Zadar County

undefined Capital: Zadar

Area: 3.646 km²

Population: 170.398

Administrations: 6 towns, 28 municipalies

Economy

GDP per capita: 8.388 EUR

Unemployment rate: 21,8%

Average gross salary (monthly): 961 EUR

Foreign investments in the economy were until recently mainly oriented to the existing companies.

The most interesting sectors for foreign investors are:

Metal-processing industry: investments from Riko Group from Slovenia in the company SAS Strojogradnja Ltd., Zadar; another Slovenian company LTH invested in Metalni Lijev LTH Ltd., Benkovac and a Swiss based company Jupiter Adria in a company located in Kali, Nauta Lamjana Jsc.
Small shipbuilding: investments by ELAN Group from Slovenia in Elan brod Ltd. in Obrovac
Fish farming and processing: investments by an USA company Bluefin Acquisition Group Inc. in Kali Tuna Ltd. located in Kali; Italian investor Rizzioli in Ostrea Ltd. in Stankovci and Zarotti from Italy in Noclerius Ltd. based in Gračac
Food industry: investments by Mepas from Bosnia and Herzegovina in Maraska Jsc. from Zadar
Tourism: investments by the Falkensteiner Group from Austria in Borik Jsc. and Punta Skala Ltd.
Banking sector: investments by the Hungarian OTP Bank in OTP Bank Croatia Jsc. from Zadar.

Zadar is the seat of the largest shipping company in Croatia - Tankerska plovidba, while the county is the leader in fishery and mariculture, economic activities accounting for the greatest share in the regional exports. Fish processing is another growing sector, not only on the coast but also in the hinterland, with facilities developing in the cities of Benkovac and Gračac.

Surrounded by two national parks, three parks of nature and a number of protected natural areas, with a rich cultural heritage, the main economic activity is tourism and other associated activities. Development of tourism is closely connected with agriculture. Ravni kotari, a stretch occupying the central area of Zadar County make up 30% of total arable land in the whole Dalmatia. A part from fertile land, in the development of agriculture, significant was the role of mild Mediterranean climate, rich water resources and fortunate ecological conditions. All this describes best the care of the inhabitants towards the environment that surrounds them and which is inherited from generation to generation, as a valuable patrimony.

Transport infrastructure

The county is on the route of several important transport directions, namely: Adriatic Tourist road, a section of the Zagreb – Split motorway and the railroad direction Zagreb - Knin - Split. Zadar international airport, the connection to the motorway, industrial port and railway station are all located in the range of 10 km and form a unique, valuable combination of elements of transport infrastructure in the broader region.

Education

Zadar University was established on the foundations of the Dominican University dating back to 1396 which places this university in the group of 20 oldest universities in Europe showing the long tradition of the European university towns in terms of high education and science.

Zadar Universitiy has a total of 23 departments. Due to tradition related reasons, the strongest departments are those from the humanities area, as archaeology, philosophy, psychology, sociology, history and history of arts and language studies (English, French, Spanish, Russian, German and Italian).

Since the new re-establishment of the University in 2002, new departments have been founded, among which the departments for economy, transport and maritime studies and agriculture and aquaculture of the Mediterranean.

Further Information Aout the County

Zadar County
ZADRA Zadar County Regional Development Agency
Zadar County - business zones