First Bosnian businessman awarded Grand Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria

At the ceremony marking the National Day of the Republic of Austria in Sarajevo, the President of the Management Board of STUDEN Holding, Ilija Studen, was presented with the prestigious award from the President of Austria, the "Grand Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria", in recognition of his special contribution to the economic development of Austria and Bosnia and Herzegovina, presented by the Austrian Ambassador to BiH, Martin Pamer.

- Investing for STUDEN Holding has always meant investing in the development of the markets and economies of the countries where our business group is present. Thanks to a clear vision of development, we have managed to positively influence the market of Bosnia and Herzegovina from Vienna, the Holding's headquarters, and by opening two production companies, the edible oil factory BIMAL and the STUDEN-AGRANA Sugar Refinery, with 500 employees, we have established an Agro-Industrial Complex in Brčko that supplies its products to both the domestic market and countries around the world - said the President of the Management Board of STUDEN Holding, Ilija Studen.

Studen added that the award presented to him by the Republic of Austria is confirmation that STUDEN Holding, through continuous investment, strongly influences the improvement of the entire economic environment of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and that the investments made so far are an indicator of successful work, making STUDEN Holding the largest Austrian investor in the food industry of Bosnia and Herzegovina. STUDEN Holding's commitment to influencing the formation of a market in Bosnia and Herzegovina with recognizable and quality BiH products that are also exported to foreign markets will certainly continue, and the commitment to non-GMO production, as well as support for the Austrian Danube Soya Association, is part of such market commitment.

As the highest state award that the President of Austria presents annually to politicians, officers, scientists, artists, entrepreneurs, and business people for special achievements and contributions, the President of the Management Board of STUDEN Holding, Ilija Studen, is the only Bosnian businessman to be awarded the "Grand Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria".

Last year, the "Grand Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria" was awarded to more than 100 recipients, among whom only 12 were non-Austrians.