Jakov Vetma
Episode · #281
LOKALNO JE GLOBALNO Jakov Vetma
Guest Jakov VetmaHosted by Bojana KoharevićMay 3, 2026
Jakov Vetma
About this episode
What you'll hear in this conversation
Jakov Vetma, mayor of Klis, has overseen a remarkable demographic and economic shift in a region usually defined by decline. While many rural areas in Croatia struggle with depopulation, Klis has reversed a two-decade trend of negative natural increase, drawing young families back to its inland villages. His approach wasn't about grand, often-failed industrial zones, but a patient, multi-pronged strategy focused on foundational infrastructure, local entrepreneurship, and a surprising embrace of tourism. This conversation explores how a small municipality can become an engine of regional growth by making unconventional choices and leveraging the assets it already possesses.
Insights from the conversation
What to take from this episode
01
Klis launched its entrepreneurial incubator seven years ago with two clear goals: support local startups and serve as a municipal development agency for EU funds. This early, dual-purpose design—not just a space, but a resource for external funding—shows how local government can be both a direct enabler and a strategic facilitator.
02
While other municipalities struggled with rural exodus, Klis achieved a positive natural increase by first investing in basic infrastructure like water supply, electricity, and roads. The lesson is clear: no amount of incentives will attract residents back to a region until the fundamental conditions for living are met.
03
Five years ago, tourism was not an economic activity in the Dalmatian Zagora region of Klis; today, it's a significant driver of return migration and OPG growth. The shift shows that a region's economic identity is not fixed, and with strategic public investment in local sites, new industries can emerge in unexpected places.
04
The shift of agricultural land management from the Ministry of Agriculture to local self-government allowed Klis to offer large tracts for concession, making it easier for OPGs to access land for livestock. Decentralizing control over key resources can directly empower local entrepreneurs and accelerate growth in traditional sectors.
05
Klis, once "saturated" with quarries and aggregate pits, decided to prohibit these activities near settlements and instead zoned vast areas for solar and wind farms. When old industries become unsustainable or undesirable, municipalities can proactively define new economic futures by mapping out alternative, green development pathways.
06
While neighboring municipalities rushed to open entrepreneurial zones that largely failed, Klis chose a different path, focusing instead on a distributed model of OPGs and tourism. Not participating in a popular, but flawed, regional trend can be a strategic decision, saving resources and allowing for more tailored, effective local development.
07
Klis structures its support for OPGs by first identifying what EU funds already cover, then supplementing with local aid for anything else. This approach ensures public funds are not duplicated or wasted, maximizing the impact of every euro by coordinating local initiatives with broader European programs.