On the organization of the Federal Ministry of Energy, Mining and Industry, the Chamber of Economy of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and with the support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Final Workshop for the preparation of the Strategy for the Development of the Textile, Clothing, Leather and Footwear Industry in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina for the period 2024-2033 was held in Sarajevo on 3 July 2024.
The workshop was attended by representatives of education, science, industry, business associations, cantonal, federal and state ministries, all with the aim of preparing a higher-quality draft of the strategic document. The Draft Strategy and the action plan for implementing the first measures planned in the strategy were presented. The workshop included group work in which partnerships were discussed as a key to implementing the strategy and developing the industry. It was also an opportunity to discuss the prepared document and further improve its content through proposals.
The sector is currently facing numerous challenges and changes that significantly affect the work of BiH companies. Changes in supply chains, reduced contracts and new orders significantly affect the final result of production and company operations, which in turn affects overall employment in the sector.
In order to identify challenges, trends and establish a basis for stimulating the long-term potential of the TOKO industry, representatives of FMERI, PKFBiH, with the expert support of UNDP, made the maximum contribution to the preparation and drafting of the Strategy for the Development of the Textile, Clothing, Leather and Footwear Industry in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina for the period 2024-2033.
The Strategy defines goals and offers a long-term overview of measures for development focused on competitiveness. The preparation of the document was preceded by numerous meetings with companies, field visits, meetings with all relevant institutions important for the sector, meetings of the Working Group, and workshops with all key stakeholders. All necessary data on the sector and companies were collected, and an analysis of the sector was carried out, which provides a good basis for concrete and precisely targeted activities.
The development strategy dictates that the TOKO industry must transform into a circular economy and become a fast and sustainable branch of the economy in the FBiH. It is necessary for the TOKO industry to invest in knowledge, creativity, innovation, digitalization of industrial and market processes, thereby improving its competitiveness.
That the activities are headed in the right direction was confirmed by the comments and conclusions of the participants in the final workshop. Therefore, we believe that after adoption, the Strategy will be a guide toward the changes that are necessary for this sector.
