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DRNIS, 27 June 2007

New Projects for Local Development in Lika and Dalmatian Hinterland Approved

Dutch and Norwegian governments stimulate entrepreneurship in Lika, Zadar and Šibenik hinterland

At the meeting held on 26 June 2007, a Committee of UNDP's local development project, consisting of representatives of donors, local and regional governments, NGOs and the UNDP, approved the financing of the second round of projects. The total value of more than 30 approved projects, coming from all three Counties covered by the project (Lika, and Zadar and Šibenik hinterland) is over 19 million USD, thereof more than a million are donated by the Governments of The Kingdom of the Netherlands and The Kingdom of Norway. The projects motivate employment and entrepreneurship, reconstruction of infrastructure, providing high-quality social welfare, and capacity-building for county development institutions, in order to improve their skills in project preparation and utilization of available funds from domestic and foreign resources.

As a part of the project of support to local development, an agreement on completing the investment in ethno-eco centre ETNOLAND in Pakovo selo near Drniš, was signed in Drniš today between the Šibenik-Knin County, a local partner Dalmati d.o.o., and the UNDP. It is the first in a line of agreements of support to the development of entrepreneurship in Lika-Senj County, Zadar County and Šibenik-Knin County. The agreement was signed by Goran Pauk, the Prefect of Šibenik-Knin County; Joško Lokas, local partner - director of Dalmati d.o.o.; and Alessandro Fracassetti, Deputy UNDP Resident Representative in Croatia. H.E. Mrs. Nienke Trooster, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Croatia was also present at the signing ceremony.

The Kingdom of the Netherlands is the major financial donor to the UNDP Local Development Programme, comprising the areas of special state concern and underdeveloped regions of Vukovar, Ilok, Banovina, Kordun, Lika and Dalmatian hinterland. „Building of ethno-eco centre ETNOLAND in Šibenik hinterland symbolically indicates the beginning of implementation of projects mentioned in the Master Tourism Development Plan for Šibenik-Knin County, aimed at supporting development of rural, „continental" tourism in Dalmatia hinterland. Along with the support the County may give to the projects promoting rural tourism, it will also have to adjust its development plans to infrastructural and physical needs of this area." – Goran Pauk, the Prefect of Šibenik-Knin County, said in his speech.

Director of the firm Dalmati, Joško Lokas expressed thanks for the support to his project of ethno-eco centre and for the fact that it was recognised as a project of importance for the community. Apart from creating new jobs, the project is also vital because of the future cooperation with not only the food and souvenir producers, but also with other suppliers of tourist services, who will transform Dalmatinska Zagora into a product that can find its place on the tourist map of Croatia and successfully compete with the coastal area.

„One of the goals of the UNDP Local Development Programme is to create new jobs and additional income for local population and the community. In that sense, this Programme is aimed at improving family farms, particularly in the sphere of agriculture and tourism. Donated resources will be used for reconstructing communal infrastructure, improving social services and regional development, and two thirds of the funds will be used exclusively for development of local entrepreneurship." – explained Deputy UNDP Resident Representative in Croatia, Alessandro Fracassetti.

During their visit to Šibenik hinterland, the delegation lead by the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, visited the ethno-eco centre ETNOLAND and the Association of olive oil manufacturers in Skradin;, and met the wine makers and wine growers who completed education and certification in viniculture and wine storing with the support of the UNDP, and organized by Croatian Agricultural Extension Institute of Šibenik-Knin County. On Tuesday, the Ambassador Trooster visited Banovina and Kordun, areas of special state concern; the industry zone „Željezara" in Glina, in Sisak-Moslavina County; and municipalities of Vojnić and Krnjak in Karlovac County, where the projects, financed mainly by the Government of the Netherlands, are being implemented or planned.


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