Šibonjić and Babić for NAP: Our goals are a more competitive economy, retaining the workforce, and digitalization!

Interviewed by: Delvin Kovač

Minister of Economy of the Zenica-Doboj Canton (ZDK) Samir Šibonjić and President of the Chamber of Commerce of ZDK Diana Babić recently signed a contract on the implementation of the project "Digitalization of the Economy of ZDK with the Preparation and Creation of Collective Digital Promotional Materials".

This project was approved through a public call for subsidizing chamber projects in the field of economy for 2024.

According to Minister Šibonjić, the project is a confirmation of the commitment of the Government and the Ministry of Economy of ZDK to establish and strengthen cooperation with the Chamber of Commerce of ZDK.

- The goal is to improve the business environment in the region through digitalization, aiming to enhance the competitiveness of economic entities and facilitate the promotion of our canton's economy on digital platforms - said Minister Šibonjić after the signing.


Šibonjić and Babić: Strengthened cooperation agreed

- We strive to stay one step ahead of others. Our level of motivation is very high. We are aware of our responsibility, and I am proud to be the Minister of Economy of ZDK, which, with its 12 municipalities and cities, forms the backbone of the economy of Bosnia and Herzegovina - says Minister Šibonjić in an interview with the Patria News Agency.

He notes that the municipality of Tešanj, by population, achieves the highest turnover of two billion and 600 million KM, Usora has more employees than inhabitants, while Doboj Jug, which consists of two local communities, has three industrial zones.

- Our Maglaj, which is a leader in Southeast Europe in the production of cellulose and paper, our Zavidovići, which with young and progressive entrepreneurs from industrial zones is slowly but surely returning to its former glory, our Žepče with a large number of companies exporting worldwide, our Zenica, which is a leader in metal industrial production.

Our Kakanj, which produces coal, from which electricity is generated at the Kakanj Thermal Power Plant, and along with electricity, cement from which houses are built throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina and the entire region, our Breza, which still mines coal today in memory of Alija Sirotanović, our Vareš, shaken by gold fever and currently hosting the largest post-war investment, and our Visoko, which has the highest number of crafts in the entire Bosnia and Herzegovina.

All of the above motivated me to familiarize the public as much as possible with our companies, their achievements, and the economic sectors in our Canton, so through several different contents, we will present the economy of ZDK in digital form to all our citizens, potential partners at home and abroad, with the aim of strengthening the competitiveness of our companies and industry - says Šibonjić.

President of the Chamber of Commerce of ZDK Diana Babić explains to us that the project "Digitalization of the Economy of ZDK with the Preparation and Creation of Collective Digital Promotional Materials" was approved within the Public Call for collecting requests for approval and allocation of financial resources intended for subsidizing chamber projects in the field of economy for 2024, published by the Ministry of Economy of ZDK.

The project value is slightly less than 50,000.00 KM, and its implementation period is 10 months. Project implementation involves carrying out a series of activities such as:

1. Organization of multi-day trainings through the Digitalization Office of the Chamber of Commerce of the Zenica-Doboj Canton, in the field of digitalization for employees of economic entities in the ZDK area, aimed at improving the competencies of employees of manufacturing and processing companies and other SMEs in the field of digitalization, as well as improving the competencies of SME employees in the field of digitalization, with a focus on using the "Microsoft Office 365" package;

2. Filming, editing, and production of up to 8 multi-minute promotional video spots of the economic potentials of ZDK by economic sectors;

3. Preparation, creation, and presentation of collective digital promotional materials;

4. Conferences on digital transformation with a ceremonial award ceremony for the best micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises in the ZDK area in 2024.

- The common goal of both the Ministry of Economy and the Chamber of Commerce of ZDK is that, through the implementation of the mentioned project activities, by improving the digital competencies of employees of companies in the ZDK area and digital promotion of the economic potentials of ZDK, we contribute to improving the competitiveness of ZDK companies, employment, and retention of the workforce in the Canton and the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina - says Babić.

Šibonjić emphasizes that, when it comes to the economy of ZDK, "we constantly point out that we are the pillar and backbone of the economy of Bosnia and Herzegovina - we continue with the construction of new production capacities, as well as strengthening competitiveness".

- This year, we allocated record amounts for incentives to our companies through several programs, such as strengthening competitiveness through reimbursement of costs for the procurement of production equipment, new machinery, introduction of new technologies, standards, certificates, digital solutions, participation in fairs and events, construction and arrangement of tourism potentials and destinations.

Then, the arrangement and construction of new industrial zones where a large number of our companies operate. We especially want to highlight that we managed to restart ZEPS, as the largest fair in our region. Thus, this year from September 25 to 29, we had the Tešanj Economic Fair, and from October 1 to 5, ZEPS, and we called these 10 days the festival of the economy of ZDK and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

We cannot fail to note that the events after the floods that hit our country mostly affected our canton and our industrial production economically. First of all, I want to pay tribute to all our flood victims, wish a speedy recovery to their families and loved ones, and that the damages be repaired as soon as possible.

You know that we immediately headed towards our Jablanica and Konjic, towards Fojnica, Busovača, Kiseljak, and Kreševo. We did not wait. I thank our entrepreneurs and our people who have enormous empathy for people in need of help.

I take this opportunity to thank the brotherly people of the Republic of Turkey, especially AFAD and the Government, as well as the company Cengiz, which from the very beginning made all its resources available at full capacity, and is currently rebuilding the railway in Jablanica.

Now, when we look at everything, I cannot help but say that the behavior of the Federal Government is shameful, which, instead of rebuilding the railway and homes for our victims, spent 60 days on empty talk without concrete solutions and moves.

No one can help us if we do not do it ourselves. There is money for everything except concrete solutions. It is unacceptable for a government to say there are no solutions. Perhaps they are used to others finding solutions for them, even for humanitarian aid.

We do not want a homeland that others will build for us; we want a homeland and a government that, with the best solutions, will build a strong and prosperous homeland, our Bosnia and Herzegovina - emphasizes Šibonjić.

President Babić emphasizes that the business environment in ZDK needs to be improved, and this is a continuous process that requires synergistic action of all necessary actors.

- In this regard, the Chamber of Commerce of ZDK, within its statutory and programmatic competencies, through regular and project activities, strives to contribute to improving the business environment and points out that it is necessary:

- finally approach the real relief of the economy regarding the payment of taxes and contributions on wages and from wages at the expense of the employer, through the adoption of a set of laws in the field of public finances in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina - the Draft Law on Contribution Tax in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Draft Law on Income Tax in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and amendments to the Law on Corporate Income Tax in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina;

- the overall political situation at all levels of government must be stabilized and the activities of executive and legislative bodies directed towards concrete relief and easing of business conditions;

- when creating budgets at all levels, allocate greater funds for stimulating economic development, especially for production and export-oriented companies;

- when creating public calls for incentives and reliefs, allocate significant funds for production and export-oriented companies, as well as for the digital operations of companies;

- that all state bodies act concretely to improve the business image in Bosnia and Herzegovina by ensuring a stable economic and political environment that will attract domestic and foreign investors and protect their business interests - states Babić.

Minister Šibonjić assesses cooperation with the Chamber of Commerce of ZDK as very good.

- We are one, we have common goals. I hope it will be even better in the future, and that we will continue together to support the growth and development of the economy of the Zenica-Doboj Canton and Bosnia and Herzegovina - adds Šibonjić.

Babić notes that the institution she heads signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with the current Government of ZDK, to officially confirm the determination to contribute, through synergistic action of relevant ministries and the Chamber of Commerce of ZDK, to improving the field of business, making it more efficient, competitive, and attractive for domestic and foreign investors.

The Memorandum plans the implementation of activities in eight priority areas of joint action:

- improvement of the legislative framework and implementing acts;

- cooperation in the implementation of projects financed by domestic and foreign financiers;

- improvement of the field of education and active employment measures;

- improvement of investments and cooperation with the diaspora "Register for verification of employers where PN is performed in adult education";

- operation of public utility companies;

- fair appearances and other promotional and joint activities related to education;

- scientific conferences;

- research.

- The signed contract on the implementation of the project "Digitalization of the Economy of ZDK with the Preparation and Creation of Collective Digital Promotional Materials" represents the concretization of cooperation between the Government and the Ministry of Economy with the Chamber of Commerce of ZDK.

With the Ministry of Economy of ZDK, the Chamber of Commerce of ZDK has exceptionally good cooperation. Our institutions support each other in the implementation of regular and project activities, and in certain segments of synergistic action, we are an example of good practice in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina - concludes Babić in an interview with Patria.