Municipality of Novi Grad celebrates 46 years of existence, Efendić proud of all successes

(Patria) - The Municipality of Novi Grad Sarajevo is marking the 46th anniversary of its existence and work, and on this occasion, a formal session was held in the multimedia hall, with a cultural and entertainment program, where the highest municipal awards, the Golden and Silver Plaque "Safet Hadžić", and acknowledgments were presented to individuals and collectives.

The formal session was attended by representatives of the executive and legislative authorities, numerous guests from cultural and public life, directors of Novi Grad primary and secondary schools, young talents, and prominent citizens of our municipality.

The Mayor of the Municipality of Novi Grad Sarajevo, Semir Efendić, reminded that the Municipality of Novi Grad was formed by a decree of the Presidency of SR Bosnia and Herzegovina, dated December 16, 1977, which stated that the Municipality of Sarajevsko Polje was being established. Before officially starting its work, it was named Novi Grad, and then the process began, with the Municipality of Novi Grad Sarajevo starting its operations in 1978.

"Today, the Municipality of Novi Grad Sarajevo is a leader and generator of development in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. In terms of employment, the Municipality of Novi Grad is the absolute leader in the Federation of BiH with over 42,000 employed people by place of residence, which is 10,000 more than the next local community (City of Tuzla), while the employment trends in the last 10 years are also very positive. Namely, in 2013, there were 22,260 people employed in companies based in the municipality, and today there are 31,758, which means 9.5 thousand new jobs, or about a thousand new employments annually. When it comes to the turnover of fiscal devices in FBiH, Novi Grad is also a leader in the entire FBiH. Last month, the turnover in Novi Grad was KM 445,625,184.53, and from January 1 to November 30 this year, the turnover of fiscal devices in the Municipality of Novi Grad was KM 4,656,937,345.47," stated Mayor Efendić.

He also said that unfortunately, municipalities receive only 8.2 percent of VAT in our country, meaning all other levels receive 91.50 percent, and the least of these funds remain in the municipalities where they are collected, even though municipalities are closest to the citizens, from whom people expect the most.

"I congratulate all residents of the Municipality on December 16 – the Day of the Municipality of Novi Grad Sarajevo. I had a wish, and I think it has been achieved over these years, that the residents of Novi Grad have developed a sense of identity and belonging to the Municipality of Novi Grad and can be proud of it in many ways, which is significant for the life of any resident today in BiH and the whole world. It is important which country you live in, and the next most important thing is which local community you are in. As a Municipality, we strive to be a good and friendly environment for everyone who grows up, develops, works, lives, and does business here, and I wish for it to remain so in the future," said Mayor Efendić.

Individual and collective Golden Plaque "Safet Hadžić"

At the formal session, the individual and collective "Safet Hadžić" plaque was awarded. The individual Golden Plaque "Safet Hadžić" was awarded to Safet Alibašić, a world and European champion in sitting volleyball, recipient of numerous international and domestic awards, and repeatedly named the best athlete with a disability in BiH, for his exceptional sports achievements and promotion of the Municipality of Novi Grad Sarajevo, as well as Bosnia and Herzegovina. With the BiH national team, he won a gold medal at the European Championship this year and qualified for the Paralympic Games in Paris in 2024.

Safet thanked Mayor Semir Efendić, President of the Municipal Council Mirza Selimbegović, as well as the Municipal Council, and said that this plaque would hold a special place among his other major awards and achievements.

"I have received many accolades, both domestically and on the European and world stages, but this plaque, named after Safet Hadžić, my namesake, will have a special place in my display cases, because we all know what Safet Hadžić was like during the war, and I am only carrying that forward in peacetime with my colleagues," said Alibašić.

The collective Golden Plaque "Safet Hadžić" was awarded to the Mountain Rescue Service Novi Grad Sarajevo for their selfless contribution to rescuing victims of the earthquake in the Republic of Turkey and Syria.

The young men and women, members of the GSS, represented the Municipality of Novi Grad in the best possible way during the major earthquake in Turkey. Within just a few days, they reached the epicenter of the earthquake and managed to rescue a large number of people from under the rubble, thus showing that we are capable of helping others when they are in need.

The Mountain Rescue Service Novi Grad Sarajevo was founded in 2016 and currently has 85 trained and certified volunteers dedicated to rescuing and assisting citizens. Since its founding to date, the Mountain Rescue Service Novi Grad Sarajevo has conducted over 250 successful searches for missing persons and other rescue operations.

Fahrudin Dobrača, head of the GSS Novi Grad Sarajevo, thanked, on behalf of all members, the Municipality for its continuous support of their association.

"The Municipality of Novi Grad is an example of how one should treat such an association and such a service. We are at the service of all citizens of our municipality, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and even beyond our borders," stated Fahrudin.

Individual and collective Silver Plaque "Safet Hadžić"

The individual Silver Plaque "Safet Hadžić" was awarded to Sretan Simanić for his humanitarian work and selfless contribution to the residents of the Municipality of Novi Grad Sarajevo. Sreten is the owner of a car service that employs 15 workers, and since its inception, it has provided opportunities for students and young mechanics to learn and develop their craft under the supervision of experienced employees.

The collective Silver Plaque "Safet Hadžić" was awarded to the students of JU "Peta gimnazija" Sarajevo for their creativity and contribution to the development of information technologies in the Municipality of Novi Grad and beyond. Zana Vazda, Sumeja Husejnćehajić, Danin Husić, and Orhan Hasić are the students who created the first project by high school students in Europe.

Danin Husić, on behalf of all of them, thanked Mayor Efendić and the Municipal Council of Novi Grad Sarajevo, and stated that they are happy to grow up in a community that recognizes the work and effort of young people.

At the session, ten acknowledgments were presented to individuals and collectives for their contribution and development of the local community. Additionally, a short video was shown, allowing attendees to see the current projects being implemented in the Municipality of Novi Grad, as well as those completed during the current year. The musical part of the program was filled with appropriate performances symbolizing the culture, tradition, and pride of our community. The choir and orchestra of the First Bosniak Gymnasium and the Third Gymnasium, under the direction of professors Lidija Bešo and Aida Kamenica, completed the formal celebration of the Day of the Municipality of Novi Grad Sarajevo and the 46th anniversary of this local community with their performances.