1. April 2009 1 Regional Overview of Varazdin County

2. April 2009 2 Varazdin County- Location

3. April 2009 3 Varazdin County

4. 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%)

5. 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

6. 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

7. April 2009 7 Foreign Investment CALZEDONIA

8. 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

9. April 2009 9 Best practices Free 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. April 2009 13 Contact Information For more information, please contact: –Varazdin County http://www.varazdinska-zupanija.hr E-mail: savjet@varazdinska-zupanija.hrsavjet@varazdinska-zupanija.hr Tel: +385 42 390 511 –AZRA (Varazdin County Development Agency) www.azra.hr E-mail: info@azra.hrinfo@azra.hr Tel: +385 42 422 200

14. April 2009 14 THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION Any questions?