The Subnational Business Ready (Subnational B-READY) report for Croatia 2024 was presented in Zagreb, offering a detailed analysis of local business climates. The study aims to inspire policy reforms that promote economic growth, job creation, and sustainability by examining key areas such as business entry, location, utility services, dispute resolution, and insolvency across five Croatian cities: Osijek, Rijeka, Split, Varaždin, and Zagreb.
Goran Romek, State Secretary at the Ministry of Economy, emphasized the importance of the report's findings. "The results of the Business Ready project provide a clear roadmap how to further strengthen the competitiveness of the Croatian economy and create a more favorable business environment," he stated. Romek noted that businesses have already saved 250 million euros through reform measures and aim to save an additional 365 million euros with new action plans.
Jehan Arulpragasam from the World Bank highlighted the significance of public policies in fostering a conducive business environment. "Sustainable and inclusive private sector development brings benefits for all," he said. The World Bank partnered with the European Commission and Croatia's Ministry of Economy to conduct this study.
The report identifies areas for improvement in each city while noting their strengths. Rijeka excels in utility services and business insolvency processes. Split leads in insolvency but lags in business location efficiency due to lengthy property transfer processes. Varaždin performs well in building permitting but falls behind in dispute resolution reliability. Zagreb is strong in dispute resolution but could improve its utility services provision.
Osijek offers fast electricity connections but needs improvements in insolvency proceedings due to limited resources for virtual hearings.
The Subnational B-READY study targets government officials and private sector stakeholders to help identify best practices and reduce regulatory bottlenecks across regions. Funded by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy, this study is part of a series covering 12 EU member states.