On the occasion of Rijeka City Day and the feast of Saint Vitus, a ceremonial academy was held on 12 June 2025 at the Croatian National Theatre Ivan pl. Zajc, where the City of Rijeka presented its annual public recognitions. The city’s highest honour – the Lifetime Achievement Award – was presented to Ivo Usmiani, member of the JGL Board of Directors, and renowned actress Zrinka Kolak Fabijan.
The awards, conferred earlier this year by the City Council, were presented at the ceremony by the Mayor of Rijeka, Iva Rinčić, which gathered distinguished guests from the cultural, academic, business and political life of the city.
Ivo Usmiani received the award in recognition of his outstanding contribution to science and the economy, and for enhancing Rijeka’s reputation through his visionary leadership in building JGL into one of Croatia’s most successful pharmaceutical companies, headquartered in Rijeka. In addition, he was commended for his role in strengthening ties between the business sector and academia, actively supporting the advancement of biotechnology and pharmacy studies, and for his contributions to the cultural and social life of the city.
Accepting the award, Usmiani emphasised that he sees it as a recognition of all JGL employees, whose daily efforts contribute to the company’s continued growth and the broader development of the pharmaceutical industry in Croatia: "We have been building, investing, hiring and exporting for years, creating added value for both the local community and Croatia. I would say we have left a visible mark in time and space – from the creation of a small industrial enclave at the entrance to Rijeka, which helped revive the city’s industrial spirit, to the building of an international company."
He reflected on the company’s journey: from just ten employees and €200,000 in revenue in 1991 to today’s 1,400 employees and expected €300 million in revenue, this growth best reflects the strength of the vision and perseverance behind a company that began as a small Rijeka story: "I am proud that over these thirty years, through consistent investment in people and products, we have become an international pharmaceutical company present in around sixty markets. Thanks to the strong leadership of our management team and the dedication of all our employees, we have achieved this outstanding success."