Varaždin Free Trade Zone
The free trade zone ( slobodna zona ) in Trnovec-Bartolovečki was completed in 2005 . It is located approx. 3 km outside the town of Varaždin , just before Trnovec and covers an area of 600,000 m².
The Varaždin Free Trade Zone is probably one of the most successful investment projects in Croatia . Eleven companies from Germany , Austria and Croatia have built new production halls on an area of 60 hectares over the past four years, set up machines and systems and started production. One hundred million euros have been invested and more than 2,000 jobs created - the majority of companies are reportedly planning to expand production.
Discounts in the Varaždin Free Trade Zone
- 0% sales tax for investments over 1,000,000 kuna in the infrastructure of the zone or only 10%. (Rest of Croatia: 20% sales tax.)
- No company registration required in Croatia
- Duty or VAT free import of the equipment
- Less bureaucracy
Transport links
- The crossing of different traffic routes enables transport to all parts of Europe
- Access to the Budapest-Varaždin-Zagreb-Rijeka motorway (north-south connection) and the main road Osijek-Varaždin-Slovenia-Austria (east-west connection)
- The nearest port in the Adriatic is Rijeka , 250 km away
- Customs clearance
- Forwarding services
Companies in the Varaždin Free Trade Zone (as of June 2006.)
Boxmark GmbH
When the infrastructure with water and sewage, access roads, electricity and telecommunications was in place, the first investors came, among them the manufacturer of leather covers for the automotive and aviation industries, Boxmark Leather GmbH & Co. KG from Feldbach , Austria. Boxmark is now the largest investor in the Varaždin Free Trade Zone. 2,200 people are employed in the plant itself, 1,000 employees are involved in deliveries. The decisive factor for the leather manufacturer's quick decision was the fact that one of the largest textile factories in Southeast Europe, the Varteks company, was located in Varaždin, only 120 kilometers from the parent plant.
BHS Corrugated GmbH
The second major investor, BHS Corrugated Maschinen- und Anlagenbau GmbH from Weiherhammer in Bavaria , was already producing in Varaždin before the free trade zone was established. In 2002 the company started producing machines for corrugated cardboard production in a rental hall. Today the world market leader BHS has production facilities in Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Austria and China. At each location, individual sections of the huge systems are produced, which are then brought together at the customer. There are two ships in Varaždin, and an expansion of production has already begun.
Zrinski AG
Supplier for various industrial companies and medical technology.
GRP-Gumiimpex GmbH
Gumiimpex is the most important Croatian investor: The company has invested 5 million euros and, in addition to manufacturing rubber granulate, operates a 60,000 m² recycling hall for used tires.
INOX CENTAR HOEGGER doo
Founded in early 2005 as a supplier to the Swiss company Hoegger AG, which produces machines for the food industry.