Zagreb Chamber of Crafts honors outstanding tradespeople

The Zagreb Chamber of Crafts (Obrtnička komora Zagreb) held a ceremony to mark its anniversary and present awards to outstanding craftsmen, individuals, and institutions contributing to the development of the craft sector in Zagreb and Zagreb County.

Željko Lepotinec and Željko Vasiljević received the highest honor, the Golden Statue. Josipa Cahun received the award for the oldest craft, representing the Cahun family millinery business which has operated since 1935.

Chamber President Antun Trojnar noted that the organization represents nearly 40,000 craftsmen. He highlighted recent efforts in vocational education and professional licensing, while also addressing regional challenges such as construction waste management and the issue of over 200 vacant commercial premises in the city center.

Official Dunja Mazzocco Drvar reported a significant increase in interest in vocational schools, with enrollments rising from 892 students last year to 1,374 this school year—a 54 percent increase. Data shows the number of registered crafts in Zagreb grew from approximately 22,000 in late 2023 to 29,201 by mid-2024.