In the premises of Split County Chamber, the Investment Forum of Southern Croatia was held. Over the last four years the best entrepreneurs and production investments have been recognized and rewarded through this project. The selection itself of the best large, medium and small production investments, especially those resulting with new employments and export, was presented by Miodrag Šajatović, editor-in-chief of Lider and a member of the expert committee of the project.

Round table on the topic of creating positive investment environment was held as part of investment forum, attended by Marinko Došen, president of the Management Board of AD Plastik, Mira Krneta, Head of Dalmatia District Office of Croatian Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Svjetlan Stanić, president of the Management Board of Stanić Group and Anđelko Katavić, Head of the Administrative Department for Economy, EU Funds and agriculture of the Split-Dalmatia County.

“Tax burdens are certainly one of the areas that could be modified somehow. The burden on business is too big and we have an expensive state so our competitiveness is hampered. On the other hand, any serious investment that may result in export has been destimulated by the exchange rate policy and is therefore not attractive to foreign investors. This can and should be worked on. AD Plastik operates in a highly dynamic industry where it is impossible to operate without constant investments in the competencies and technological modernization of the plants. Despite investments in automation and robotization, along with two fully automated painting lines in Zagreb, we have employed 350 employees over the last four years. The wrong perception is that robotization and automation exclude new employments. On the contrary, new job positions have been opened with a different job description,” Došen pointed out.

As part of the CFO Conference 2019 – Leading Finance to the Future, which has been organized for five years in a row by Deloitte for finance directors, a panel called “Leadership in Exceptional Time” was held, attended by Kristina Laco from Communication Office Colić, Laco and Partners, Tatjana Divjak, life and business coach, Zoran Primorac, table tennis player, Sonja Popović from SAP Croatia, Darko Pappo from DIV Group and Marinko Došen, President of the Management Board of AD Plastik Group.

“Our strategy relies on two principles. The first one is the constant growth and investment in our competences and the second one is risk management. The automotive industry is very specific, especially when we talk about customer and supplier relationships. AD Plastik represents global partners for its customers on the markets we have determined for. In this way, we expand our portfolio and manage risks,” Marinko Došen pointed out.

He explained the readiness and reactions in sudden and unforeseeable situations by the example of a five-year crisis in Russia. “The crisis in Russia was unpredictable because it came after a remarkable growth at rates of 20 percent a year. However, diversification of the market has helped us to share arisen shocks with our partners in the first place and to continue to work and develop on the markets that have not been affected by the crisis,” Došen explained.

He also briefly spoke about the specifics of the automotive industry which is based on long-term contracts. He also commented on the acquisition of the Hungarian company Tisza Automotive which was part of the company’s growth and portfolio expansion strategy. “We have been constantly monitoring and examining market and opportunities, but we have to be ready before we decide to take such a step. Before buying the Hungarian factory, we had seven factories in four countries and a fully-defined model of operation, regardless of the markets in which we conduct business. The industry is well known to us and it is necessary to implement existing and proven standards and business models to a new production site. This is an absolutely adrenaline business and you must have a very good organization and high quality standards to survive,” Došen said.

“It’s interesting as on Discovery to watch how plastic components are formed and it really draws attention. Ownership structure and functioning of the shares also interest me because I am still not sure whether to continue studying economy or something else,” Lovre, a third-grade student of Sustainable Development High School, did not hide his excitement on the occasion of a visit to the Solin factory. For Professor Silvio this was an opportunity to show students in practice what they are regularly taught, especially because of the very good Sustainability Report of AD Plastik Group, which he analyzes with his students in the classroom.

As part of the “INDUSTRIALIZE yourself” project, our Zagreb factory was visited by FSB students who attend the course Road Vehicles Materials as well as members of the European Association ESTIEM (European Students of Industrial Engineering and Management). This project is based on bringing industry closer to students and on their introduction to the quality way of work and the key to the success of individual industries. This initiative deserves all praise and support of entrepreneurs.