How incentives are bringing Croatians back: “I have no regrets”

Mateja Kobeščak (Screenshot/RTL)

After years abroad, Croatians are finding their way back home thanks to the “Biram Hrvatsku (I Choose Croatia)” initiative.

This government-backed ‘Biram Hrvatsku’ programme offers financial incentives to help returnees start businesses and rebuild their lives back home in Croatia.

Although it was initially expected to bring back thousands, since the introduction of the scheme three years ago, only 729 people have returned.

Mateja Kobeščak moved to the United Kingdom as soon as she finished university. She spent four years there before returning to Croatia two years ago.

The government incentives played a key role in her decision to return, as she received approximately €20,000 to start her own marketing agency.

“That financial support was particularly important during my initial return to Croatia when I didn’t yet have my own clients. I knew it would take a few months for my business to get up and running again, and that I wouldn’t have a steady income. So, in that period without earnings, the financial aid was incredibly helpful. That’s what I received through the incentives,” Mateja told RTL.

Mateja has no regrets about her return. In addition to running her business, she has started a family in Croatia.

“It turns out there’s demand for what I do. It’s not as smooth as it is abroad, but it’s not terrible either. I’ve never once regretted returning or opening my business in Croatia. On the contrary, I’m enjoying it,” she said.

The majority of scheme participants are in Slavonia.

Since the scheme’s launch three years ago, 729 people have returned. Around €5 million has been allocated to the programme, with an additional €9 million dedicated to self-employment initiatives, totalling nearly €14 million, RTL reported.

Ante Lončar, Director of the Croatian Employment Service, said:

“As of today, we’ve seen over 1,100 new jobs created among the 700 approved applicants. This demonstrates the scheme’s effectiveness—not only have people returned, but they’ve also created additional jobs.”

According to the Ministry of Labour, most returnees have settled in Slavonia: 86 in Osijek-Baranja County and 81 in Brod-Posavina County. The City of Zagreb follows closely, with 80 returnees.

The Minister of Labour, Marin Piletić, expressed satisfaction with the programme’s progress so far:

“We still believe there’s a significant interest in the ‘Biram Hrvatsku’ initiative. These are just early results. As you heard today, many returnees spent an average of two to two and a half years planning their finances before making the decision to return after a decade abroad,” Piletić said.

Prime Minister Andrej Plenković also addressed critics of the programme:

“It’s no longer a policy to ridicule. On the contrary, it’s highly useful and concrete. When someone decides to return to Croatia with a business idea and specific experience they’ve gained abroad, this programme is there to support them.”

From the New Year, new returnees will be exempt from paying income tax for five years. Time will tell if this will encourage more people to come back.