Zagreb – September 26^th 2011 – The final conference for the project “Development of Investment Climate – Croatia” was held at the Hotel Esplande in Zagreb today. It was announced at the conference by the Croatian government that Varazdin County and 12 other Croatian counties were certified as “advanced” investor friendly regions. AZRA – Varazdin County Development Agency and the Varazdin County government have jointly implemented this project since February 2010. As a result of being certified, AZRA and Varazdin County are now both considered to be institutions that have the people and know-how to assist potential investors in establishing new operations in Croatian regions.

The purpose of the project “Development of Investment Climate – Croatia” was to provide training and technical assistance to county governments and regional development agencies in Croatia in order to enhance their abilities to promote foreign direct investment opportunities and assist investors in setting up operations in Croatia. Varazdin County, along with Međimurje County, was highly evaluated in the project and is considered one of the most progressive regions in terms of institutional capacity, and in responding to the needs and requests of investors interested in the Croatian market.  The lead partner of the project was the Ministry of Economy, Labour and Entrepreneurship (MELE) of Croatia and the total budget was 2.5 mio EUR.

Approximately 230 people were in attendance at the final conference. Paul Vandoren, the Head of the EU Delegation in Zagreb, held a speech where he emphasized that FDI in Croatian regions is positive for the overall economic development of the country. According to Vandoren, FDI creates new jobs and new sectors, which will boost Croatia’s economy. He congratulated all of the 12 counties that participated in the project for their work and achievements on the project, and stated that the project was “demanding but successful” overall.  

Over the long-term, Varazdin County and AZRA will continue to work jointly in order to attract new investment to the region. As a result of the project, AZRA and Varazdin County have established a one-stop service centre for investors. This centre provides potential investors accurate information on investment opportunities, the regional economy, and industrial sectors in Varazdin County. It is expected that the activities of this centre will contribute to creating new jobs and boosting economic growth throughout Northwest Croatia.