“The fact that 88% of youth want to leave the Una-Sana Canton is a clear indicator that they don’t have a good life in this country – said Jasmin Beši?, Executive Director of the Institute for Youth Development KULT during the Business Forum “Unburdening the Economy to Create Jobs”, held in Biha?, on March 7, 2018.
One of the messages from the Forum was the only way to keep youth in this country is improving the economy, making it easier to launch businesses and reducing the taxes and fees burdening business owners.
“This country and the economy can’t function without youth, because they’re the ones who generate funds for the budget and build the country. We have to do everything in our power to make it easier for them to find jobs, start their own business and create an environment they will want to live in. Youth leaving is not the problem, it’s the consequence of problems that have piled up over the years.” – said Jasmin Beši?, Executive Director of the Institute for Youth Development KULT.
The participants – business owners, government representatives, representatives of NGOs and the academia – discussed the burdens hindering the growth and development of the economy in FBiH, and in the Una-Sana Canton in particular, options for addressing them, and initiatives and activities implemented as economic reforms.
The Forum also galvanized discussions on employment and self-employment programs, especially for youth, and the opportunities and obstacles in the process of launching a business. It included a presentation of an analysis of budget incentives for boosting the economy for 2012-2015, and the initiative of BiH business owners to introduce the VAT cash accounting scheme.
“The Una-Sana Canton is making every effort to improve employment rates and the our citizens’ standard of living, especially young people’s. We implemented a series of measures, adopted a Youth Strategy of the USC, and we are willing to take steps to prevent youth from leaving, which is a burning issue in the whole country, not just this canton.” – said Husein Roši?, Prime Minister of the Government of Una-Sana Canton.
During the Forum, the participants presented examples of good practice, showcasing youth who launched and are managing their own business, and talked about problems that must be solved in order to create a more business-friendly environment.
“I launched a company and I’m fighting to stay in business. I’m disappointed that myself and other entrepreneurs don’t have the support of this country and the system. We’re not expecting financial support, but I have to say that we don’t even get advice or any benefits when launching our business.” – said Elvedin Veli?, founder of Agro Veli? d.o.o. from Velika Kladuša.
The Business Forum is intended for business owners and dedicated to issues relating to the economy. It was organized by the Institute for Youth Development KULT and the Ministry of Economy of the Una-Sana Canton.
The Business Forum was organized by the Institute for Youth Development KULT, as one of the activities of the “BH Business Site” initiative implemented by the Institute for Youth Development KULT since 2014, within the Civil Society Sustainability Project (CSSP) managed by the Centers for Civic Initiatives (CCI) and the Civil Society Promotion Center (CPCD), and supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
Previous business forums were held in Tešanj, Bijeljina, Neum and Tuzla.
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