At the meeting of the Sector Coordination Committee for originally oriented sectors, reviewed were the reports for the institutional partners of the EU4BusinessRecovery project, which is co-financed by the European Union (EU) and the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany (BMZ). The strengthening of the capacity of state institutions in the green transition process in BiH was also discussed.

In order to ensure the business continuity of companies and the establishment of innovative startups, and in order to reduce the consequences caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the EU4BusinessRecovery project has so far provided 1.6 million euros in grants that directly supported 43 micro, small and medium-sized enterprises from the metal and wood industry through grants. The plan is to support 60 companies by the end of the project.

In addition, a support in digitalization and internationalization through a grant agreement with the Foreign Trade Chamber of Bosnia and Herzegovina was provided to 31 micro, small and medium enterprises in BiH from the metal and wood sector in order to increase their competitiveness on foreign markets. It is planned to support 14 micro, small and medium enterprises in the energy transition through a grant agreement with SERDA, with the support of the Ministry of Economy of Sarajevo Canton.

Green Recovery component – capacity building

The Green Recovery component of the project implemented in BiH by GIZ, on behalf of the Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development of the Federal Republic of Germany, has so far organized two-day interactive trainings titled “Building of capacities and support for strategic planning with focus on Green Economy”. 

The workshops resulted in: 

• an educational module for circular and green economy,
• 8 analytical reports for EU4BR partner institutions with recommendations for strategies, operational programmes, drafts,
• 1 joint analytical report,
• technical report – agendas, all materials, evaluation forms.

As part of the Green Recovery component, a round table on financing green business models in small and medium-sized enterprises, a seminar on the new German supply chain law, two trainings in the field of strategic planning and team management, as well as an additional training in the field of green economy are planned in March.  A study visit to Germany is also planned in order to strengthen the capacity of actors on the way to green transition. The basic topics as well as the documents that will serve as a basis were mapped at the consultations on strategic planning. 

An analysis of the reports showed that strategies are not the only answer to the challenges on the way to green transition, and that cooperation between policy strategies, both between departments and with participants in their implementation process, is the key to success.

The comments on the quality of the strategic framework showed that in tourism, a stronger signal is needed towards connecting, developing value chains and managing existing values in the area, and that the industry of small and medium enterprises needs investment and time, although the need for connecting and developing value chains has been demonstrated. 

The representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of BiH, the Federal Ministry of Development, Entrepreneurship and Crafts, the Federal Ministry of Energy, Mining and Industry, the Ministry of European Integration and international cooperation of the Government of Republika Srpska, the Ministry of Economy and Entrepreneurship of the Government of the RS and the Government of Brčko District (Department for Economic Development, Sports and Culture) made their comments and contributions at the thirteenth meeting of the Sector Coordination Committee for originally oriented sectors.

The EU4BusinessRecovery project and its Green Recovery component continue to strengthen the capacities of state institutions on the way to a green transition.

For more information on the EU4BusinessRecovery project and the Green Recovery component:

Mirna Mekić, Communications Specialist at GIZ

Tel: +(387) 33 564 533 ili 061 699 853

Email: [email protected]