Croatia’s centre of excellence

With a central position in Europe, Croatia has many incentives to offer to pharmaceutical companies. The development of a new business park will benefit the country and manufacturers alike.

Varaždin: an attractive option for new and existing companies to set up business.

A new, highly sophisticated business park that aims to become a centre of excellence for European life sciences and biopharma industry is emerging at the centre of Europe. The park is being built in northern Croatia, at the heart of one of the main European biopharma clusters.

The park will offer an attractive opportunity for existing and newly formed companies to set up and operate in an innovative and reliable environment.

The park, located a short distance from the City of Varaždin, is approximately 100 hectares (250 acres) in size. The development of the park is going to proceed in planned phases over the following five to seven years. In terms of infrastructure, the park will offer to its future occupants fully serviced plots capable of accommodating large manufacturing and production buildings, as well as smaller office and/or laboratory facilities.

Furthermore, Varaždin Park will have a landscaped design with an emphasis on the natural surroundings, a controlled access system, individual plot security, sufficient car parking facilities, as well as full infrastructure (including roads and all utilities) – construction of which is planned to commence in the first half of 2010. Such an approach to business is important for the security of all occupants of the park. In addition, the park is already well serviced by local public transport routes and there is a good local railway network, as well as a local international airport.

Development of this business park is in partnership with the City of Varaždin, and has also been recognised and supported as a project of national importance by the Government of Croatia. Biotehnološki park Varaždin doo – a development company for Varaždin Park – is owned by Midia Group, a European investor with over 25 years of experience in investments and development of real estate properties. Boulevard Industry Park and Estuary Commerce Park are some of the particularly successful business parks developed by Midia Group in the UK, the former being distinguished by biopharmaceutical plants such as Chiron Vaccines and MedImmune Research (now known as Novartis facilities).

Different opportunities for dynamic companies
Varaždin Park is a groundbreaking development in the SEE region, positioned at the heart of so-called New Europe. It offers a number of benefits, including:

• being open to new and established businesses
• internationally competitive investment incentives
• excellent geographical location and international transport links
• a culturally sophisticated and economically advanced environment
• full support of the Croatian Government.

The park offers new and established hi-technology, biotechnology, pharmaceutical, life sciences, drug development and research companies an opportunity to build their businesses in a culturally sophisticated, economically progressive, politically stable, secure and naturally beautiful environment.

A peaceful and well-connected region offers many opportunities.

Besides having an internationally experienced and credible development team at hand, future occupants of Varaždin Park can take advantage of numerous benefits made available by the developer, the City of Varaždin and the Republic of Croatia, Among others, these include investment incentives, top-class facilities with extensive business support services, an excellent location and easy international access.

Additionally, the park will offer an educated and diligent workforce, IP protection, unrestricted repatriation of profits and capital, a national biotech policy and much more. All of this makes the Varaždin concept an attractive business opportunity, since it secures a turnkey service to companies interested in locating their business within the park.

Security and natural design are among the main features of Varaždin Park.

The heart of New Europe
The Republic of Croatia is a modern, democratic society with a strongly expressed European identity and a favourable geographical location for business. It is situated along the east coast of the Adriatic Sea and sits on the cross-roads between the Mediterranean and Central Europe. Croatia’s direct neighbours are Slovenia, Hungary, Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and it shares a maritime border with Italy. Three of Europe’s key pan- European transport corridors pass through Croatia.

Croatia offers a wide selection of opportunities to potential foreign investors. The country is transforming into a knowledge-based society and into a knowledgebased economy. A highquality advanced education system has been established, along with extensive ICT infrastructure that offers international businesses a genuine opportunity to operate and grow in a supportive environment. In addition, Croatia also has a long tradition of excellence in a number of industries, including pharmaceuticals, agriculture and textiles.

Varaždin County, one of the most economically advanced regions in Croatia, is located in the northern part of the country, about 50km from the capital city Zagreb and Croatia’s largest international airport. There is an extensive road network connecting Varaždin to the surrounding region and major cities, including Graz in Austria and Budapest in Hungary. Furthermore, the capital of the county – the City of Varaždin, often regarded as the baroque pearl of Croatia – offers its 50,000 inhabitants and newcomers a high quality of life. This city, peaceful and dynamic at the same time, is equally attractive to younger generations and to familyoriented people.

Company profile

Headquartered in Lugano,
Switzerland, Midia Group was
created in 2002 bringing together
companies with over 25 years
of successful, major real estate
development and investment
experience. Midia specialises in
public- and private-sector property
development and investment,
whereby it has been particularly
successful in delivering major
national regeneration and job
creation projects in Europe. For
more information, visit:
www.midiagroup.com.