The jubilee 20th Tradesmen's Fair and the 4th Autumn Fair opened in the centre of Našice, held as part of the 2nd Festival of Taste and Tradition. Numerous guests attended the opening, including a representative of the President of the Government of the Republic of Croatia, Andrej Plenković, and the Speaker of the Croatian Parliament, Gordan Jandroković; Member of Parliament Ivo Zelić; Mayor of Našice, Krešimir Kašuba; Ines Vulić, President of the Našice City Council and Director of the Našice City Tourist Board; Tomislav Ivandija, President of the Chamber of Tradesmen of Osijek-Baranja County; and Melita Abičić, President of the Našice Tradesmen's Association.
Despite bad weather, cold and rain, a large number of tradesmen and exhibitors from across Slavonia gathered at the jubilee 20th Tradesmen's Fair. Mayor Krešimir Kašuba said it was a big day for Našice, noting that the Festival and Fair were exceptionally well-attended despite the poor weather conditions. He emphasised that the City invests significant funds in the economy and tradesmen, highlighting the construction of the Industrial Zone Centre as the most important investment, which is now filled to 80 per cent of its capacity. Kašuba stated that this Centre represents a starting position for young tradesmen, and that the City has six measures to help tradesmen in their work. He added that the number of tradesmen has increased by an average of 10 per cent per year over the past six years.
Ines Vulić highlighted that the Festival is exceptionally content-rich and abundant this year, seeing the greatest wealth in the exhibitors from Đakovo to Virovitica. She said that tradesmen from all of Slavonia are represented at the Fair. The Festival lasts two days and will be marked by the presentation of associations and a cultural and artistic programme. Vulić emphasised that the Festival places special emphasis on promoting Slavonia, as well as other Croatian regions and countries — alongside Slavonia, Dalmatia and Zagorje are presented, as are the culture and tradition of Slovakia and North Macedonia. She reminded attendees that Našice is the centre of the Slovak national minority in Croatia.
Melita Abičić emphasised that the city today counts 770 tradesmen, a record number in the recent period. She highlighted that this Festival means a great deal to tradesmen as they have the opportunity to show what they do and promote their products, adding that such fairs are ideal for presenting their own work and products.
Tomislav Ivandija praised the Našice Tradesmen's Association for its excellent work, as well as the City of Našice for its significant investments in the economy and tradesmen. He said that Našice is a pride of the county in many respects, especially in the development of the economy and tradesmen, and that 20 years of the Tradesmen's Fair in this city is an indicator of growth not only of the fair but of tradesmen in general in Slavonia. In Osijek-Baranja County, he said, they have recorded a significant increase of 12 per cent more tradesmen in the last year.
The Festival was opened by Ivo Zelić, representative of the President of the Government of the Republic of Croatia and the Speaker of the Croatian Parliament, who said that Našice is an example of good development and investment in the economy, and that the County and the Government of the Republic of Croatia have numerous measures for tradesmen and the entire economy. Exhibitors arrived from all corners of Slavonia — some are participating in the Našice fair for the first time, while others have been traditional participants for all 20 years. Among the exhibitors is Pepel-Co from Đurđevac, a family coppersmithy and distillery owned by Hrvoje Pepelko, known for making Slavonian oak barrels and producing the first Croatian whisky.
