Project "Diaspora for Development": Companies Must Brand Themselves, State Must Create Favorable Environment

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - The project “Diaspora for Development (D4D)” is focused on the development of the BiH economy in cooperation with the diaspora, it was said at today's presentation of the project in Sarajevo.

The entire project includes a knowledge transfer component, because knowledge transfer is key to developing competitiveness, and developing competitiveness is key to the global market,” said UNDP project manager Merima Avdagić.

She added that through the project, 25 entrepreneurs underwent highly specialized training and established partnerships.

Vice President of the Foreign Trade Chamber of BiH Ehmet Egrlić said that the food sector in BiH is the most vulnerable, while the agro-industrial sector saw growth of around 200 million.

“We export mostly meat, milk, edible oil, and recently we have had significant growth in fruit and vegetable exports to Russia. Bosnia and Herzegovina has lost some significant markets, such as Kosovo, where exports fell by almost 90 percent, and Turkey. Export growth was recorded in Germany, Austria and Italy,” said Egrlić.

Director of Adriatic Group Amir Bekić said that the diaspora is perhaps the most important resource for BiH society.

“Through this project, we have made significant progress, we managed to engage two dairy companies and two companies in the organic production sector. The problem in the whole story is that our products are not welcomed with open arms in Europe and it is very difficult to place our items on that market,” explained Bekić.

He added that an additional problem is that the BiH environment is not favorable for export-oriented companies and that this must change.  

“Companies themselves must invest much more in standards when it comes to food, but also in branding themselves. I must say that it will be difficult to maintain current programs in the future without branding the state,” concluded Bekić.