Original scientific paper
Business Zones – Essential Elements Of Varaždin County Economic Development
Vladimir Cini
Dušan Varga
Abstract
The work points to the influence of business zones on local and regional development of an area. The
business zones influence the contemporary economy and simultaneously attract foreign investors into
certain area who will contribute to the economic development. Raising efficiency and competitiveness on
local and foreign market represents the key developmental question. While creating competitive position,
the role of state is important as well as the roles of local units of government and self-government. In a short
period, the City of Varaždin has become a desirable investment zone and a model example for the rest of
Croatia. Thanks to excellent transportation position where there are crossings of European transportation
corridors and vicinity of many countries and busy people, the Varaždin County (hereinafter County) is an
area of dynamic development that is open to new way of thinking and ready for quick changes.
The work is structurally divided in two parts. The first part gives the short analysis of the current economic
situation of the City of Varaždin and Varždin County. The second part defines the notion and sort of
business zones as well as their characteristics and basic reasons and aims of their establishment. The current
operations of Varaždin Free Zone as the most developed one in this part of Croatia is also shown.
In addition to entrepreneurial zones on the area of Varaždin there is also Technological Park that represents
an important segment of attracting young highly educated professional personnel who, with their ideas
in newly established enterprises, cannot survive on the market unless they are given initial help. In the
end of this work, there is short survey of a future project – Biotechnological Park. This project will be of
exceptional importance for the development of economy and education in the northern part of Croatia.
Keywords
business zones; techonological park; regional development
Hrčak ID:
42859
URI
Publication date:
10.7.2009.
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