During the next four days, President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović will tour Primorje-Gorski Kotar County.
With the ceremonial raising of the presidential flag in front of the Primorje-Gorski Kotar County building in Rijeka, the temporary office of Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović has been opened in Primorje-Gorski Kotar County. The President will stay in the area for four days and she will use the time to focus on problems of the region, particularly of the nearby Gorski Kotar area. The President expressed her satisfaction that Rijeka has developed into a coastal, maritime, cultural, scientific and economic centre, reports Večernji List on November 11, 2016.
She wished Rijeka every success in its further development, particularly in the context of the European Capital of Culture 2020 project, which will bring to Rijeka additional visibility in Europe, as well as new infrastructure investments. The President added she would particularly focus on the mountainous area in the Rijeka hinterland, which is increasingly becoming a transit region. The President said that the Gorski Kotar region had all the prerequisites for a stronger development.
Therefore, she pointed out that during her stay in Primorje-Gorski Kotar County she would get to know problems that the locals face in their everyday lives. “I am pleased that these meetings will be attended by representatives of the County and of the central government”, said the President. “It is encouraging that the Government has announced changes in this area. The economy must be in service of solving demographical problems so that people would stay living and return to mountainous areas”, said Grabar-Kitarović.
Rijeka Mayor Vojko Obernsel welcomed the President and noted that Rijeka was a centre of urban development based on European values. “This is in many ways a different city, a very ambitious town and we base our development on transport, science, university and new technologies”, said the Mayor, pointing out that the main challenge for Rijeka is the preparation for the European Capital of Culture 2020 project.
Primorje-Gorski Kotar County Prefect Zlatko Komadina said that this was one of the most developed counties in Croatia. “However, we want even stronger and faster development and more infrastructure projects”, said Komadina.