More than 99 per cent of the companies registered in Croatia are small and medium businesses, Maras said at a government session. They account for more than 50 per cent of gross domestic product, 64 per cent of employment, and 42 per cent of exports.
Croatia's economy is a micro-economy, as 80 per cent of all companies are small, so incentives will focus on the growth of medium enterprises, said Maras.
Of the incentives, HRK 115 million will be invested in competitive entrepreneurship, HRK 113.4 million in favourable financing and guarantees, HRK 18 million in business education, and HRK 56.5 million in the improvement of the enterprise infrastructure. There is also about HRK 61 million related to European Union programmes and projects.
Maras announced a change of policy towards enterprise zones, as only half of the 320 zones the state is helping have some enterprise project. We should focus on promising zones, he said.
Also today, the government endorsed a bill on the establishment of an investment and competition agency, and a bill of amendments to the law on the stimulation of small businesses to align it with EU standards.
(EUR 1 = HRK 7.53)