Successful 10th Anniversary Meeting G2 Held
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At the 10th Meeting G2 Business Conference, more then 260 participants from 15 Countries ZAGREB, November 14, 2024 – The opening of the 10th anniversary of the Meeting G2 Conference “A Decade of Business Connections”, welcomed 260 participants from 15 countries around the world. 
In opening the conference, the President of the Meeting G2 Association, Antun Krešimir Buterin, shared that over the past 10 years, Croatian businesspeople from abroad have connected with more than 300 companies and startups, while more than 2,000 participants from 33 countries attended the conferences, resulting in hundreds of business partnerships. “Our goal is to bring our talented diaspora together with people back home who need fresh business inspiration, mentorship, or a reliable partner, to facilitate the flow of capital in both directions, and help Croatian companies enter foreign markets with the support of those who understand these countries. We dream and believe that the Croatian diaspora can be transformed into an advantage, an economic tool and resource. We believe that Croatia can be richer than Switzerland, more organized than Singapore, and happier than Denmark.” 
Speaking to attendees, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Gordan Grlić-Radman announced the opening of several Croatian embassies and consulates worldwide – in countries like Peru, Brasil, New Zealand, Canada and Mexico. The President’s special advisor on economic matters, Velibor Mačkić, emphasized that Croatia can and must do better, but to succeed, we must work together. “Together means including the knowledge, experience, and capital of those who are not here but want to help.” The conference hosted 10 panels and awarded the “MG2 Excellence Awards” to 10 successful Croats, five returnees to Croatia, and five businesswomen and men still living and working abroad who have built business empires in diaspora around the world. Award Recipients: – Branka Ćubelić, a returnee from Australia to Zrin, investing in its restoration and owner of Dreamtime Event Croatia, a wedding planning company.
– Bernarda Cecelja, a returnee from Switzerland, who started a mattress and bed production business in Međimurje 20 years ago.
– Matt Darko Sertić, a returnee from the USA, founded several successful companies in Sisak, including Croatia’s first private business incubator, PISAK. – Miljenko Mike Grgich (posthumously awarded; accepted by niece Maja Jeramaz), a Croatian immigrant from California, USA, and founder of the world-famous Grgich Hills Cellar winery. – Tomislav Kuljis, founder and CEO of Bolivia’s leading retail and supermarket chain, Hipremaxi S.A. – Tony Kerum (award accepted by daughter Jennifer), founder and owner of one of Hollywood’s top catering companies, Tony’s Food Service. – Anthony Toni Maglica (award accepted by daughter Jerka), Croatian-American inventor and entrepreneur, creator of the Maglite flashlight. – Luke Jurcevic, owner of several successful technology companies, primarily in the medical sector in Australia, and President of the Western Australian Croatian Chamber of Commerce. – Niko Ilić, Croatian entrepreneur from Austria, owner of a construction company and President of the Croatian Business Association in Austria. – Ciril Zovko, a returnee from Canada who participated in the construction of hundreds of buildings in Canada and is the owner of the first shopping centers built in Zagreb under the Importanne brand.Special Awards: – MG2 Essence was awarded to Mara Vitols-Hrgetić and Josip Hrgetić, returnees from Venezuela, who initiated the MEETING G2 conference in 2015 along with few other returning Croats and few local Croats from Zagreb. 
– MG2 Loyalty was awarded to Nenad Nemet, a second-generation Croatian from Macedonia, who is the most loyal attendee of MG2 conferences having attended all 10. Congratulations once again to all the award winners who – with their examples, hard work and business success – embody the true MG2 spirit! |
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