Virovitica – Podravina County Download as PDF Add to basket

The Virovitica-Podravina County stretches between the Drava River in the north and the mountain massifs of Papuk, Krndija and Bilogora in the south. In the north along the river Drava, it has a long border with Hungary. In the southwest along the peaks of Bilogora it borders with Bjelovar-Bilogora County, in the southeast along the peaks of Papuk and Krndija with the Požega-Slavonia County, in the west and the plains of Podravina with Koprivnica-Križevci County and in the east with Osijek-Baranja County.

The Virovitica-Podravina County covers an area of 2,024 km², which is 3.57% of the total territory of the Republic of Croatia and ranks 14th in size among Croatian counties. The number of inhabitants according to the 2021 census is 70,660 (population density 34 per km²) and positions the county in 19th place on the national level in terms of population.
The Virovitica-Podravina County is administratively divided into 3 towns (Virovitica, Orahovica, Slatina) and 13 municipalities (Crnac, Čačinci, Čađavica, Gradina, Lukač, Mikleuš, Nova Bukovica, Pitomača, Sopje, Suhopolje, Špišić Bukovica, Voćin and Zdenci, where there are 188 settlements).

The most important economic branches in the Virovitica-Podravina County are the processing industry (15.0% of the total GDP), wholesale and retail trade, transport and storage, food preparation and service (11.6%), agriculture, forestry, and fishing (10 .3%), and real estate business (9.3%).

In the field of energy, the potential for future development is represented by geothermal sources, provided that ongoing geothermal potential research, as well as future research, confirm the economic justification for their exploitation. The project “Research of geothermal potential in the area of Virovitica-Podravina County” is being implemented, within the framework of which contracts were concluded for the preparation of geothermal potential assessment studies for the areas of Virovitica, Slatina, Orahovica and Nova Bukovica and the preparation of the hydro-geothermal potential assessment study of Virovitica-Podravina County. Development potential is also represented using geothermal water for agricultural purposes (heating greenhouses, ponds). Also, the long tradition of exploitation of mineral raw materials represents an important potential for future economic growth.

In agriculture, the county has significant potential, primarily based on rich natural resources. However, a significant growth potential is represented by the accelerated development of the irrigation system, followed by knowledge and experience in agricultural production, and the increasing orientation of farmers towards ecological agriculture, vegetable growing and the production of medicinal plants. Important potential, especially in application of new knowledge and technologies, is represented by development and support institutions such as the Centre for Research and Development in Dairy, which represents an important step towards saving the dairy industry in the county, and the Virovitica Technological Innovation Centre. Freshwater fisheries have considerable potential for further development due to their achievements so far and the increase in consumption of freshwater fish.

The potentials for the development of tourism are rich cultural heritage and natural attractions, especially for some forms such as active, rural, sports, gastronomic, etc. tourism, as well as increased investment and progress made in improving the tourist offer. Successful examples of the development and business of eco-ethnic villages, the evolution of rural tourism through small rural estates offering excursions, weekend trips and overnight stays in nature, and the development of tourism on freshwater ponds also speak of the potential of tourism growth. Since 2019, several visitor centres focused on the county’s natural heritage have been established in the county: Dravska priča in Noskovci, Geo info Centre Voćin within the Papuk Nature Park, EPIcentar Sequoia Slatina and Križnica Visitor Centre. Also, the county made large investments in the restoration of cultural heritage, of which the restoration of the Janković Manor in Kapela Dvor, the restoration of the Janković Castle in Suhopolje and the restoration of the Pejačević family castle in the very centre of Virovitica stand out.

The county has considerable potential for the protection, preservation, and improvement of the environment. A high level of nature protection has been achieved, activities are carried out to preserve natural heritage, improve the quality of cultivated landscapes and preserve the richness of the animal world, all of which contribute to mitigating climate change. Part of the course of the Drava River in the county is also part of the Mura-Drava-Danube Biosphere Reserve, while the Papuk Nature Park – a UNESCO world geopark – is also part of the county.

In the field of transport, development potential is represented by the construction of the expressway Bjelovar – Terezino Polje border crossing, the modernization of the Virovitica – Pitomača railway, the planning and implementation of the construction of bypasses around the cities and the development of the Drava River navigation system. There is also potential for new bicycle routes and the improvement of existing ones. A significant growth potential is investment in broadband infrastructure and the operation of high-speed Internet service providers.

45 entrepreneurial zones have been established in Virovitica-Podravina County, and their purpose includes production, trade, storage, and service. Also, in the county are operating multiple entrepreneurial centres, entrepreneurial incubators as supporting entrepreneurial institutions, and development agencies.

[Source: VIDRA – Virovitica-Podravina County’s Development Regional Agency, July 2022]

Main Indicators

GDP EUR	543.354.000
Population	70.368
Men	33.989
Women	36.379
Age 0-14	9.925
Age 15+	60.443
GDP Per Capita EUR	7.513,00
Area Size km²	2.024

Gross Value Added by ActivitiesEUR

Infrastructure

Motorways km	0
Broadband Connections number and density	17.055 / 65%
Number of issued building permits	184

Investments

	Amount
Foreign Direct Investments million EUR	24

Foreign Direct Investment by Activitymil. EUR

Activity	Amount
Crop and livestock production, hunting and related service activities	12,90
Processing of wood and products of wood and cork, except furniture; manufacture of articles of straw and plaiting materials	9,50
Supply of electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning	5,40
Real estate activities	0,50
Manufacture of food products	0,30
Other	-5,00

Foreign Direct Investment by Countrymil. EUR

Country	Amount
Serbia	9,40
Germany	8,80
France	7,30
Italy	0,30
Austria	0,30
Other	-2,50

Gross Investment in new Fixed Assets, by Location of Investment Constructions and Types of Assets

Asset type	Amount (EUR, 000)
Buildings, spaces and structures	54.497
Machinery and equipment with fittings	26.058
Transport equipment	4.678
Cultivated biological resources	2.923
Intellectual property products	1.699
Total	90.410

Biggest Investors

Company	Activity	Website
PP ORAHOVICA d.o.o.	AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES	http://www.pporahovica.hr
VIRKOM d.o.o.	WATER SUPPLY; WASTEWATER REMOVAL, MR. WASTE AND ENVIRONMENTAL SANITATION	http://www.virkom.hr
NutriS d.o.o.	MANUFACTURING	http://www.nutris.hr
Dravacel d.o.o.	MANUFACTURING	http://www.dravacel.hr
AGROLAND d.o.o.	AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES
HERBARIUM d.o.o.	MANUFACTURING	http://www.spidergrupa.hr
Drava Pulp d.o.o.	MANUFACTURING
PAN PARKET d.o.o.	MANUFACTURING	http://www.pan-parket.hr
PLINKOM d.o.o.	SUPPLY OF ELECTRICITY, GAS, STEAM AND AIR CONDITIONING	http://www.plinkom.hr
Auric timber d.o.o.	MANUFACTURING	http://www.auric-timber.com

Maximum Investment Incentives' Intensity according to the Investment Promotion Act

Large enterprises	Medium enterprises	Small and micro-enterprises
50%	60%	70%

International Trade

Export by Activity000 EUR

Import by Activity000 EUR

Export by Country000 EUR

Import by Country000 EUR

Education

Eduction level	Number of pupils
Kindergartens and Other Legal Entities Implementing Preschool Education Programmes	2.143
Basic Schools, Beginning of School Year	5.535
Upper Secondary Schools, Beginning of School Year	2.580
Students Enrolled on Professional and University Study, According to Place of Permanent Residence	1.618

Number of High School Studends Who Have Completed Their Education

Number of Students and Institutions by Educational Sectors

Educational Sector	Number of Institutions	Number of Students
Economics, trade and business administration	5	393
Electrical engineering and computing	4	278
Mechanical engineering, shipbuilding and metallurgy	4	266
Tourism and catering	4	254
Forestry, wood processing and treatment	3	200
Personal, security and other services	2	177
Health and social work	2	163
Agriculture, food and veterinary	4	138
Textiles and leather	2	17
Graphic technology and audio-visual design	1	5

Students Who Graduated From University Study or Completed Professional Studys

Institutions of Higher Education and Graduated Students

Name	Students who graduated from or completed university or professional study
School of Professional Higher Education for Management in Tourism and Informatics, Virovitica	81

Business Indicators of Enterprises

Activity	Number of Business Entities	Number of Persons Employed	Average Monthly Gross Earnings per Person in Paid Employment (EUR)
Agriculture, forestry and fishing	251	1.102	1.119
Mining and quarrying	3	125	1.466
Manufacturing	354	4.366	971
Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply	50	228	1.381
Water supply, sewerage, waste management and remediation activities	24	470	1.002
Construction	254	756	988
Wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles	525	1.598	966
Transportation and storage	100	489	1.020
Accommodation and food service activities	169	240	908
Information and communication	55	110	1.485
Financial and insurance activities	8	318	1.368
Real estate activities	14	11	1.215
Professional, scientific and technical activities	221	386	1.109
Administrative and support service activities	33	113	868
Public administration and defence, compulsory social security	112	1.334	1.443
Education	63	2.015	1.355
Human health and social work activities	89	1.553	1.559
Arts, entertainment and recreation	383	177	999
Other service activities	750	189	966

Unemployed

	Rate
Unemployment Rate	15,70%

Unemployed by Activity

Activity	Number
Agriculture, forestry and fishing	385
Mining and quarrying	4
Manufacturing	711
Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply	7
Water supply, sewerage, waste management and remediation activities	23
Construction	223
Wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles	303
Transportation and storage	51
Accommodation and food service activities	336
Information and communication	19
Financial and insurance activities	14
Real estate activities	8
Professional, scientific and technical activities	87
Administrative and support service activities	100
Public administration and defence, compulsory social security	463
Education	103
Human health and social work activities	209
Arts, entertainment and recreation	27
Other service activities	173
Not classified	614
Total	3.860

Registered unemployed by occupation

Support Institutions Contacts

Name	Contact	Website
VIDRA – Virovitica-Podravina County’s Development Regional Agency	info@ravidra.hr	https://ravidra.hr/
Business incubator of Virovitica-Podravina County	info@inkubatorivpz.hr	https://inkubatorivpz.hr
Development Agency VTA	ured@vta.hr	https://vta.hr