Lesandrić: Did the ‘sorovci’ evaluate project proposals?; Bulj: Where is the money?

Most representative Ivana Ninčević Lesandrić on Thursday, during the parliamentary debate on the report of the Croatian Agency for Small Business, Innovation and Investment (HAMAG-BICRO) for 2016, repeatedly questioned the accuracy of the information that ‘sorovci’, i.e., individuals in professional training, evaluated project proposals.

In addition, is it normal that no one knew for 84 days where the applications were and that entrepreneurs have been waiting for funds for more than a year?, asked the representative.

>>>Ninčević-Lesandrić on non-repayable funds: For 84 days no one looked at who is asking for and deserves money

While HDZ’s Darko Horvat does not believe such claims, i.e., that any application passed without professional people, SDP’s Gordan Maras believes that in the absence of people, they also used individuals in professional training.

Horvat created a mess, Maras locked himself in the office

Everything lasted longer than a year due to the “mess” created by former minister Horvat, stated Maras, to whom the named Horvat did not remain silent, accusing him of having “locked himself in the office” during his ministerial term and not talking to entrepreneurs.

Maras praised HAMAG’s work, the transparency of the decisions it made.

>>>HAMAG-BICRO loan helped an entrepreneur go from a hairdresser’s suitcase to their own salon

Everything is neatly listed, everything can be seen, that is a significant difference from how HBOR operates, there you cannot know who received a loan, stated Maras.

SDP’s representative accused Horvat of having “employed his protégés” in the EU administration, thus enabling them a 30 percent higher salary. That is beneath any level, no one has employed anyone, Maras replied.

Bulj: Where is the money?

Where is the money, where is the money?, insisted Miro Bulj (Most), seeking an answer to the question about the ‘fate’ of 250 million kuna for small entrepreneurs, for hundreds of jobs, in Croatia, not in Ireland.

Why are you deceiving entrepreneurs like this?, he asked the two former ministers and the current minister Martina Dalić.

I think the debate is misplaced, HAMAG-BICRO does not distribute money, the Agency representative briefly responded to the representatives’ claims.

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HAMAG-BICRO received 324 guarantee requests last year, according to the Report, and approved 220, which is 42.4 percent less compared to 2015 when 382 guarantees were approved. The total amount of approved guarantees last year was 275 million kuna, while the year before it was 365 million kuna.

>>>HAMAG-BICRO secured an additional 150 million kuna in loans for entrepreneurs

The Parliament had no objections to the Government’s proposal to relieve Ivan Grujić of his duties as Vice President of the Management Board of the Croatian Memorial Documentation Centre of the Homeland War due to the expiration of his term and appoint Filip Hameršek.

It was also agreed that the memberships in the Council be relieved Filip Hameršek, Damir Agičić, Nikica Barić, and Davor Marijan, and appoint Barić, Marijan, as well as Nela Kušanić and Marijo Reljanović.