The Government of the United States of America, through USAID’s “Diaspora Invest” project, has invited companies from Bosnia and Herzegovina to apply for the Call for Connecting and Mediating Exports with diaspora experts. This is a program through which experts from the diaspora, originally from Bosnia and Herzegovina, have the opportunity to visit their homeland and connect with local companies, and through joint activities explore opportunities for mediation or preparation for the export of services or products from our country. The entire program is implemented in cooperation with the Foreign Trade Chamber of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Chamber of Commerce of the Republika Srpska and the Chamber of Commerce of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“We brought the chambers together in order to establish partnerships that will bring new economic opportunities for domestic companies in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Through this activity, USAID wants to bring export intermediaries from the diaspora, whom the chambers then connect with the appropriate companies – applicants to this call. This is an opportunity for people with rich international experience to provide advice on how companies can better prepare for export to certain markets, or, if they are already ready, obtain information about export opportunities, identification of potential clients and the like. Bosnians and Herzegovinians in the diaspora know the markets of the countries where they live very well, so this type of assistance is extremely valuable. To achieve international success, you must know the local languages, culture, rules and procedures, and therefore such cooperation is key. That is why we invite you to apply for this program and take advantage of the opportunity for quality contacts,” said Courtney Chubb from USAID.
The call is open until 15/4/2024, and the implementation of visits, training and cooperation will take place from 15/5 to 15/10 this year.
“Today there is probably no country in the world where people originally from Bosnia and Herzegovina do not live. Their contribution is essential to building the international reputation and prosperity of our country. The USAID Diaspora Invest project, in synergy with the Foreign Trade Chamber of Bosnia and Herzegovina as a business support organization, wants to awaken this potential and permanently connect it with the business community of the homeland of Bosnia and Herzegovina. We invite all interested companies to respond to the call and learn how best to prepare for export to international markets through the exchange of experiences with diaspora experts,” noted Aida Vidimlić from the Foreign Trade Chamber of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Info sessions about this call will be held in Sarajevo (Foreign Trade Chamber of BiH, 21/3, 11 a.m.), Banja Luka (Chamber of Commerce of the Republika Srpska, 26/3, 11 a.m.), Bihać (Chamber of Commerce of the Una-Sana Canton, 3/4, 11 a.m.) and Mostar (Hotel Bristol, 8/4, 10 a.m.).
“Bosnians and Herzegovinians have positioned themselves as a responsible and creative part of the business community around the world, holding leadership positions in the communities where they live. Today this is an exceptional potential and a significant resource that the business community in Bosnia and Herzegovina can and should use through the transfer of knowledge, experience, business contacts and investment opportunities. The Chamber of Commerce of the FBiH provides full support to the process of creating a global Bosnian and Herzegovinian business community, and we can do this through this type of connection with export intermediaries from the diaspora,” added Mirsad Jašarspahić from the Chamber of Commerce of the Federation of BiH.
The Chamber of Commerce of the Republika Srpska believes that such cooperation is a great opportunity for the domestic economy and a basis for more significant networking with the business diaspora.
“Diaspora represents a huge economic potential for the domestic economy, it is a base of new knowledge, important information about foreign markets, opportunities for new business and partnerships, and a base of valuable information about business opportunities in foreign markets. The cooperation between the Chamber of Commerce of the Republika Srpska and the USAID project “Diaspora Invest” systematically approaches connecting our diaspora with our economy in order to strengthen business ties and expand business opportunities,” notes Dragana Kokot from the Chamber of Commerce of the Republika Srpska.
All interested parties can apply via the online application: https://bit.ly/export-diaspora.
