Politics Did Not Have the Will to Give the Economy a Chance

At today’s gathering of the Croatian Employers’ Association, entrepreneurs from five Slavonian counties (Brod-Posavina County, Osijek-Baranja County, Požega-Slavonia, Virovitica-Podravina, and Vukovar-Srijem County) met. More than 250 entrepreneurs and company representatives, as well as representatives of local communities, mayors, and heads of municipalities were present at the meeting.

The gathering was addressed by Ivica Vrkić, the Mayor of the City of Osijek, and Vladimir Šišljagić, the Prefect of Osijek-Baranja County, while the position of entrepreneurs was discussed by the President of HUP, Gordana Deranja, and Davor Majetić, the Executive Director of HUP.

– The entrepreneurial climate is one of the last topics in everyday work, but it should be the first as it is a prerequisite for the work of entrepreneurs and employers. Local representatives must create a positive climate and a quality environment in the local community for the economy to grow. I thank HUP for being open to dialogue – said the Mayor of the City of Osijek, Ivica Vrkić.

The Prefect of Osijek-Baranja County, Vladimir Šišljagić, stated that without entrepreneurship, there is no culture or society, making this gathering, which brought together employers from five counties, all the more significant.

– Politics did not have the will to give the economy a chance, and investors must be allowed to profit. Therefore, we must send messages of reality from this gathering and work on improving the environment – he said.

Gordana Deranja, the President of HUP, said that they are in Osijek because they want to hear firsthand what current obstacles and problems entrepreneurs in the region face, but also to learn about all other activities of entrepreneurs in Slavonia and Baranja.

– Any form of contact with entrepreneurs helps us to better argue the demands and needs towards social partners – the Government and trade unions – said the President of HUP.

Davor Majetić, the Executive Director of HUP, believes that the number of amendments to laws being passed exceeds the capacity for a quality assessment of their application in everyday situations.

– Therefore, the role of HUP is even more significant as it alerts the legislator and the Government to such cases and thus influences changes to such regulations that burden employers in Croatia on a daily basis – said Majetić.

After the presentations, a panel discussion began on the topic: “The Entrepreneurial Climate in Slavonia and Baranja – Conditions, Obstacles, and Opportunities for Successful Business,” with an introductory presentation prepared by Slavica Singer from the Faculty of Economics in Osijek. Participants in the panel discussion included Stjepan Bošnjaković, Head of the Department for Economy of Brod-Posavina County; Bernard Jakelić, Deputy Executive Director of HUP; Srećko Kukić, Deputy Head of the Department for Programs and Projects of the European Union and Economy of the City of Osijek; Zdenko Podolar, Head of the Department for Economy of Vukovar-Srijem County; Denis Sušac, co-owner of the company Mono d.o.o. Osijek, and Zoran Uranjek, a member of the management board of Harburg Freudenberger Belišće d.o.o. Belišće.