ZAGREB, February 1, 2019 – Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said at a government meeting in Dubrovnik on Friday that 40 decisions on projects in Dubrovnik-Neretva County would be adopted today and that the contracts to be signed afterwards would be worth nearly 4.5 billion kuna.
The government will adopt conclusions on water utility projects worth 2.8 billion kuna, transport projects worth over 22 million kuna, investments in ports worth over 518 million kuna, and the construction of a day hospital in Metković worth 1.5 million kuna.
Plenković singled out the Pelješac bridge project. He visited the construction site yesterday. He reiterated the works were proceeding well and that the bridge, access roads and infrastructure facilities “should be finished in exactly three years.”
He also reiterated that the 357 million euro with which the European Union was co-financing the project “is proof of the value of our EU membership.” “I expect us to continue to work on projects which will strongly, by reallocating funds from the European budget, reduce the inequalities between parts of Croatia and contribute to a more even regional development.
The prime minister also highlighted a recently renovated barracks of the Croatian army’s 116th brigade, saying it was a boost to the economic development of the Ploče port and for the army to help civil institutions during natural disasters.
As for the future day hospital in Metković, Plenković said it was a necessity for 50,000 people in the area.
Speaking of Dubrovnik’s tourism results, he said last year’s arrivals were up 8% on 2017 and that the county recorded more than two million arrivals. He added that many of the projects the government was discussing today, such as better transport connectivity between the south and the rest of the country, would help to increase the tourist turnover.
Plenković said that later today he would visit the construction site of Dubrovnik’s wastewater treatment plant and the city airport. He also said that a Croatian government last met in Dubrovnik 14 years ago.
The Plenković cabinet convened the meeting during the Festivity of Saint Blaise, the patron of Dubrovnik. The central day of the festivity will be on Sunday.
At Friday’s government meeting in Dubrovnik, ministers reported about what was done in their departments over the past period and plans about the period ahead, with Labour Minister Marko Pavić boasting of drawing more than 300 million kuna from the European Social Fund, of ensuring prerequisites for tourism development, and of a decrease in unemployment which, according to Eurostat, was 7.7% in December, below the European Union average.
Justice Minister Dražen Bošnjaković said the merging of municipal and magistrate courts made them more efficient and that this was especially evident in Dubrovnik-Neretva County.
Interior Minister Davor Božinović said the security situation in the county was satisfactory, with record-high seizures of illegal drugs, and prevention of migrant smuggling.
Science and Education Minister Blaženka Divjka announced the construction of a 200 million kuna student dormitory and the drawing of 87 million kuna from EU funds over the next five years.
Demography, Family, Youth and Social Policy Minister Nada Murganić said 17 projects worth 611.5 million kuna had been or were being implemented and that 132.9 million kuna was being absorbed from the European Social Fund for children’s programmes.
The state secretary at the Foreign Ministry, Zdravka Bušić, announced the China + 16 summit in Dubrovnik on April 11-12.
Prime Minister Andrej Plenković announced that workers of Plobest Ploče whose health was poor because of working with asbestos would receive compensation.
More news on Dubrovnik can be found in the special Dubrovnik section.
