April 2009 1

Regional Overview of Varazdin County

April 2009 2

Varazdin County- Location

April 2009 3

Varazdin County

April 2009 4

Varazdin County By The Numbers

• 185 000 inhabitants

• Pop. Density 152/km²

• 6 cities

• 22 municipalities

• 0,18 ha Average

Agricultural Plot Size

• Unemployment:– 8.8 % (unofficial rate for 2008,

CES)

• Exports – 643 mil. €– Germany (31%), Italy (19%),

Slovenia (13%), Austria (12%)

• Import – 579 mil. €– Italy (24%), Germany (20%),

Austria (8%), Slovenia (7%)

April 2009 5

Regional Economy

• Strong SME Development

– More than 2,000 SMEs

– Majority up to 9 employees.

– Important for the local economy

• EU expansion opening new economic perspectives – Priority on technology development

April 2009 6

Key Sectors

• Traditional Sectors– Textile, Leather, Wood and Metal Processing– Food Processing– Construction

• Developing Sectors– ICT, Logistics, Recycling

• Emerging Sectors– Environmental Technology, Alternative Energy, Life

Science, Biotechnology

April 2009 7

Foreign Investment

CALZEDONIA

April 2009 8

Microsoft Business Technology Centre - Varazdin

"Croatia has always been valued as a possible investment destination for Microsoft. We have developed a business-technology centre model for Croatia, such as the one we opened a year ago in Varazdin."

Goran Radman

Chairman, Microsoft South East Europe

April 2009 9

Best practicesFree Zone Varazdin

• Basic description and results– Leading customs free zone in Croatia– 11 investors (6 foreign, 5 domestic)– Investment: 40 mil € – Core business: manufacturing – Total export of the Zone: 250 mil € (40% of the County export)

• Reasons for Creation– Technology transfer– Quality Employment– Business Development– Industrial Networking

April 2009 10

Varazdin County Goals

• Change employment structure and create new jobs– Planned breakdown of traditional industries

• Enhance education system

– Double the number of people with third level education

• Conversion to research and development (R&D) industries

– Technological literacy programmes– SMEs are the key players– Development and expansion of technology parks,

innovation centres & business zones

April 2009 11

Antirecession measures in Varazdin County

• Reduction of regional expenditures (local rates,urban rents)

• Subventions of interests on credits which are given to small and medium enterprises

• Additional amounts for regional development agency in order to help the cities and the municipalities while applying for international projects

• Continuous eduction of farmers,small and medium enterpreneurs

• Help to the cities and the municipalities in creation of urban development plans

•

April 2009 12

Antirecession measures in Varazdin County(II)

• Implementation of new modern ICT technologies on all levels

• Support for Guarantee Agency which approves guarantees to SMES, necessary in obtaining credits;

• Credits for improvements in agricultural production (especially of milk and diary products, pork meet etc.)

• Concentration of agricultural land

April 2009 13

Contact Information

• For more information, please contact:– Varazdin County

• http://www.varazdinska-zupanija.hr • E-mail: savjet@varazdinska-zupanija.hr • Tel: +385 42 390 511

– AZRA (Varazdin County Development Agency)

• www.azra.hr • E-mail: info@azra.hr• Tel: +385 42 422 200

April 2009 14

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION

Any questions?