Category: Business

Split Airport To Receive Upgrade

May. 17 Business no comments

Split Airport today have presented to the public their financial results from 2013 and also revealed plans to upgrade its airport facilities.
“In 2012 we achieved 10% growth in passenger numbers. In total there were 1,425,479 passengers through the airport, the largest number in the airport’s history,” said Split Airport director Luksa Novak.

Novak also revealed that income generated in 2012 hit 203,938,000 kuna, which was 8% more than the previous year. With Croatia’s entry to the European Union the airport expects even more growth this year with a target of 6% being set.

Split Airport confirmed that investment into upgrading facilities used by both passengers and airlines at the airport was planned and say that funds have already been set aside for upgrading the passenger terminal. Start of construction is expected to begin after the 2014 tourist season. After 4 months in 2013 Split Airport had already recorded 149,000, which is 7% growth on 2012.

Bosch Achieves 4% Growth In Croatia Despite Recession

May. 16 Business no comments

The general manager of Robert Bosch for the Adriatic region Javier Gonzales Pareja, who are the world’s largest supplier of automotive components, says that despite the global economic crisis they happy with business in Croatia after posting 4% growth last year.

The company, which was founded by Robert Bosch in Stuttgart in 1886 and this year celebrates 20 years in Croatia, says that there is room to grow further whilst presenting its results at Bosch’s annual conference in Zagreb.

When Bosch first entered the Croatian market they had 3 employees, today that number has risen to 65. Last year Bosch gre globally by 2%.

Startups Aim For 10k And Mentoring At Shift Challenge In Split

May. 15 Business no comments

32 startup companies have been selected out of 130 companies from 26 countries to battle it out for 10,000 USD at the Shift Challenge Conference to be held in Split, Croatia on 23-34 May.

Along with 10,000 USD prize money and a host of sponsors products, the winners of the Shift Challenge will have their projects presented to global investors, journalists and business people. The top 32 startups who will battle it out in Split are:
Field pod (Croatia) – http://www.fieldpod.net/
Social Paragraph (Germany) – http://www.universiteam.com/
Analythink (Turkey) – http://www.prisync.com/
Starbox (Portugal)
Freelance Pro (Ghana) – http://www.freelancepro.me/
Vidzor (Hungary) – http://vidzor.com/
16Tags (Germany)
Zoomsquare (Austria) – http://www.zoomsquare.com/
Monitor Backlinks (Ireland)
Skiipi (Bulgaria)
Sportly (Austria)
Pubsonic (Serbia) – http://pubsonic.com/
Use Together (Romania) – http://www.usetogether.com/
Puzzled By (Romania)
REMIXER (Croatia) – http://remixer.me/
Baby Watch (Croatia)
Appoitment Labs (Croatia) – http://www.appointmentlabs.com/
Party (Croatia) – http://www.clover-studio.com/
Sizem (Croatia)
Klikeri (Croatia) – http://klikeri.hr/
Backway (Croatia)
Taggium (BiH) – http://www.taggium.com/
Amplio (Croatia) – http://amplio.si/
Ponude i Racuni (Croatia)
Mingle (Croatia) – http://www.mingle-events.com/
Manage HR (Croatia)
Life Patch System (USA)
LegalTie (Croatia)
AuThink (Croatia)
Cropta (Croatia)
cQuest (Croatia)
BeaverCleaner (Croatia)

French Do-It-Yourself Retail Chain To Leave Croatia

May. 14 Business no comments

French hypermarket chain Bricostore, which specialises in home improvement and do-it-yourself goods, is to leave Croatia, sending over 300 people to the unemployment que.

Bricostore will close its stores in the capital Zagreb, Pula and in Kastel Sucurac by the end of June and leave the Croatian market, reports Poslovni dnevnik. Bricostore entered the Croatian market in 2004 when it opened its first store in Kastel Sucurac. Three years later in 2007 they opened their Pula store on the northern Adriatic coast and in 2012 they opened their largest store in the capital Zagreb. Bricostore invested over 25 million euros in their Zagreb store, bringing their total investment in Croatia to close to 60 million euros.

Government Offering New Apartment Discounts

May. 13 Business no comments

The Ministry of Construction today presented its POS+ plan which offers Croatian citizens the possibility to purchase apartments up to 28% cheaper than what is being offered via loans from commercial banks.

The main criteria to qualify for the government subsidised home is that it is a newly built apartment and does not exceed 1,400 euros per square metre. The buyer must also have secured a deposit of 15% of the value of the apartment.

Minister Anka Mrak Taritas announced that the state will offer a loan of 200 euros per square meter regardless of the purchase price of the apartment. The interest on that loan will be 1% for a grace period and fixed at 4% for the rest of the repayment. Savings under the government’s POS+ plan for a 60 square metre apartment which costs 1,400 euros per square metre will be 49,104 euros or 28% over the duration of the loan compared to a standard loan taken out with the banks.

Agrokor Make Bid For Slovenian Retail Giants Mercator

May. 13 Business no comments

Croatia’s largest privately owned company Agrokor, which also owns Croatia’s largest supermarket chain Konzum, have put in an offer to purchase a 53% stake in Slovenia’s largest retail chain Mercator on Monday say Slovenian media.

According to Slovenia’s Poslovni dnevnik, Agrokor have offered 115 euros per share, 15 euros less than an offer they made the Slovenian giants a few months ago and over 100 euros less than their 221 euro per share offer in October 2011. At least three other interested parties have also made offers – CVC Capital Partners, Mid Europa Partners and Bain Capital Partners, said the reports.

First GREEN MARK Bar Opens In Croatia

May. 10 Business no comments

GREEN BAR, located on Radnicka street in the Croatian capital Zagreb, has become the first restaurant/bar in Croatia to be awarded the GREEN MARK mark, a mark recognising energy efficiency.

“Through the label GREEN MARK we are striving primarily to diversify sustainable services, products and technologies and give the market a specific type of guarantee. It is our desire that as many Croatian businesses become holders of this tags. The process of transition to a green economy is a long process, so we want them to be in compliance with the standards”, said the President of the Zagreb Energy Association and Energo Media Servis director Tomislav Marjanovic.

Designed by Vedran Jukic and Nikica Kronja from SODA Architects, the bar is constructed using extremely price efficient interior materials. The bar’s roof, with its covering of various shaped colours, has the impression of leaves hanging in a forest, whist at the same time allowing for fully functional ceiling installation with very low-budget parameters. currently 45 brands hold the GREEN MARK mark with GREEN BAR the first bar to have the honour.


5th Adriatic Boat Show Opens

May. 09 Business no comments

The 5th Adriatic Boat Show has opened for the first time in the Dalmatian town of Sibenik on Thursday.

The international nautical fair will gather again the leading players of the nautical industry in Croatia and the region in the historic harbor of the old Sibenik town, from 9 -12 May. Over 100 new and used boats will be exhibited during the 4-day show, including new models from Jeanneau, Beneteau, Grand Soleil, Salona and Delphia.

Local and international exhibitors will not only be displaying boats. There will also be nautical equipment, marine engines and outboard motors, sports clothing and footwear, fishing and diving equipment, used boats and equipment and insurance, leasing and finance information on offer during the show.

Government Allows Oil And Gas Exploration On Croatian Coast

May. 09 Business 2 comments

Last month Croatia Week reported that American oil giants ExxonMobil had expressed an interest in the exploration and exploitation of oil and gas on Croatia’s Adriatic coast, now the Croatian government have made that possibly by unanimously accepting a new law in parliament on Thursday.

“When we presented our intentions they (ExxonMobil) showed interest in coming to Croatia for the exploration and exploitation of oil and gas on our Adriatic coast,” said Minister of Economy Ivan Vrdoljak last month whilst on an official visit to America.

The change in the Hydrocarbons Act, which was unanimously accepted on Thursday and will ‘allow a higher degree of legal certainty and flexibility in the implementation of mining projects’, will now allow the possibility of obtaining concessions for the exploitation of oil and gas through public bidding in Croatia. Investors will be obliged to comply with all regulations regarding the protection of nature and the environment.

Croatian Potatoes And Meat Not Up To McDonald’s Standards

May. 09 Business no comments

Only 20% of suppliers to McDonald’s restaurants in Croatia are from Croatia, despite its advertising claiming the contrary.

McDonald’s franchise holder in Croatia Globalna hrana say that Croatians would love it if all McDonald’s suppliers were Croatian producers, but that it is impossible as Croatian produce does not meet the required standards.

“Meat and buns we get from Austria, but the fresh vegetables for the sandwiches and salads we get from Croatian suppliers,” said Pavel Pavlicek from Globalna hrana.

Croatian potatoes from the Lika region are considered too small to make french fries from, whilst the meat is also ‘imported’ as Croatia lack processing facilities. Pavlicek says that more McDonald’s restaurants will pop up in Croatia as it enters the EU.