The First Cross-Border Startup Business Forum of the project NESESER was held on December 16 and 17, 2024, at the Youth Center in Brčko District. The event brought together top experts, entrepreneurs, representatives of executive and legislative authorities, the civil sector, business professionals, and numerous citizens.
The forum was officially opened by the Mayor of Brčko District, Mr. Siniša Milić, who emphasized the importance of fostering an entrepreneurial spirit with a special focus on empowering young people and women to lead startup projects.
“This two-year project has paved the way for innovation and new business opportunities while strengthening cooperation between Brčko District BiH and Loznica. Here in Brčko, we already have considerable experience with self-employment projects, particularly in the fields of economy and agriculture. I believe the experiences shared at this Business Forum will significantly enhance our budget-funded programs,” said Milić.
Indira Lević Muharemović, Project Manager of NESESER, highlighted that one of the forum’s objectives was to summarize the results of the two-year initiative.
“This project supported ten startup companies in Brčko and ten in Loznica. While this is the final activity of the current project phase, it also marks the beginning of its continuation. Over the next two years, we will continue to support and collaborate with our entrepreneurs and startups,” said Lević Muharemović.
Nenad Jevtović, Director of the Institute for Development and Innovation (IRI), noted that the project successfully established two business incubators.
“This forum serves as a culmination of the project, facilitating further knowledge exchange and the creation of new, long-term cooperation plans between Brčko and Loznica. For the first time, young people in Loznica have access to an institution, a place where they can gather and share experiences with their partners,” said Jevtović.
