INVESTrategy was approved within third call for proposals of the Hungary – Croatia IPA Cross Border Cooperation Programme 2007-2013.

The main objective of INVESTrategy project was to increase direct foreign investments into the cross-border regions – Međimurje County, Koprivnica Križevci County and Varaždin County joined by Hungarian County Zala. Other objectives included empowering local expert’s capacities for attraction of direct foreign investments, defining appropriate and efficient tools for promotion of investment potential of the regions near the border and fostering local self-government capacity for communication with potential investors.

The lead beneficiary of the project was REDEA Regional development Agency of Međimurje d.o.o. Project partners were AZRA Development Agency of Varaždin county d.o.o., PORA Development Agency of Podravina and Prigorje and Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Zala County from Hungary.

Project involved the following activities: organization of a study visit to various units of local self-government which showed the best results in attracting foreign investments, organization of one-day workshop with an expert in attracting foreign investments for members of the project teams and County employees in order to enhance their competences in attracting foreign investments. At the same time, project teams were carrying out a situation analysis and gathering input data necessary to create a marketing strategy. They had also appointed a marketing expert who helped them in creating an attractive marketing strategy that put an emphasis on the activities intended to attract foreign investments and gave an overview of key sectors with the biggest investment potential.

There were also two one-day workshops for local authorities with the objective of improvement of their capacity for attracting foreign investments (on following topics: promotion of investment potential, how to plan and equip business zones, communication with possible investors, taking care of existing investors).

Project closing conference was organized as an event with a purpose of promotion of investments, promotion of investment potential of cross-border region and presentation of the possibilities for cooperation of existing companies and investors. Some of the project deliverables were a web page and promotional materials that are necessary for quality presentation of cross-border region to future investors.

Project lasted for 12 months. The total value of the project was 166.179,78 EUR-a. PORA budget was 13.782,50 EUR.