Strategic plan for the long term development of existing free zones in Croatia


Commissioned by: TDI, Group Ltd, Ferry House, 48 Lower Mount Street, Dublin 2, Ireland 
Project duration: February, 2006 – November, 2007
Project manager: Nenad Starc, PhD


The Croatian Ministry of Economy, Labor and Entrepreneurship was the primary assistance beneficiary of the project developed under the CARDS national program. 

Project objectives: 
  • professional improvement of the fellows of the Institute of Economics, Zagreb (EIZ) 
  • exploring the field in which EIZ had no previous experience 
  • contributing to development methodology 
  • participation of EIZ in the CARDS program 

Project goals: 
  • to complete Strategic Plan for the Development of Existing Free Zones in Croatia 
  • to complete Development Programs for 15 Free Zones 
  • free-zone employee qualification for the Development Programs implementation 
  • to execute the pilot project of program implementation in selected free zones 

The project included the following four components: 

COMPONENT 1: Developing the National Strategic Plan for Existing Free Zones and Development Programs for 15 Free Zones in Croatia 

Analysis of the legislative framework for doing business in the free zones; overview of the differences in the Croatian and EU free zone legislation; recommendations on adjusting Croatian legislation to the EU norms; initial SWOT analysis of free zones in Croatia; comparative analysis of selected free zones around the world and choosing the best practice relevant for the free zones in Croatia; drawing up medium-term plans for development of 15 free zones; assistance to the Ministry of Economy, Labor and Entrepreneurship in developing the National Plan for the Development of Free Zones. 

COMPONENT 2: Setting up partnerships in free zones 

Initiating and helping set up partnerships in the free zones; organizing and leading discussions between the partners based on the SWOT analysis; medium-term plans implementation consultancy; developing seminar materials that were used for the free zones management and other partners’ training. 

COMPONENT 3: Management training in free zones 

Analyzing the need for additional training; developing and implementing training programs; organizing seminars and workshops; organizing study visits to selected free zones around the world; helping the management of free zones in performing day-to-day tasks. 

COMPONENT 4: Pilot programs 

Selecting free zones for the implementation of the pilot programs; drawing up pilot programs proposals; discussing proposals for pilot programs in the partnerships; adopting and implementing pilot programs in selected free zones; presenting pilot programs at gatherings with media support; disseminating pilot programs and the National Development Programs for Existing Free Zones.

 

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