Stjepan Kožić, Prefect of Zagreb County
Five Stars Croatia Issue 5 — April 01, 2010.

Zagreb County is an administrative unit that was officially founded as Comitatus Zagrabiensis on July 17th 1759, when Maria Theresa, the empress and the queen gave it the emblem and the seal. Truth to be told, in that time the county covered the area from Zagorje to Križevci, Sisak, Karlovac, from Gorski Kotar all the way to the sea.

During the course of history the surface of the area had changed. Zagreb County has the present borders since January 1st 1997.

The County is located in the central part of the north-western Croatia. With an area of 3077 km2 it is the sixth, and population of over 350,000 people it is the fifth largest county in Croatia. Thanks to its specific geographical position along the Slovenian border and the immediate vicinity of Zagreb, Zagreb County has always been an important intersection of European traffic routes. It is also one of our country's main points and a significant transit area.

Surrounding the Croatian capital, the county successfully combines a contemporary urban design  which appreciates modern trends of life with traditional customs and values in all of its nine cities, twenty-five municipalities and a large number of communities.

Over the years, we have earned status of one of the most competitive among Croatian counties in the field of development of economy and entrepreneurship, which makes us proud. Significant increase in the number of entrepreneurs across the county, and especially in 20 business zones, confirms that status. Lately we have noticed a trend of entrepreneurs’ migration from the city of Zagreb to our county. Moreover, an increasing number of  respectable foreign investors have recognized the potential of Zagreb County.

It is not easy to lead a county in times when the world crisis has spread into this part of Europe, significantly affecting the Croatian economy. However, even in this difficult time for economy, we haven't given up planning priority partner projects that would further raise the quality of lives of our residents . The projects we would like to emphasize include:
-  construction of an integrated transportation system in the City of Zagreb, Zagreb  County and Krapina-Zagorje County;
- development of the regional water-supply system “Basic supply sytem”;
- development of road and railway system in the wider area of Zagreb;
- construction of fruit, vegetable, and flower distribution centre;
- effective waste management in Zagreb County and
- use of renewable energy and energy efficiency measures.

We are proud to say that agriculture is a very important branch of economy for us. We won't list numerous creative projects, but will emphasize the one we first started in Croatia – the tenth anniversary of the original food from family farms branding project . Today there are ten brands – Samobor salami, dried cheese “Dragec”, wines “Portugizac Plešivica” and “Kraljevina Zelina”, sauerkraut “Laktec”, apple cider vinegar “Kap zdravlja”, apple “Sunčana”, cheese “Kriško”, homemade hard boiled corn mush and food brand “Sjećanja za stolom“.

Thanks to its rich history, tradition, culture, preserved nature and beautiful and picturesque sceneries, Zagreb County has become particularly attractive green destination for excursions and tourists. Beautiful panoramas of well-preserved vineyards, autochthonous buildings, special way of wine offering and tasting, picturesque hills, friendly hosts, historical and cultural sights make just a part of a rich offer of Plešivica and Zelina Wine Road, which we are all proud of in Zagreb County. Those “wine beauties” further enrich tourist offer of Zagreb County and strengthen the development of our agro-tourism. Diversity of cultural and art values, wealth of folklore, songs, dances, folk customs and old craftsmanship also differentiate us from the rest of Croatia.

It takes only half an hour by car from the centre of the Croatian capital to relax and enjoy nature and beautiful scenery, traditional meals, and tastes and scents of our premium wines. You will enjoy a true eno-gastronomic experience. That will surely make you a true lover of both the beauties of nature, and gastronomic delicacies and “noble grapes” grown in picturesque hills of Zagreb County.