Osijek-Baranja County observed its day on Saturday, with President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic saying at a County Assembly session in Osijek that an even and polycentric development of Croatia was crucial for the demographic revival of the Slavonia region and all of Croatia.

The president said Osijek-Baranja County had made noticeable progress in its development and that the government’s Slavonia-Baranja-Srijem project was having a good and had an even better impact.

She said it was necessary to intensify agricultural development efforts, and that a resolute and swift state, as well as local intervention, was necessary to stop emigration.

The president said it was excellent news that GDP went up 3.9 percent in Q1 as it would facilitate debt servicing and real growth, and that it was even better news that the growth was based not just on consumption, but production and exports as well.

She voiced hope that investment and exports would help GDP growth to reach 5 percent, which she said was feasible, provided there is more unity, organisation and determination to effect change.

We must work fast as time is not on our side, the president said, adding that politics must facilitate work, education, creativity, enterprise, democracy and access to foreign markets.

Addressing young people who are not emigrating but “building successful enterprise and life stories,” she said “We need your enthusiasm and optimism. To those who left, I wish to say that coming back does not mean failure. On the contrary, bring us your experience, be the creators of progress.”

The prime minister’s envoy, Agriculture Minister Tomislav Tolusic, said the government earmarked HRK 19 billion for the Slavonia-Baranja-Srijem project.

He said Osijek-Baranja Country had absorbed 1.5 billion kunas in Rural Development Programme funds over the past three years, and that over 250 projects were being drawn up to increase the competitiveness of its agriculture.

Prefect Ivan Anusic said the projects launched in the county were worth nearly 3 billion kunas and that the bulk of the money came from EU funds and in cooperation with the government. They include energy-efficient buildings, irrigation, a new hospital, new buildings, two new schools and a regional fruit and vegetable distribution centre.

(€ 1 = 7.4 kuna)