Meeting G2 launches Croatia 8: Showcasing successful Croatian business stories from around the world

Meeting G2, an association that has spent more than a decade connecting Croatian entrepreneurs at home and abroad, is launching Croatia 8, a business magazine dedicated to successful Croatian business stories from across the globe.

The new project was announced by association president Antun Krešimir Buterin at the ninth Meeting of the Croatian Diaspora of South America, held in Córdoba, Argentina. He also presented findings from a survey showing that 46 per cent of members of the Croatian business diaspora are considering returning to Croatia or investing in the country.

The initiative aims to strengthen business ties among Croatians worldwide, encourage investment and create new opportunities for cooperation between Croatia and its diaspora.

Croatia 8: A new bridge between Croatia and its global diaspora

The new business magazine is envisioned as a platform for showcasing successful Croatian entrepreneurs, business initiatives and projects connecting Croatians around the world.

"We want to show that there aren't just four million Croatians living in Croatia, but another four million or so around the world. The idea is to bring our success stories together, give associations a platform and showcase projects that connect us," Buterin said.

The magazine will provide opportunities to exchange business experience, knowledge and contacts, while also giving Croatian communities abroad a platform to present their activities.

The first issue is expected to be published by the end of the year, with its official launch planned in Zagreb a few days after Christmas, at an event called Bank Croatia Cocktail Night.

The event is part of the Bank Croatia initiative, in which Meeting G2 participates alongside partners and associations from several countries, including Argentina, the United Kingdom and Australia.

Nearly half of Croatian business diaspora considering return or investment

Particular attention was drawn to the findings of a survey of the Croatian business diaspora, conducted last year in cooperation with a sociologist and economic experts, involving 500 respondents.

According to the results presented, 46 per cent of those surveyed are considering returning to Croatia within the next two years or investing in their homeland.

Buterin believes the figure highlights the considerable economic potential of the Croatian diaspora, which could be further unlocked through stronger connections, information sharing and the creation of concrete business opportunities.

From Venezuela to a global network of Croatian entrepreneurs

Meeting G2 was established in 2015 at the initiative of Croatian returnees from Venezuela, Josip and Mara Hrgetić.

"Our story, in a way, begins in South America. The association was founded by people from Venezuela who had returned to Croatia. Their idea was to connect businesspeople from the diaspora with Croatian companies, entrepreneurs and local communities," Buterin explained.

The name Meeting G2 stands for Meeting Second Generation, referring to the second generation of Croatian emigrants, although the association today brings together Croatians from different generations.

Since its establishment, Meeting G2 has organised 12 conferences, attracting approximately 3,500 participants from 39 countries.

The conferences connect successful Croatian companies, start-ups and entrepreneurs with businesspeople from the diaspora interested in investing in Croatia and developing joint projects in international markets.

Croatian cities as hubs for new business opportunities

In recent years, Meeting G2 has also taken its conferences beyond Zagreb, aiming to introduce international participants to the economic potential of smaller Croatian communities.

A conference in Sisak brought together around 60 participants from 15 countries, while an event in Novska attracted 265 participants from 21 countries.

The Novska conference highlighted opportunities for developing the local economy, particularly in gaming, information technology, robotics, drones and other emerging industries. Participants also included scholarship recipients from Croaticum, the programme for learning Croatian.

This year's conference was held in Vukovar as part of the first Vukovar Business Forum, at the invitation of the city. Its aim was to connect local entrepreneurs with businesspeople from Croatia and abroad and contribute to Vukovar's economic development.

From start-up idea to investors and international markets

One example of successful networking is Miret, a Croatian company producing environmentally friendly footwear, which won a start-up award at a Meeting G2 conference.

According to Buterin, the company used the conference to connect with employees, investors and customers, helping it further develop its business.

During its first five years, the association also organised start-up competitions, supporting promising entrepreneurial projects.

A message from Córdoba: Bringing Croatian success stories together

Presenting the new magazine to Croatian emigrants and their descendants attending the ninth Meeting of the Croatian Diaspora of South America, Buterin invited Croatian communities worldwide to contribute content and showcase their projects.

"Through this magazine, we want to highlight our shared identity, experience and activities, while creating space for all your stories and projects," he said.

Croatia 8 is expected to become another important link connecting Croatian entrepreneurs, business initiatives and communities around the world.

Buterin on Global Croatia: Connecting the homeland and the diaspora