Meeting G2.12 Vukovar 2026

President Antun Buterin - Meeting G2.12 - Vukovar Business Forum - welcomed everyone and discussed the business connection between Croatia and the diaspora. 

The 12th Meeting G2 conference (MG2.12), held May 21-23, 2026, in Vukovar, Croatia,

WA Croatian Chambe rof Commerce is so proud of the presentation Marin Pavicic provided at the Meeting G2.12.

Marin comes from Škabrnja—a place that carries a powerful historical legacy, yet today we wish to be recognized for something else as well: education, innovation, and creating opportunities for children.

Marin Pavicic the principal of the "Vladimir Nazor" Elementary School in Škabrnja—a school that may be small in terms of numbers, but is certainly big when it comes to ideas, projects, and ambitions.

We are proud to support the development of the school developing projects that are rare even in much larger communities. We are an energy-efficient school; we have our own solar power plant and an electric vehicle, and we participate in innovative technology projects—such as testing LiFi technology in collaboration with CARNET. We also develop STEM activities and foster art, sports, and an entrepreneurial spirit among our students.

We are especially proud that, in 2018, our school won an international award for the "Happy Blue Economy School" sustainability project at the Zayed Sustainability Prize competition, where we secured the grand prize. That award demonstrated that even a small school from Škabrnja can gain global recognition when it possesses vision, a sense of community, and faith in knowledge.

Marin discussed at Meeting G2 – “

For the fourth year in a row, we have had an exceptional collaboration with the Western Australian Croatian Chamber of Commerce and Mr. Luka Jurčević.

This collaboration did not remain just in nice words and symbolic meetings.

It has become concrete help for our children.

Through joint projects, we enrich extracurricular activities in the field of fine arts, technology and digital competences.

We are especially developing the Laser CAT project through which students participate in extracurricular STEM activities, learn the basics of technology, programming, technical creativity and teamwork. Through such activities, children do not only learn to use technology - they learn to create, research and develop creativity, self-confidence and innovative thinking.

I would also like to especially highlight the VIDI X microcomputer project through which we received five microcomputers for programming. This technology opens the door to the world of innovation, programming and the development of digital skills that will be crucial for the future of education and the labor market.

Through the project "Outside the Homeland" we connect with Croatian schools around the world, especially with Croatian schools in Perth, where we build a bridge between children living in Croatia and children of Croatian roots growing up thousands of kilometres away.

With this goal in mind, we have also developed the application "Škabrnja School" which enables connection, communication and video calls between students and schools. In the next phase, implementing artificial intelligence to further enhance collaboration and educational processes.

Of course, collaboration with schools in Croatia is equally important to us, as we aim to create a network of schools that share knowledge, experiences, and joint projects. Here in Vukovar, it gives me particular pleasure to announce the start of a partnership with the "Mitnica" Elementary School, thereby further connecting two communities rich in symbolism and shared values. Last year utilising the donated laser cutting technology to design and create gifts between the schools provide enormous creative benefits to students.

Our vision goes even further.

We want to connect Croatian schools across all continents.

We want children in Croatia, Australia, Europe, South America, and other parts of the world to work on projects with us, explore their culture, language, and identity, and build a global network of Croatian knowledge.

This is the modern Croatia.

A Croatia that looks beyond borders. A Croatia that does not view its diaspora as distant—but as a source of strength.That is why I believe that here today—among the people who are creating, investing, and connecting Croatia with the world—there are new partners and friends of education.

We are open to collaboration with anyone wishing to invest in knowledge, technology, innovation, and the future of our children.

For when we invest in schools, we are not merely investing in education—we are investing in the future of Croatia.

Perhaps this very meeting in Vukovar will give rise to a new idea, a new project, or a new collaboration that will open up even greater opportunities for our children.

That is why I wish to publicly express my deep gratitude to Mr. Luka Jurčević, Matija Bilandžija, Tonči Buterin, and all Croats living abroad who dedicate their time, expertise, connections, and hearts to helping schools like ours.

Your assistance is not merely support for a single school.

It is an investment in Croatia’s future.

Croatia’s future begins right here in the classroom—with children whom we must empower to dream big, regardless of whether they come from a large city or a small community like Škabrnja.

If a small school from Škabrnja can build bridges to Perth and the wider world, then Croatia truly has a tremendous future ahead.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart!” Marin Pavicic.

WA Croatian Chamber of Commerce is so proud in how the Croatian diaspora provides support.