ZAGREB, 9 July (Hina) – The new Minister for Regional Development and EU Funds, will be Nataša Mikuš Žigman, who comes from the management board of the Podravka food company, having previously built her career in the state and public sector, Prime Minister Andrej Plenković announced on Wednesday.

Mikuš Žigman will succeed Šime Erlić, who resigned from the ministerial post to run for and win the position of mayor of Zadar in the May elections.

“I have presented my choice for the new Minister for Regional Development and EU Funds, and that is Nataša Mikuš Žigman, who has previously worked in our government. She was a state secretary in the Ministry of Economy for over six years and has extensive experience in dealing with EU funds and regional development,” Plenković said after a meeting of the ruling coalition.

She also served as the head of the the Central Finance And Contracting Agency for European Union programmes and projects (SAFU). Currently, she is at Podravka, dealing with sustainable development, and she has all the qualifications for the role of minister, the PM added.