President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic, accompanied by Minister of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure Oleg Butkovic, on Monday attended the opening of the newly-reconstructed jetty and ferry ramp in Susak on the small northern Adriatic island of the same name. The project cost about HRK 18.5 million (EUR 2.5 million).

Grabar-Kitarovic said that despite the visible progress made on the island, it still faced problems, including depopulation. “I hope the new jetty will attract more tourists and encourage people who were born here to return to this beautiful island,” she said.

The president appealed to the government to help revive the islands through tax policy measures. “It is important to ensure a good education for young people on the islands and create the same conditions for work as on the mainland,” she said.

Butkovic said that his ministry was investing over HRK 300 million (EUR 40.5 million) in port infrastructure in all seven coastal counties, and that Croatia has access to EUR 80 million in EU funds for financing such projects. He said that HRK 84 million (EUR 11.3 million) had been allocated in the state budget for such projects last year and 80 million (EUR 10.8 million) this year.

Grabar-Kitarovic will continue her three-day tour of the northern Adriatic islands on Tuesday when she is scheduled to visit Cres.