GDP growth is the Economic Event of the Year.
On Monday, annual Businessperson of the Year and Economic Event of the Year awards were presented at a ceremony in Zagreb. The awards are given by editorial boards of Večernji List and Poslovni Dnevnik, and the winners were selected by a panel of journalists and experts, and by readers of the newspapers, reports Večernji List on November 21, 2016.
The winners are Ante Vlahović from Adris for Businessperson of the Year, and GDP growth for Economic Event of the Year.
“This award is also a recognition for all employees who spend every day making Adris one of the leading Croatian and regional companies”, said Vlahović. “We are surrounded by increasingly demanding socio-economic circumstances. Tremendous energy, knowledge and passion for winning are our daily companions in the fight for a brighter future of Croatia”, said Vlahović.
The award for GDP growth was presented to Finance Minister Zdravko Marić. “All these pressing issues – pension system, people with frozen bank accounts and everything else – the solution for these problems is economic growth and employment. This award is fully deserved. However, economic growth achieved in 2016 should not be a reason for us to postpone some of the reforms. The growth of between 2.5 and 3 percent is good after six years of recession, but we need much higher rates of growth, and I hope that next year we will also be nominated”, said the Minister.
Editor-in-chief of Večernji List Dražen Klarić explained why the newspapers launched the awards. “Although Croatia had a 12 month period of political instability, economic indicators are very good. In an era of instability, we must encourage what is best, and businesspeople are the ones who create new value. Being a businessperson in Croatia is not easy. There are too many uncertainties, laws are changed too often, there is too much political influence. We are sending a message that people should stay working in Croatia and believe in their idea and vision, because without them there is no successful society or a successful country”, said Klarić.
“Our message to young people who are moving abroad is – return and bring back your knowledge and skills, enrich our society with new visions and knowledge”, said Klarić. He thanked companies which invest in the education of young people.
Other nominees for the Businessperson of the Year were: Đuro Horvat (Tehnix), Zvonimir Mršić (Podravka), Mate Rimac (Rimac Automobili) and Branko Roglić (Orbico). Nominees in the Economic Event of the Year were: Advent in Zagreb festival, opening of an IBM facility in Zagreb, investments of Dogus Group, and Podravka’s acquisition of Žito.
