PHOTO: Arno Mikkor (EU2017EE Estonian Presidency), Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0. (Edits: cropped)

At the ceremonial Golden Kuna awards ceremony, held at the Croatian National Theatre, Prime Minister Andrej Plenković stated that Croatia is currently recording the highest employment in its history.

He pointed out that average and median wages as well as pensions have increased by between 85 and 110 percent since 2016, while Croatia had the second-highest economic growth in the European Union last year. Plenković emphasized the importance of responsible management of public finances and recalled Croatia’s entry into Schengen and the eurozone, which, as he said, further strengthened the country’s credibility in the international framework.

Speaking about plans for the coming period, the prime minister announced that by 2035 Croatia will allocate a total of five percent of GDP to defense and related projects, along with significant investments in education. He added that a three-year period without elections lies ahead which, according to him, will enable stability and further economic development. "We will preserve stability and encourage your entrepreneurial spirit, because it is precisely you who strengthen the Croatian economy and the standard of our citizens," he told those gathered.

The president of the Croatian Chamber of Economy, Luka Burilović, congratulated all Golden Kuna winners and emphasized that Croatia, despite global uncertainties, has solid macroeconomic foundations. He said that the Chamber provides its members with support in digital transformation and the green transition and that it will continue working to strengthen competitiveness and the business climate. The Golden Kuna, recalls the N1 portal, has been awarded since 1993 for exceptional business results and contribution to the development of the Croatian economy.