KEY SECTORS
Processing industry, with emphasis on metalworking and textile industries, and construction are considered to be the key sectors of economy in Međimurje County.
TRADITIONAL INDUSTRIAL SECTORS
- Metalworking industry
- Textile and leather industry
- Agriculture
- Food industry
- Construction
TRADITIONAL SECTORS
Metalworking industry has always been the major economic force of Međimurje. Today it encompasses the production of cast iron, metal constructions, containers, cauldrons, tools, industrial equipment (wall units, brackets, frames, closets), wrought iron products, railway coaches, machines and devices for various uses (e.g. agriculture, food industry, textile industry, utilities, environmental protection etc
In addition, the industry offers a string of related services, from mounting various metal constructions, machinery and pipe lines through welding, locksmithing, maintenance, designing to quality control, engineering tests and training and attesting professionals.
In 2006 metalworking industry counted 117 companies with 2863 employees and realised income of 992 million HRK, which was a 5.6% increase in reference to 2005. Average net salary amounted to 3,771 HRK, which is 21% more than the overall county average.
In the sector of trades and crafts there were 114 craft enterprises manufacturing metal products.
Among the more prominent business subjects in this sector count the following:
- Arteferro- Dohomont d.o.o., Goričan
- Centrometal d.o.o., Macinec
- EKO-Međimurje d.d., Šenkovec
- Ferokotao d.o.o., Donji Kraljevec
- Ferro-Preis d.o.o., Čakovec,
- Komet d.d., Prelog,
- Leško d.o.o., Vratišinec
- Letina-inox d.o.o. ,Čakovec
- Midi d.o.o., Ivanovec
- Novi feromont d.o.o., Donji Kraljevec
- Piramida d.o.o., Lopatinec
- PPM”d.o.o., Čakovec
- Primabiro d.o.o., Čakovec
- Reinox d.o.o., Brezje
- Radionica željezničkih vozila d.o.o., Čakovec
- Senko d.o.o., Štefanec
- Tehnix d.o.o., Donji Kraljevec
- TE-PRO d.o.o., Sv. Martin na Muri
- TMT d.o.o., Čakovec
- TM d.o.o., Čakovec
- Zavod za kontrolu kvalitete d.o.o., Čakovec
The companies listed above are pronouncedly export-oriented and continuously invest in further development and new technologies.
Textile industry has a long tradition in Međimurje. In spite of a number of difficulties and stiff competition from China and India, it has managed to thrive and it is among top sectors in the County according to total income, export and the number of employees. The 56 textile companies make 2.8% of the total number of companies in the County, and employ 3922 persons or 16.4%. Total reported income of textile industry in 2006 was 724.3 million HRK, and after-tax profit was 41.5 million.
At one time the biggest textile company in Međimurje, Međimurska trikotaža Čakovec, employed over 3000 people, but during the period of transition it was divided into a dozen smaller stock companies which over the course of several years became privatised. Among those companies that inherited the former giant are MTČ d.d Čakovec, MTČ Tvornica rublja d.d. Čakovec (underwear and lingerie), MTČ Tvornica čarapa d.d. Čakovec (hosiery), MTČ Tvornica dječje trikotaže d.d. Prelog (knitwear for children) and MTČ Tvornica trikotaže d.d. Štrigova (knitwear). Other significant representatives of the textile industry are export-oriented companies, such as: Čateks d.d. Čakovec, Betex d.o.o. Belica, Tubla d.o.o. Čakovec, Modna industrija konfekcije d.o.o. Čakovec, Modeks d.d. Mursko Središće etc.
Agriculture
Međimurje is predominantly rural region with excellent preconditions for agricultural production. There are 50,000 ha of cultivable land out of which 35,667 ha account for plough land and gardens, 2,829 ha for orchards, 1,126 for vineyards and 9,983 ha for meadows.
The most widely represented culture in the plough fields are cereal crops (71.68%), followed by vegetables (18%), industrial crops (3.87%) and fodder crops (3.94%). The most characteristic agricultural product of Međimurje is potato, taking the County to the nationwide top spot with 18.3% of the total area under potato crops.
Orchards in Međimurje County occupy 915.44 ha, out of which 502.46 ha are under plantations, that is, almost 55%. The share of plantations in total land under orchards on the national level is 30%. Production of apples in Međimurje County covers about 25% of the national production.
One of the outstanding agricultural companies is Agromeđimurje d.d., which has a unified production of crop cultures, fruit, vegetables and livestock in large areas and quantities.
Food industry
With a strong backbone in agriculture, there has always been a steady development of food industry which is nowadays strong and still up-and-coming.
The Čakovečki mlinovi company is among the biggest in Croatia in the field of wheat milling and bakery production. It employs about 750 workers. Two thirds of its processed cereal crops come from the fields of Međimurje.
The exponent of the meat industry is Mesna industrija Vajda which produces large quantities of meat and meat products and buys up mostly from local farmers.
Another important meat factory is Perutnina Ptuj Pipo from Čakovec, one of the leading Croatian companies in the production of poultry.
Dairy industry is comprised of several smaller plants, the largest of which is Hamer.
In recent times, more and more wine growers protect their products as brands and offer them to the market as trademarks. There are about 40 vintners manufacturing 160 wines with protected geographical indications, and we can safely say that wine industry has gained momentum in Međimurje.
The main feature of food industry in Međimurje is that it has a relatively small number of companies. However, those are large in their capacities and reputations and play major roles in the Croatian food industry. It is also evident that the food industry is mostly supplied with raw materials by local farmers, which is an excellent example of healthy local-level cooperation.
Construction is also a tradition in Međimurje. Looking back at the past fifteen years, a number of new companies have been founded that have occupied the major portion of the construction market. The biggest among them are Team d.d. Čakovec i Međimurje Graditeljstvo d.o.o. Čakovec. Other more prominent construction companies are: Tegra d.d. Čakovec, Međimurje-Inženjering d.d. Čakovec, Đurkin d.o.o. Čakovec, Izgradnja d.o.o. Domašinec etc. In 2006, there were 266 construction companies in the County which employed 3513 workers and reported a total income of 39.57 million HRK. At the same time, there were 500 craft enterprises working in construction.
Construction industry follows the regional economy’s development trends and continues to expand due to growing demands and expectations of clients.
DEVELOPING SECTORS
- Information and communication technology
- Logistics and business services
- Renewable energy sources
- Tourism
DEVELOPING SECTORS
Information and Communication Technologies
According to the World Economic Forum Report for 2007, Croatia has the best preconditions for ICT sector development in the Southeast Europe. The legal regulations have been significantly improved, and the Government, companies and a majority of citizens use modern technologies. Croatia is on number 46 on the list from this report based on the information society development level.
ICT sector is particularly well developed in the north of Croatia. Its potentials are in conjunction with the proximity of the Faculty of Organisation and Informatics in Varaždin, which has educated a number of young experts from Međimurje, and with growing entrepreneurial activities, which have resulted in increased demand for modern IT solutions.
The most important step in the positioning of the County’s ICT sector was made by establishing the Međimurje IT cluster which gathers 11 companies representing their dedication to joint advancement towards new markets and better quality and quantity of their business activities. MIT Cluster is part of the Croatian Association of ICT Organisations -cro.ict.
Logistics and Business Services
This sector, in accordance with accelerated and technologically advanced growth, is rapidly developing as a supporting segment of economy. Thanks to its geographical position and excellent transport infrastructure, Međimurje is the ideal location for establishing logistics and distribution centres. The knowledge of business situations in the markets of former Yugoslavia and knowledge of local Slavic languages, large number of trained carrying agents and truckers are also among the advantages of Međimurje as a logistics centre. It is also worth pointing out that the local business zones have adequate capacities to respond to the demands of logistics industry.
In relation to business services, technologically advanced and innovative regional companies are seeking to step forward to even more advanced technologies and possibilities to test and develop their ideas and innovations on even higher expert level. This is where space opens up for agencies which could offer specific consulting services in the field of financing, marketing, organisation, receiving government grants, preparing projects for EU funds, networking and similar. Such companies already exist in Međimurje, but growing needs for stated services guarantee accelerated growth of the business services sector.
Renewable energy sources
At the beginning of the new millennium, renewable sources play an increasingly greater part in the world’s energy production. Međimurje is the region where awareness of the limitedness of the world’s fossil energy sources and the necessity to use renewable sources is highly developed with evident potentials in the region.
Hydroenergetic potential has been used for decades through the two power plants on the river Drava. The opportunity to use wind energy is also recognised and measurements are being made to record data on optimal locations for building wind power plants, something which foreign investors have already shown interest in.
With its forest land and developed livestock production, Međimurje has a potential for the use of biomass, and the existing areas under oilseed rape could be further expanded to uncultivated land, since there has been concrete interest for the production of biodiesel from this plant.
Solar energy has already been utilised by numerous individuals and enterprises for heating, and local government joined in by setting up public lighting powered by solar energy.
There is also substantial potential for the use of geothermal energy from two sources in the region of Međimurje.
The foundation of Međimurje Energy Agency will also be a major incentive in the use of RES. The agency will actively contribute in creating the strategy of power supply development of Međimurje County, promotion of energy efficiency and exploring the potential for the use of RES in Međimurje. MEA will, among other tasks, take over and further develop these initiatives and actively participate in the introduction of good practices, promote sustainability, provide information and advice and offer a string of other services to the local community.
Tourism is the industrial branch from which more and more people in Međimurje make significant income and this trend is expected to continue in the future. Međimurje perfectly fits in the global trends that favour authentic tourism products and original offer, since it has a lot to offer to its visitors in terms o natural beauties and cultural heritage. Vintners are embracing serious, technologically advanced production and protect their indigenous wines. Traditional culinary specialties and healthy food is also a great asset to tourism in the region. There is a noticeable increase in the number of projects with the goal of improving tourism offer; there are numerous wine-cellars, wine roads, cycling roads etc. The biggest incentive to tourism was the opening of Toplice Sveti Martin spa resort, which quickly assumed the position of the leading resort of that kind in the wider region, winning numerous awards and acknowledgements. Its success encouraged the owners to expand the capacities and offer, so that now it can be said that Međimurje turned form a place for picnics to a place for holidays.
Currently, Međimurje has tourism capacities of 900 beds, 400 of them with four stars. The value of investments in tourism in recent years has amounted to 25 million EUR, 18 million of which have been invested in Toplice Sveti Martin. The plan is to expand said capacities to 5,000 beds, 2,000 new working places and up to 300,000 overnights per year.
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