuing dinner is between nine in the evening and half past one in the morning,” Kraljević says, while eagerly showing off the menu. Trump appeared later at the beginning of dinner and gave a brief speech to reporters.
Trump Rule: Must Give Thumbs Up Before Photo Opportunity
Everyone who has ever been to his New Year's Eve knows the one key rule. Trump will shake hands with everyone, but he can only be approached for a photo shoot if he gives a thumbs up.
“Simply, 740 guests are too many people to talk to. For the same reason, he did not approach Trump at the table where he sat with his family, because otherwise he would spend the entire evening welcoming guests,” explains Kraljević.
Kraljević's life path is already well-known, as a young immigrant to America in the 1970s he worked as a maître d' at many famous New York restaurants of that era, such as the Russian Tea Room, a cult Art Deco hangout located between Carnegie Hall and the Metropolitan Tower, and Central Park’s Tavern on the Green.
His boss was the legendary Warner LeRoy, both the son of Mervyn LeRoy and grandson of Harry Warner, one of the founders of Warner Bros. Kraljević, who served many celebrities there such like John Wayne, Harry Belafonte, Frank Sinatra and others, first met Donald's father Fred, who gave him some essential advice.
Kraljević Confused by Trump Senior’s Advice for Success
“I was young, crazy and eager for success. ‘Happy go lucky’ is a term that describes it well (laughs). I approached Fred and asked him directly: ‘I want to be successful and rich like you, what do I do?’ Fred Trump paused, looked into the distance and answered.
"Do something nice for the people around you," he told him. Kraljević didn’t understand him at first.
“It took me years to conclude that this was the best piece of advice he could have given me,” he reveals.
Fred occasionally came to the restaurant for lunch with Donald, so Kraljević met him too, and the rest is history. He recalls traveling Europe with Marija during the presidential election and lobbying American citizens who live here to vote for Trump.
"There are three million Americans living in Europe, but you won't find a more ardent Trump supporter than I am," he claims.
Kraljević Does Not Need to Boast About Trump Friendship
“I do not want to be misunderstood; we would not meet for coffee. We are not that close, and I have no need to brag about our acquaintance. We have met twenty times over the years, always briefly, but I can say that he is my idol and I believe that he is an honest man, and not racist at all. People often say negative things about Trump, the media doesn't like him, and much is written about him.
“However, as someone who knows him, I can only praise him. In three years, he has done more for America than all the previous presidents put together: unemployment has never been lower, and the stock market has broken all records. He abolished many unnecessary taxes and has relieved Americans of their tax burdens. He is doing everything to improve the life of an average American,” says Kraljević.
Trump was always a five-sentence man, he says. He is always interested in whether we are going get something done and makes his decisions quickly because he has no time to waste.
“After Trump left, we stayed for another hour and headed home. People were dancing and having a great time. There was an unprecedented crowd on the podium and we soon realized that getting home was even harder than getting into the party. The roads were jammed, and it took us a long time to arrive home. I feel lucky, of course, because this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Kraljević gushes.
No Celebrities Present at Trump’s 2020 New Year’s Party
Trump's New Year's party has traditionally featured superstars like Sylvester Stallone, Woody Allen, Rod Stewart, Serena Williams and Martha Stewart, but Kraljević says he didn’t notice any prominent celebrities this year.
"I think there were more gems and furs in that room at that moment than anywhere else in the world," he says excitedly.
Trump's critics, however, are telling Kraljević that a US president should not holding private dinners on New Year's Eve, from which he makes an income. He ignores the naysayers. Mar-a-Lago's revenue is about 27 million USD (24.3 million EUR) a year. Impressive.
"This will be a very good year again," Trump said at one point that night. If you ask Kraljević, he would surely agree.
Follow our Politics page and Lifestyle page to keep updated on Croatian tycoons, celebrities and US presidents.
Helen Mirren, Godmother of World's 1st Discovery Yacht: Croatian Polar Cruiser Scenic Eclipse
January 15, 2020 - More under-reported Croatian excellence on the global stage, as Croatian shipbuilders produce the world's best new luxury cruise ship of 2019, as Scenic Eclipse enjoys the patronage of Helen Mirren.
One thing I have come to learn after many years of living in Croatia is that things are rarely as they seem on the surface, and that few scratch beneath that surface to see what lies below. The perceived picture of the Croatian economy is one of doom and gloom - lots of unemployment, lack of skilled workers, few opportunities, lack of competitiveness.
And while all this is certainly true on one level, taking a closer look at the realities on the ground show that there are many young seeds being sown in various industries which are already bearing fruit, and with the potential to bear a lot more. And one of the things that these seeds have in common is excellence. And not just five-star excellence but something higher, competing with the very best in the world.
The best example of this, of course, is Mate Rimac and his phenomenal Rimac Automobili. In a country with no car industry whatsoever, a young man in his 20s started a business to realise his dream of building an electric supercar. So successful has Rimac been that not only has he now produced the world's fastest electric supercar, but he has also built a cutting edge technology business employing more than 600 people, with A-lister investors such as Porsche and Hyundai.
But away from the bright lights and column inches that the Rimac success demands these days, there are other many other Croatian success stories occurring under the radar. I had absolutely no idea, for example, that the German Minister of Economy had visited a warehouse in eastern Zagreb to learn about innovation in the workplace. Or that that same warehouse, operated by a small family business, Tokic car parts, had been listed in the top 50 most innovative companies in Europe by the London Stock Exchange. Read their incredible story here. Similarly, it was a pleasure to be in Berlin recently to see Bagatin Clinic collect the award for best international cosmetic surgery clinic at the International Medical Travel Journal 2019 awards, the latest endorsement of Croatia's emerging medical tourism industry.
But the last place I expected to find Croatian global excellence, having read recent news reports, was from the troubled Uljanik shipyard in Pula.
Don't get me wrong, Croatia has a fantastic shipbuilding heritage, and one which has provided much employment and built world-class vessels over the years. But the glory days seem to be over due to new economic realities, and the plight of the Uljanik shipyard was one of the main economic stories of 2019, a shipyard where orders had dried up and debts accrued.
But if you look a little deeper, you will find one of the most fantastic stories of Croatian success of last year, and one which has been little reported.
Not having paid more than cursory attention to the situation in the shipyard, I was somewhat surprised last July to see TCN reporting on a luxury 200-million-euro yacht called Scenic Eclipse being launched from Pula, destination Rejkavik, where it would pick up its first passengers for a new life of luxury Arctic and Antarctic cruises. Check out the gracious departure of Scenic Eclipse in the video below.
And there the story might have ended, except that I recently came across a list of awards for the cruise ship industry by leading industry website, Cruise Critic, in which Scenic Eclipse featured rather well - Best New Luxury Ship 2019.
Cruisers might book Scenic Eclipse because it offers two state-of-the-art helicopters and a six-person sub, but they'll come back because of the 200-passenger ship's chic, modern design, generously-sized suites and incredible dining offerings. Scenic pulled out all the stops with its first ocean ship, which seamlessly combines luxury and soft-adventure travel to exotic destinations, including the Arctic and Antarctica.
And the more I looked into this wondrous little ship, the more surprises I found along the way. The ship was christened in New York by none other than Dame Helen Mirren in New York in September.
So enthralled was Dame Helen that she has agreed to be the Godmother of the Scenic Eclipse, expressing her admiration both for the luxury on board and the attention paid to the environment in its construction, "a ship that has minimal environmental impact on sensitive marine areas and the eco-systems it sails."
And then when I decided to take a closer look at the ship itself, I made a rather interesting discovery. It seemed like the Scenic owners and the Pula shipyard had managed to produce the first of an entirely new category of ship - the discovery yacht, a polar cruiser that could explore parts of the planet no competition could visit. A little like Rimac, was Croatia contributing something unique and world-class yet again?
The ship is owned by the phenomenally successful cruise ship company, Scenic, whose company profile is summarised as:
Scenic Luxury Cruises and Tours has more than three decades of experience creating unforgettable handcrafted journeys for our guests with itineraries to more than 60 countries around the world. Scenic and its sister company, Evergreen Cruises and Tours are recognised as leaders in the industry.
Having seen a luxury private yacht in Sydney harbour one day, Scenic's Australian owners Glen and Karen Moroney apparently came up with the idea of offering all the luxury of a private yacht for cruise-paying passengers. A discovery yacht, smaller and more flexible than the normal cruise ship, allowing more personal guest attention and better flexibility and agility in routes and reaching destinations that the bigger ships simply could not go. And not just a discovery yacht, but a polar discovery yacht, capable of taking guests to parts of the Arctic and Antarctic that other ships simply cannot.
And toys. Lots of toys.
Where else would you find a cruise ship with its very own submarine, available to guests for excursions? A sophisticated sub with all the latest features that can take guests down to depths of 330 metres, including in some of the remotest parts of the planet during the Scenic Eclipse signature tours of the Arctic and Antarctic. As you can see in the US media story in the video below, the submarine skipper talks of some of the magical things he has seen, including jellyfish in the Arctic with tentacles about 15 metres long.
You can also check out an extended video interview with the submarine skipper, including some great footage.
Toys in the air - two helicopters available for sightseeing tours. Toys on the water - zodiac boats and kayaks, allowing guests to get up close. Rare sightings of leopard seals, and the chance to kayak in the Antarctic. How else would you get to experience a penguin flying out of the water and landing on your boat, observing the situation for a few minutes and then flipping back into the water? Experiences explained by the expert Scenic Eclipse guide in the video below.
One of the ironies I have always found with the cruise ship industry is that people travel to get away from it all to go and explore faraway places, then find themselves on a boat with several thousand people for at least a week. The Scenic Eclipse discovery yacht is an altogether different experience. As one would expect, the number of guests on board is considerably less (maximum 228) and the number of staff ratio much higher.
(Glen and Karen Moroney together with Dame Helen Mirren at the christening of Scenic Eclipse)
Glen and Karen Moroney were very much involved in the Scenic Eclipse project, having had that initial vision in Sydney Harbour. Glen was in charge of the overall design of the ship, while Karen - working with just two assistants - took care of the spectacular interior design.
Each suite comes with its own butler, and their spacious feel (the Owner's Suite is an impressive 195 m2) and luxury design gives a feel more of a presidential 5-star hotel suite than that of a yacht. There are ten venues on board, ranging from French to Japanese, with flavours and ingredients from all four corners of the planet, with an undoubted highlight being an invitation to Chef's Table, an exquisite dinner for a maximum of ten diners. No menu, diners are at the mercy of the creativity of the chef's kitchen. Early feedback suggests that the Chef's Table experience is not only the culinary highlight of the cruise, but among the top things on the entire cruise. An example of the range of quality on the wine, Champagne and spirits on offer can be gauged by the whiskey selection - sample one, or all, of the world's top 100 whiskeys while on your voyage.
A variety of beauty and health services are available to guests, such as the 600-square-foot Senses Spa Center featuring Scandinavian-style baths, a gym and Pilates studio and a hair salon.
Construction of Scenic Eclipse was far from straightforward. What was already a groundbreaking project was complicated by the bankruptcy problems at the Uljanik factory, which went bankrupt halfway through the ship's construction. Despite this, the Moroneys decided to continue to invest and - together with willing and skilled Croatian engineers and shipbuilders - Scenic Eclipse was completed in 2019. So happy are the owners with the ship that they have announced plans to build five more, all of them in Croatia.
A great opportunity, perhaps, for Croatia to develop a new sector of excellence serving the global market, in the same way that Rimac Automobili does. Rimac has only actually built a handful of cars, but they are the very best on the market, with an appropriate price tag attached. Why can Croatia not repeat that success in the luxury discovery cruiser market, a market which was born in its shipyards?
“Despite the long tradition and the well-known skill of quality shipbuilding in Croatia, building this type of ship has been an incredible challenge for all of us involved in the construction. Scenic Eclipse proudly bears the label of a unique Croatian product in the world and offers its guests a special and cinematic "bonding" adventure experience. My wife and I are really proud that we had the opportunity to participate in the construction process ourselves, because for us this ship is much more than a business project. Scenic Eclipse is really a family project that we are very passionate about and we really care about, "said Scenic Group owner Glen Moroney.
Built for both Arctic and tropical waters, and with a flexibility due to its size that other cruise ships cannot offer, the Scenic Eclipse itinerary offers voyages like no other ship. Choose from Antarctica, South Georgia & the Falkland Islands; Europe & the Mediterranean; Norwegian Fjords & Baltic States; the Caribbean; the Arctic; and the Americas. Scenic Eclipse even visits the country of its birth, with Croatian stops in Rovinj, Hvar, Split and Dubrovnik.
The most popular tour on the Scenic Eclipse is the one from the Norwegian Svalbard Archipelago along the Greenland iceberg to Reykjavik. It is a 14-day trip that costs about $ 23,945 or HRK 160,000. The price includes plane tickets for arrival and return and nine meals on board, and 16 polar research experts who lead the tours and hold educational programmes with the guests. Longer Antarctic tours are much more expensive, so for example, a 19-day trip from Buenos Aires, around the Falkland Islands and the South Georgia Islands to the Antarctic Peninsula, where guests can enjoy views of whales and penguins, costs around $ 30,695 (HRK 200,000) for ordinary accommodation and almost half a million kuna for the Owner's Suite ($ 77,000).
A Mediterranean tour with Scenic Eclipse, from Barcelona, via Monte Carlo, sailing along the Italian coast to Santorini and all the way to Athens, guests will pay a minimum of $ 8,695 per person, or about HRK 57,000 for nine days. But it is actually the lowest price for off-season sailing with accommodation in the 32 m2 Verandah Suite cabin. Only the wealthiest who choose the Owner's Suite cabin, located on the sixth deck, will experience true exclusive accommodation. For a Mediterranean 9-day trip, the price of this cabin is $ 30,695 per person (HRK 200 thousand or HRK 22 thousand per day).
A luxury experience out of the budget of this correspondent, but how refreshing to once again scratch under the surface of Croatia and discover yet one example where it leads the world. And with the potential to deliver so much more to the Croatian economy, as well as luxury tourism worldwide.
Learn more about Scenic Eclipse on the official website.
HDZ Not Worried about Falling Behind SDP in Polls
ZAGREB, January 13, 2020 - Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) officials Darko Horvat, who serves as Economy Minister, and Željko Reiner,a deputy parliament speaker, said on Monday that an opinion poll that gives the opposition Social Democrats (SDP) a lead in popularity ratings in January was the reflection of the outcome of the recent presidential runoff.
"What is happening now is a reflection of the recent election. The outwitting between the SDP and the HDZ will take one or two weeks and then everything will go back to normal, and the HDZ will again be the strongest political option in Croatia," Horvat told the press in his comment on the CRO Demoskop survey about the approval ratings of the ruling HDZ and the SDP in January, when the opposition party took the lead for the first time in four years.
In the second round of the election on 5 January, the incumbent President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, nominated by the HDZ for her second term, was defeated by challenger Zoran Milanović, the candidate of the SDP and a few more left wing opposition parties.
Reiner said in his comment that the latest outcome of the approval ratings mirrored the situation in the wake of the elections rather than the real balance of power between the HDZ and the SDP.
"Let's wait for a month or two to see what things will look like," Reiner said.
More HDZ news can be found in the Politics section.
EBRD Grants 100 Million Euro Loan to Boost Tourism in Croatia and Montenegro
ZAGREB, January 13, 2020 - The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has granted a 100-million-euro loan to Erste Bank Croatia (EBC) for on-lending to private hospitality enterprises in Croatia and Montenegro to expand their businesses through sustainable investments in hotels and other tourism operations, EBC said on Monday.
EBC noted that it was the first financial institution to receive a credit line under the EBRD Inclusive Tourism Framework for the Eastern Mediterranean.
The framework presents a holistic approach to tourism financing, focusing on a wider, faster and more systemic impact on tourism and related sectors. It aims to improve employment opportunities for young people and women by training young people and establishing new or substantially enhanced cooperation programmes with local universities or vocational schools, and by mainstreaming equal opportunity practices and policies, as well as strengthening the development of backward linkages to local suppliers in the hospitality sector by coordinating relevant stakeholders.
The transaction was signed by EBRD President Suma Chakrabarti during a visit to Zagreb on Monday.
"We are delighted to provide much-needed capital for the sustainable growth and further development of the tourism sector in Croatia and Montenegro. Tourism is a major driver of growth in both countries and we expect this investment to open up new opportunities for local businesses as well as create new jobs. It demonstrates how our new framework will enable the EBRD to reach out to more clients, including smaller ones."
Christoph Schoefboeck, President of the Management Board of EBC, said: "We are very pleased to become the first partner bank under the EBRD Inclusive Tourism Framework for the Eastern Mediterranean and we look forward to continuing and further deepening the longstanding and successful cooperation between our two institutions. Support for tourism is one of our fundamental strategic determinants and we believe that through this credit facility we will enable our clients to realise numerous successful projects in this segment, which will enable them to further strengthen and position themselves in the domestic as well as international markets."
EBC is the third-largest bank in Croatia operating through a network of 128 branches. Its subsidiary in Montenegro, Erste Bank AD Podgorica, operates through a network of 17 branches.
To date, the EBRD has invested more than 3.88 billion euro in Croatia in 215 projects.
More news about the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development can be found in the Business section.
Operators Warn Unprofitable Bus Lines May Be Abolished
ZAGREB, January 13, 2020 - Unprofitable bus lines operated by private companies inside counties and between counties have not yet been abolished, and problems faced by these companies remain, the head of the association of private companies providing bus services, Hrvoje Meštrović, said on Monday.
Meštrović told Hina that all options were on the table, including scrapping loss-making lines.
Members of that association cover 80% of bus commuting service across counties.
Meštrović says that county authorities are trying to solve the problem because they do not want bus lines to be eliminated.
However, Ana Falek of the Croatian Employers Association (HUP) says that she fears that counties with poorer budgets will not have enough money to cover the difference in costs for unprofitable commuting lines run by private bus companies. "There is no progress. It is a status quo," she says.
According to HUP estimates, 318.5 million kuna should be set aside annually in subsidies to private bus companies that cover unprofitable routes within the public transport system.
Private bus companies hired to run public lines transport 200,000 passengers a day. However, their annual losses due to unprofitable commuting lines come to 300 million kuna, according to HUP calculations.
Annual revenues of private bus companies come to 364 million kuna, which is 5.92 kuna per kilometre covered, as against an estimated economically viable yield of 11.10 kuna per kilometre.
HUP warns that the current rules for public transport bus services, adopted on 29 November by the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, is the least favourable for the regions of Lika, Gorski Kotar, Bjelovar, Virovitica and Požega-Slavonia as they may lose the largest number of public bus lines.
More bus transport news can be found in the Travel section.
Croatian Prime Minister to Visit Council of Europe
ZAGREB, January 13, 2020 - Prime Minister Andrej Plenković is travelling to Strasbourg on Monday afternoon and is expected to meet with the Council of Europe Secretary-General, Marija Pejčinović Burić, and Croatian members of the European Parliament.
On Tuesday, Plenković will inform the European Parliament about the priorities of his country's presidency of the Council of the European Union in the first half of 2020, and will be received by the EP President David Sassoli.
On Wednesday, the Croatian prime minister will attend a discussion on a Conference on the Future of Europe.
The new President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen has pledged to launch the Conference on the Future of Europe to give new impulse to European construction and bring Europe closer to citizens. Commissioner Dubravka Šuica will take charge of the process.
"Preparation of the Conference, in von der Leyen's approach, will follow three steps: first, the elaboration of the concept, structure, timing and scope with Parliament and Council; then, design of a means to ensure that citizens participate as much as possible, including by fostering online participation for younger people; and last, making sure that appropriate follow-up is provided to the actions agreed by the Conference," the EP says on its website.
Parliament has created a working group to contribute to the design of the two-year Conference, in particular in respect of its structure, with a view to a vote in plenary.
More news about the Council of Europe can be found in the Politics section.
Zagrebacka Banka (Zaba) Pronounced Best Croatian Bank
As Poslovni Dnevnik writes on the 13th of January, 2020, UniCredit, of which Zagrebacka banka (Zaba) is a member, retains a leading position globally as the best bank in the field of trade and export financing according to the Euromoney Trade Finance 2020 survey.
According to Euromoney's Trade and Export Financing Survey for 2020, UniCredit is the best global provider of trade and export finance services and has been named the leading bank in the Consulting, Financing, Overall Performance and Products categories, as well as the best provider in Western Europe and Central and Eastern Europe (CEE).
It also ranked third globally in the "Market Leader" category, a category that combines market penetration, percentage of business and turnover data to create an overall ranking of the best banks for financing trade and exports.
UniCredit has won many first places in the rankings of individual countries, among them lies Croatia's Zagrebacka banka, which was named the best in the Market Leader and Best Service Provider categories.
The scope and depth of UniCredit's geographical coverage is further reflected in the fact that the bank is the market leader in Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, and Turkey.
"Euromoney's recognition is yet another confirmation of Zagrebacka banka's leading market position in the area of trade and export financing. It is the result of many years of tradition and experience, but also of the constant monitoring of market requirements and the creation of new business solutions for clients in this field. We'll continue to improve our services and in the coming period, we plan to further digitise traditional instruments of trade and export financing and new solutions in the area of receivables and liquidity management,'' said Nikolaus Maximilian Linarić, Member of the Management Board of Zagrebacka banka.
The survey, which has been running for the ninth year in a row, compares the feedback gathered from over 7,000 corporate clients, convincingly showing UniCredit's product development and marketing expertise, superior customer service and a deep understanding of its key European markets.
"We're very proud of these results," said Richard Burton, UniCredit's Head of Corporate and Investment Banking.
"We strive to continually deliver our highest quality products and services to our customers, focusing on developing innovative solutions tailored to meet our customers' needs. This Euromoney survey recognises our continued efforts in these areas as we strive to support the real economy and build strong customer relationships, which is at the heart of everything we do, and we'd like to take this opportunity to thank our customers for their continued partnership and support,''
UniCredit continues to invest in trade and export finance innovations - most notably through its award-winning Trade Finance Gate customer portal - and remains committed to meeting its customers' needs by providing tailor-made trade and export financing solutions and working capital solutions.
Make sure to follow our dedicated lifestyle page for more on Zagrebacka banka and other banks which operate in Croatia.
From Oil to Chocolate, Croatian Exports to Albania Grow Dramatically
The interest in deeper cooperation between Croatia and nearby Albania lies mostly in energy, mechanical engineering, electrical industry, construction, and Croatian exports to Albania are on the up.
As Poslovni Dnevnik/Marija Brnic writes on the 13th of January, 2020, one of the countries with which Croatia is experiencing strong growth in economic co-operation is Albania, and their Economy and Finance Minister Anila Denaj is on an official visit to Zagreb today.
She will talk with Croatian Economy Minister Dark Horvat, accompanied by businessmen, who will participate in the Croatian-Albanian Economic Forum, which will be held at the Croatian Chamber of Commerce (HGK). The businessmen of the two countries showed increased interest in business cooperation last summer, when the first forum was held, attended by some 20 Croatian and 88 Albanian companies, and today about 30 companies from Croatia and 20 companies from Albania applied for the bilateral talks.
Croatian exports to Albania have risen dramatically, and the most opportunities for cooperation, at least according to the Croatian Chamber of Commerce, lie in the energy, mechanical engineering, electrical and electronics, pharmaceutical, food, textile and footwear industries, and especially in construction and investment in Albania.
Among the Croatian companies participating in the Forum are INA, Crosco, Končar, Metal Product, Vindija, Fragaria, Pik Vrbovec plus, Elda, Kemika, Perpetuum Mobile, Tehnix, Altpro, Ozimec, Neoinfo, Elektro Centar Petek, OPG Nevenka Jurin , Surium, Runs with Twins, Sano Modern animal nutrition, Transmitters and communications, Galko, Dam, the Port of Zadar (Luka Zadar), and Bureau Veritas Croatia.
Croatian exports to Albania were at their highest back in 2015, at 67.5 million euros, after which they recorded a decline, but they increased once again and reached almost 64 million euros in the first ten months of 2019, up by 36 percent year-on-year. The main Croatian exports are oil, fish products, electric transformers and chocolate, while from Albania, Croatia imports aluminum, footwear, processed fish, herbs and vegetables.
Imports from Albania are much more modest, but they have continued to grow and amounted to 7 million euros in the last 10 months of 2019.
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Zagreb Facebook Fan Photography Group Celebrates Ten Years
His hobby attracted great interest, so he created a community to promote the Croatian capital. Ivan Brnčić was born in Zagreb, grew up there, obtained his education and found love. Out of gratitude and love for the city, he assumed leadership of the Facebook group 'Zakaj volim Zagreb' (Why I Love Zagreb) and created a positive community which loyally promotes our metropolis.
Posts and Photos Reveal Zagreb Daily Delights
In addition to photos of Zagreb's main attractions, the group contains posts which reveal the daily delights of life in the capital, according to Nova Studio/Dnevnik on December 19, 2019. In addition to the photos that make up most of the posts, the page contains videos, lyrics and songs dedicated to Zagreb.
''The group 'Zakaj volim Zagreb' brought together lovers of Zagreb. The group was founded with the aim of promoting the positive values of the city: its culture, history and tradition and everything that encompasses Zagreb - now, today and in the future,'' explains group administrator Ivan Brnčić.
Ivan Brnčić | Dnevnik
Everyone Welcome to Join Facebook Group
People from all over the world are welcome to join the group. In addition to those who fell in love with Zagreb during their short stay for school or work, there are also expatriates in the group who are follow developments in the city. Therefore, the community has an emotional significance for many followers and provides a window into a world that was their home at some point in their lives.
''People recognize our group as a positive place and see something of value in it. Our community brings together people who are total amateurs in photography, but there are professionals too. People who started as amateurs are holding exhibitions now and have grown into better photographers. That is how our community works; to teach people. As they do something, they can learn to do it even better and become more comfortable with themselves,'' Ivan explains.
The 'Zakaj volim Zagreb' community recently celebrated its tenth anniversary. And this was just another opportunity for the group members to gather in the same place at the same time.
Real Life Gatherings and Successful Photography Exhibitions
''I try not only to facilitate a community on the internet, but to socialize in real life as well. We have organized various anniversaries for the birthdays and deaths of our celebrities such as Marija Jurić Zagorka, ban Josip Jelačić, Miroslav Krleža,'' Ivan reveals.
Therefore, for the anniversary of Zagorka's birth, they gathered on one occasion to pay tribute to our greatest journalist despite the pouring rain.
But Ivan is most proud of the group's participation in exhibitions. ''One of our biggest exhibitions takes place at the Zagreb City Museum and was attended by many members. It lasted three months and there were plenty of visitors. The members work was well-received, which could be seen in the comments which visitors left in the book of impressions. That's one of the reasons I love Zagreb and this group. You can see the enthusiasm of all the members because they were part of something so positive for the city. And that’s something that is recognized not only the city but Croatia and the whole world,'' Ivan concluded.
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