The contract was signed in the presence of Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor by Economy Minister Djuro Popijac and the mayors of Bakar, Pazin, Rovinj, Novigrad, Vodnjan and Barban.

The document is based on the Economy Ministry's plan aimed at encouraging small and medium enterprises in 2011. Pazin was awarded HRK 1.5 million, Bakar HRK 700,000, Novigrad HRK 375,000, Rovinj HRK 150,000, Vodnjan HRK 50,000, and Barban HRK 200,000.

Addressing the signing ceremony, Prime Minister Kosor expressed hope that the grants would ensure employment and facilitate businesses' operations. She said that Croatia had 376 enterprise zones, with 2,500 businesses employing about 42,000 people.

"This is very important, because it's the best kind of investment in the economy and in the future because the most important thing to us all is to increase employment and reduce unemployment," Kosor said, calling upon all entrepreneurs and local government authorities to make their contribution to creating "a strong and determined business climate that we need in Croatia."

Kosor said that in the economic development of Croatia the government was very much counting on small and medium enterprises. "The government has so far donated over a billion kuna in land for enterprise zones and has invested about 700 million kuna of budget funds in infrastructure," she said.

Economy Minister Popijac said that this year the government had earmarked HRK 60 million for enterprise zones. "The tender is open until the end of autumn, and we will award funds to all those who have justified the money awarded to them in previous years and to those who have set out to equip their enterprise zones for the first time," he said.

Pazin Mayor Renato Krulcic said that enterprise zones were very important for local government units as generators of development and employment.