The Municipality of Celje received a gold award and the GlobalLocal recognition at the World Entrepreneurial Congress in Dubrovnik for creating a supportive business environment for entrepreneurial development in Central and Southeastern Europe.

The Municipality of Celje earned this recognition in the Best Local Community category, competing against 102 candidates from seven countries, thanks to its Trnovlje – South Economic-Business Zone project.

The GlobalLocal awards and recognitions are presented by the International Economic Forum Perspektive and Promo Global Zagreb, based on the decision of an international committee consisting of 17 experts from eleven countries.
The annual congress, where these prestigious awards are presented, is organized by the International Economic Forum Perspektive. This year’s congress is hosted in Croatia’s renowned tourist gem, which is also the headquarters of the forum.

The goal of the GlobalLocal awards is to recognize outstanding projects and best practices while informing the wider public about successful local and regional communities and public institutions. These entities, through innovative measures and creative solutions, contribute to a more supportive business environment, enabling faster and more sustainable entrepreneurial development, even in challenging and dynamic times.

According to renowned experts, the Municipality of Celje is also achieving these goals through the development and expansion of the Trnovlje – South Economic-Business Zone, a €2.2 million project. Thanks to a successful application for funding from the Ministry of Economy, the project will receive up to €1.3 million in non-repayable funds from the Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP) fund.

The award was received in Dubrovnik by Aleksandra Rezar and M.A. Mateja Böhm from the Department for Real Estate Management and Legal Affairs.

"We are very pleased to receive the international GlobalLocal award, as it serves as an encouragement for our economic development plans, which we will be able to implement more effectively with the Municipal Spatial Plan (OPN). This plan views spatial planning as a foundation for Celje’s next major development breakthrough. The construction of EPC Trnovlje – South will provide new momentum for economic and entrepreneurial activities while improving the organization, connectivity, and traffic flow in this part of the municipality through modern infrastructure measures, benefiting local residents as well. Our vision for this area is to establish a dynamic business location where economic, developmental, educational, and innovative activities intersect. The development of this zone, which can be further expanded by an additional 19 hectares of business space, will significantly impact the growth of the Municipality of Celje and serve as a driving force for the economic and social development of the entire region," said Matija Kovač, Mayor of the Municipality of Celje.


Connecting Success Stories for Comprehensive Sustainable Development

In the Trnovlje – South Business Zone, we are developing municipal infrastructure and equipping both existing and new areas to support various activities for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This project covers more than 6 hectares of new business space, where economic, developmental, educational, and innovative activities will intersect.

The business zone will provide optimal conditions for companies to operate efficiently, establish long-term collaborations, and continue their growth and development.

Through this initiative, the Municipality of Celje aims to:

• Strengthen the existing economic-business infrastructure ecosystem,
• Create conditions for further specialization of the EPC,
• Enhance the competitiveness of businesses in the zone,
• Develop a high-value business ecosystem.

The project is expected to be completed by June 2025.

The strategic location of the Trnovlje – South Economic-Business Zone, in close proximity to Celje’s city center and the highway connection, provides excellent conditions for development and the implementation of various business activities.

The project places special emphasis on sustainability measures and the establishment of green infrastructure, ensuring:

• Public transportation access (Celebus),
• Cycling lanes and a KolesCE bike-sharing station,
• Charging stations for electric vehicles and e-bikes,
• An eco-island for separate waste collection,
• A collection center for product reuse,
• Tree-lined avenues and park landscaping,
• Public lighting powered by solar panels.