Center for Responsible Business in BiH Established in Sarajevo, Numerous Activities Planned

The new Center will provide advisory services and information to domestic companies with the aim of improving their compliance with new regulations and requirements of the European Union market in the areas of human rights and environmental protection.

During the official launch event, attended by representatives of companies and institutions from across Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Center’s services were presented, along with the global network of Responsible Business Hubs, which now includes the Responsible Business Center of BiH.

“At the Center, we have integrated all the services we have been providing to our companies over the past few years to help them align with the requirements of the EU market. The benefits for companies are numerous – from access to information about the EU market and compliance requirements, reducing risks and costs, connecting with a network of local and international experts, to workshops, trainings, and tools for developing procedures and reporting,” said Ahmet Egrlić, President of the Foreign Trade Chamber of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The development of green products or services is also planned for five pilot companies, which will receive technical support from the Sarajevo School of Science and Technology (SSST).

“According to our research, 81 percent of managers in the BiH economy are not adequately aware of the implications of the green transition for their businesses, while almost half lack the capacity to develop sustainable products and services. This clearly shows that companies need concrete support in order to adequately respond to the growing demand for sustainable products and services on the international market,” said Emir Ganić, Executive Director of SSST.

He emphasized that it is essential to provide BiH companies with the necessary technical support to enable the development of high-quality green services and products through a sustainable production process.

“Through pilot projects that will be implemented as part of this initiative, SSST will work with five BiH industries with the goal of creating sustainable products that will serve as demonstrative examples and, we hope, spark further interest in sustainable business practices,” Ganić added.

The Responsible Business Center of BiH is part of a broader initiative for private sector development in Bosnia and Herzegovina, co-financed by the European Union and the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany, and implemented by GIZ.