Regular Elective Assembly of the Employers' Association in FBiH Held

(Patria) - The XXII regular elective assembly of the Employers' Association in FBiH (UPFBiH) was held today in Sarajevo, with the presence of a large number of representatives from government, trade unions, domestic and foreign institutions, the academic community, employers, and the media.

Key reports on the Association's work were adopted at the session, including the UPFBiH Work Report for 2024, the Financial Report for 2024, the Work Report of the UPFBiH delegation to the Economic and Social Council of FBiH, as well as the Association's Work Plan and Financial Plan for 2025.

Within the electoral part of the session, decisions were made on the dismissal of members of the Association's previous bodies, and the leadership of the Assembly, namely the president and two deputy presidents, new members of the Management Board, the delegation of employers to the Economic and Social Council for the territory of the Federation of BiH, as well as persons authorized to represent and act on behalf of the Association, were elected.

Amel Kovačević, director of BH Telecom, was appointed President of the UPFBiH Assembly, while Boris Kamšigovski from HP Pošta and Igor Baroš, owner of Baroš d.o.o., were elected as his deputies.

The following were elected to the new Management Board:
1. Adem Hanić, TMD GROUP, Gradačac
2. Bariša Šušnjar, BINVEST D.O.O. Posušje
3. Behrija Huseinbegović, MAKAMA D.O.O. Bugojno
4. Berina Bajrović, EUROPE GROUP, Sarajevo
5. Damir Vidačak, ASSOCIATION OF ENTREPRENEURS OF HERZEGOVINA
6. Džemal Hasković, DŽEKOS D.O.O. Sarajevo
7. Edin Emšo, DHL INTERNATIONAL D.O.O. Sarajevo
8. Haris Ćoralić, OPAL COMECE D.O.O. Bihać
9. Igor Marković, NSOFT D.O.O. Mostar
10. Katarina Kafadar, OVNAK D.O.O. Vitez
11. Ladislav Bevanda, HERING D.D. Široki Brijeg
12. Mahmut Galijašević, MANN+HUMMEL, Tešanj
13. Nikhil Mehta, ArcelorMittal, Zenica
14. Mujo Hasić, VARIPLAST D.O.O. Gračanica
15. Nagib Mujkić, TISAKOMERC D.O.O. Žepče
16. Nihad Imširović, KONZUM D.O.O. Sarajevo
17. Salih Lemeš, ALTERNATIVA D.O.O. Sarajevo
18. Samir Mustafić, ASA BANKA D.D. Sarajevo
19. Senad Džambić, BINGO GROUP, Tuzla
20. Tomislav Vrdoljak, LIVNO PUTOVI D.O.O. Livno
21. Zijo Tanjo, Employers' Association of BPKP

The outgoing President of the Assembly, Boris Kamšigovski, addressed the attendees with appropriate words, thanking the members for the trust shown during the previous term and emphasizing the importance of continuity and unity in the Association's work.

The new President of the Assembly, Amel Kovačević, expressed gratitude for the trust shown and emphasized that he will advocate for an even stronger role of the Association in representing the interests of employers, as well as workers, and in improving the business environment in the Federation of BiH.

- It is a great honor for me to be elected President of the UPFBiH Assembly – an organization that has brought together nearly 23,000 members for over 23 years and strongly contributes to economic development.

UPFBiH represents more than 26% of all business entities employing over 45% of the total employed in the Federation, and it is the only representative employers' association.

I congratulate the newly elected Management Board and thank the outgoing members for their valuable contribution. I believe that, together, we will work on strengthening the business environment, reforms, and economic dialogue – said Kovačević.

The new President of the Management Board will be elected at the first constitutive session of this body from among the members of the newly appointed Management Board.

The outgoing President of the Management Board, Adnan Smailbegović, thanked for the trust and support during the two terms he led the Association, and emphasized the importance of further strengthening the Association, preserving unity within the employers' organization, and particularly highlighted expectations for the continuation of fiscal reforms, as well as reforms in the area of labor relations, workers' health insurance, and the improvement of the work of branch organizations, especially in the trade, construction, tourism, hospitality, metal, chemical, wood, and textile industries, and others.

The Assembly concluded with a constructive discussion on current economic challenges and the Association's planned activities in the coming period.

The Association once again thanks all its members, as well as employers who are not members of the Association, representatives of the government, competent institutions and organizations, and civil society and the media for their exceptional support in its work, continuous strengthening of the Association, and the implementation of electoral procedures and the appointment of new leadership.