Međimurje County is the smallest Croatian county by area, but the strength of its economy and the entrepreneurship and mentality of its population place it at the very top of the entrepreneurial counties in Croatia. The processing industry is the backbone of the county’s economy, and in recent years the service sector is also gaining importance; the ICT sector, the sector of e-mobility and continental tourism. The county stands out compared to the rest of Croatia with a distinct surplus in the foreign trade balance. In 2019, Međimurje County achieved the highest value of exports per capita (approximately 6,580 euros of exports per capita) compared to other counties. The most important export markets are Germany, Austria and Slovenia. SMEs make up 98% of the Međimurje economy.
In the metal industry in Međimurje, the experience, knowledge and skills have been acquired over generations and have shaped the metal industry into one of the most dynamic sectors in which 165 companies operate. Using modern technologies, they produce various components and final products, from small tools to parts of wind farms, exported mainly to EU countries.
The textile and footwear industry played an important role in the industrial development of Međimurje in the 20th century and still represent an important part of the economy. Numerous small local entrepreneurs have maintained their positions in the market due to innovation, knowledge and flexibility. Also, Međimurje is home to global textile and footwear companies that achieve the highest standards of productivity and product quality.
The food industry, with a tradition of over 100 years and strong agriculture, is successfully growing with completely modernized production and numerous quality certificates.
There are 51 business zones in Međimurje County, and seven more are currently being developed. All zones are in the immediate vicinity of major traffic routes and are fully or partially equipped with infrastructure, which accelerates access and set up for investors. In some zones, investors are given incentives in the form of a complete exemption or reduction of communal fees and contributions. The largest business zones are the Međimurje Business Park, the Nedelišće Business Zone, the North Industrial Zone in Prelog and the North Industrial Zone in Donji Kraljevac.
Foreign direct investments in Međimurje County continue, and they come mostly from Sweden, USA, Austria, Luxembourg and Germany.
The most significant foreign direct investments in Međimurje County:
– Haix footwear (Germany) / FOOTWEAR / 1,163 employees
– LPT Leggett & Platt (USA) / WIRES, WIRE CORE FOR MATTRESSES AND MACHINES / 367 employees
– Hilding Anders (Sweden) / MATTRESSES AND FURNITURE / 543 employees
– LTH Alucast (Slovenia) / PARTS FOR THE AUTOMOBILE INDUSTRY / 222 employees
– Calzedonia (Italy) / PRODUCTION OF SOCKS / 380 employees
– CETITEC (Germany) / SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT / 20 employees
– FRAMOS Technologies (Germany) / VISUAL INFORMATION PROCESSING / 62 employees
In addition to foreign investments, there are examples of strong local investments in Međimurje that are present on the global market. Company Tehnix Ltd. from Donji Kraljevec is the leading eco industry in the world, and by applying internally developed technology, municipal waste becomes an economic resource. Čateks plc is one of the largest textile companies in the region, whose beginnings date back to 1874. Due to technological development and innovations, Čateks has positioned itself in the market as a producer of technical fabrics and materials for special purposes and higher added value, whose exports in 2021 make up 78.5% of sales revenue.
In recent years, investments in communal infrastructure have intensified in the county, resulting in almost 100 percent coverage in the distribution of electricity, water, gas, telephone, internet, drainage, etc.
The Međimurje County Knowledge Centre is an initiative that transformed a former neglected barracks into a living ecosystem made up of educational, supporting and scientific institutions that proactively support the business sector. Today, entrepreneurial support institutions operate within the Knowledge Centre (Public Institution for the Development of the Međimurje County REDEA, Technological Innovation Centre Međimurje Ltd. and Međimurje Energy Agency Ltd.); Međimurje University of Applied Sciences (MEV) with a student dormitory and the Centre for Sustainable Development; MIN-Međimurje Investment, Real estate Ltd..; The Tourist Board of Međimurje County and the Development and Education Centre – Metal Centre Čakovec, which implements projects in the metal and creative industry as well as in medicine.
Throughout Europe, Međimurje County is recognized as a destination suitable for investment, which is confirmed by numerous awards. For the fourth time, Međimurje is among the Top 10 regions for investment in the European Union. The most recent one is the recognition of FDI Magazine (Financial Times) for the year 2022/23; in the category of SMALL EUROPEAN REGIONS OF THE FUTURE for Investment Attraction Strategy, Međimurje County won 6th place.
[Source: Public Institution for the Development of the Međimurje County REDEA, July 2022]
| GDP EUR | 1.197.916.000 |
| Population | 105.250 |
| Men | 51.520 |
| Women | 53.730 |
| Age 0-14 | 16.886 |
| Age 15+ | 88.364 |
| GDP Per Capita EUR | 11.002,00 |
| Area Size km² | 729 |
| Motorways km | 22 |
| Broadband Connections number and density | 19.475 / 57% |
| Number of issued building permits | 461 |
| Amount | |
|---|---|
| Foreign Direct Investments million EUR | 130 |
| Activity | Amount |
|---|---|
| Clothing production | 67,50 |
| Manufacture of food products | 20,80 |
| Manufacture of leather and related products | 11,00 |
| Management activities; management consulting | 8,00 |
| Real estate activities | 7,50 |
| Other | 15,60 |
| Country | Amount |
|---|---|
| Luxembourg | 48,50 |
| United States | 38,30 |
| Austria | 31,70 |
| Italy | 23,30 |
| Germany | 19,40 |
| Other | -30,80 |
| Asset type | Amount (EUR, 000) |
|---|---|
| Buildings, spaces and structures | 87.568 |
| Machinery and equipment with fittings | 60.387 |
| Transport equipment | 9.964 |
| Cultivated biological resources | 716 |
| Intellectual property products | 2.876 |
| Total | 163.245 |
| Company | Activity | Website |
|---|---|---|
| MEĐIMURSKE VODE d.o.o. | WATER SUPPLY; WASTEWATER REMOVAL, MR. WASTE AND ENVIRONMENTAL SANITATION | http://www.medjimurske-vode.hr |
| MURAPLAST d.o.o. | MANUFACTURING | http://www.muraplast.com |
| TEHNIX d.o.o. | MANUFACTURING | http://www.tehnix.com |
| b.t.c. d.o.o. | WHOLESALE AND RETAIL TRADE; REPAIR OF MOTOR VEHICLES AND MOTORCYCLES | http://www.btc.hr |
| S-SEČAN d.o.o. | TRANSPORT AND STORAGE | |
| TMT d.o.o. | MANUFACTURING | http://www.tmt.hr |
| TUBLA d.o.o. | MANUFACTURING | http://www.tubla.hr |
| HAIX Obuća d.o.o. | MANUFACTURING | http://www.haix.com |
| LTH Alucast d.o.o. | MANUFACTURING | http://www.lthcastings.com |
| SOBOČAN d.o.o. | MANUFACTURING | http://www.sobocan.hr |
| Large enterprises | Medium enterprises | Small and micro-enterprises |
|---|---|---|
| 50% | 60% | 70% |
| Eduction level | Number of pupils |
|---|---|
| Kindergartens and Other Legal Entities Implementing Preschool Education Programmes | 4.710 |
| Basic Schools, Beginning of School Year | 9.220 |
| Upper Secondary Schools, Beginning of School Year | 3.563 |
| Students Enrolled on Professional and University Study, According to Place of Permanent Residence | 2.368 |
| Educational Sector | Number of Institutions | Number of Students |
|---|---|---|
| Economics, trade and business administration | 2 | 510 |
| Mechanical engineering, shipbuilding and metallurgy | 2 | 444 |
| Electrical engineering and computing | 1 | 358 |
| Tourism and catering | 2 | 280 |
| Health and social work | 1 | 240 |
| Construction and geodesy | 1 | 233 |
| Transport and logisitics | 1 | 134 |
| Personal, security and other services | 2 | 124 |
| Agriculture, food and veterinary | 2 | 103 |
| Graphic technology and audio-visual design | 1 | 94 |
| Textiles and leather | 1 | 89 |
| Forestry and wood processing | 1 | 34 |
| Name | Students who graduated from or completed university or professional study |
|---|---|
| Polytechnic of Međimurje in Čakovec | 154 |
| Activity | Number of Business Entities | Number of Persons Employed | Average Monthly Gross Earnings per Person in Paid Employment (EUR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture, forestry and fishing | 135 | 217 | 1.125 |
| Mining and quarrying | 7 | 3 | 1.212 |
| Manufacturing | 1.019 | 14.917 | 1.233 |
| Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply | 58 | 274 | 1.635 |
| Water supply, sewerage, waste management and remediation activities | 77 | 457 | 1.136 |
| Construction | 1.021 | 3.209 | 1.023 |
| Wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles | 1.252 | 2.511 | 1.057 |
| Transportation and storage | 226 | 896 | 1.092 |
| Accommodation and food service activities | 527 | 882 | 881 |
| Information and communication | 226 | 543 | 1.730 |
| Financial and insurance activities | 35 | 418 | 1.653 |
| Real estate activities | 114 | 86 | 997 |
| Professional, scientific and technical activities | 535 | 927 | 1.289 |
| Administrative and support service activities | 154 | 748 | 827 |
| Public administration and defence, compulsory social security | 48 | 1.288 | 1.549 |
| Education | 134 | 3.130 | 1.374 |
| Human health and social work activities | 112 | 2.162 | 1.541 |
| Arts, entertainment and recreation | 58 | 305 | 1.080 |
| Other service activities | 1.164 | 200 | 906 |
| Rate | |
|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 4,50% |
| Activity | Number |
|---|---|
| Agriculture, forestry and fishing | 46 |
| Mining and quarrying | 1 |
| Manufacturing | 400 |
| Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply | 2 |
| Water supply, sewerage, waste management and remediation activities | 21 |
| Construction | 167 |
| Wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles | 156 |
| Transportation and storage | 31 |
| Accommodation and food service activities | 95 |
| Information and communication | 22 |
| Financial and insurance activities | 14 |
| Real estate activities | 2 |
| Professional, scientific and technical activities | 38 |
| Administrative and support service activities | 35 |
| Public administration and defence, compulsory social security | 167 |
| Education | 79 |
| Human health and social work activities | 89 |
| Arts, entertainment and recreation | 17 |
| Other service activities | 74 |
| Not classified | 520 |
| Total | 1.976 |
| Name | Contact | Website |
|---|---|---|
| Public Institution for the Development of the Međimurje County REDEA | redea@redea.hr | https://www.redea.hr/ |
| ČakRa Development Agency of the Town of Čakovec | damira@cakra.hr | https://cakra.hr/ |
| Technology Innovation Centre Medimurje | info@ticm.hr | http://www.ticm.hr |
| MENEA Medjimurje Energy Agency Ltd | info@menea.hr | https://www.menea.hr/ |
| Entrepreneurial Centre Prelog | info@pc-prelog.com | https://www.pc-prelog.com/ |
| ACT Group | info@act-grupa.hr | https://act-grupa.hr/ |
