PM lays foundation stone for new secondary school in Čakovec

Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic laid the foundation stone for a new secondary school in the northern city of Cakovec on Wednesday, a project worth HRK 55 million (€7.3m).

Čakovec Secondary School is the first Christian church in Međimurje County. Classes are currently held in the local Baptist Church.

The construction of the new school building is co-financed by donors from Germany, who Plenkovic said were "proven friends" of Croatia.

The prime minister said that this project was part of the government's investment plan for science and education.

"We have increased the budget by 35 percent, carried out the education reform, launched new curricula. All this shows that we are aware that the future of Croatia, first and foremost, depends on investment in our education system, in our youth," Plenković said.

New section of Varaždin technology park

 During a visit to Varaždin County Plenković toured the newly-built section of the local technology park, worth HRK 16 million and financed solely with EU money.

"This 4,000-square-metre centre houses the offices of around 50 small companies with about 350 employees, start-ups that are launched in parks like this one and many of which later develop their own business and grow," Plenković said.

He noted that the government deserved credit for major progress in fiscal decentralisation in Varaždin County.

Under the Act on the Financing of Local and Regional Government, the direct revenue of counties, towns and municipalities in 2019 increased by around HRK 170 million from 2017, a rise of more than 50%, the PM said.

Plenkovic noted that during the term of his government contracts had been signed for EU funding for local projects worth HRK 1.7 billion.

Total investments in Varaždin County and the entire 3rd constituency amount to around eight billion kuna, he said.

Responding to a reporter's remark that the HDZ did not fare well in this constituency compared to the RESTART coalition and asked if he believed that the HDZ could win more than four parliamentary seats in that county in the July 5 election, Plenkovic said that the party would do its best to have an excellent result in that region.

"We are committed to treating each part of the country equally and are doing our best to strengthen a balanced regional development," he said.

Text: Hina

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