The Ambassador of the Czech Republic to Bosnia and Herzegovina Jana K. Lolić Šindelková visited the SEI Center together with her associates
The Ambassador of the Czech Republic to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Jana K. Lolić Šindelková, visited the Brčko District of BiH yesterday, where she toured the SEI Center under whose roof, in addition to adapted business offices, there is also a newly renovated conference hall, as well as the space intended for the start of the first social enterprise in Brčko. All of the above is within the project of Socio-Economic Inclusion in the Brčko District of BiH, which is financed by the Government of the Czech Republic with the help of the Development Agency of this country, and implemented by the Development – Guarantee Fund of the Brčko District and CARE International Balkans.
During the visit, the ambassador expressed satisfaction with the implementation of the SEI project, stressing the importance of social entrepreneurship for the development of the local community. She pointed out that the results achieved by the Optimus printing house represent an example of successful practice and concrete support for employment, especially for people from vulnerable categories of society. By the way, in this printing house, which is considered the first open social enterprise in Brčko District, members of the Roma minority got the job.
The Executive Director of the social enterprise printing shop is Asmir Husić, a member of the Roma minority. In addition to him, a single mother of three children and one person with a disability will work in the store.
Husić emphasized that this represents a significant step forward in the development of social entrepreneurship in the Brčko District and contributes to strengthening the local economy. He particularly highlighted that the goal is to promote employment and social inclusion of people from marginalized groups, including young people, women, persons with developmental disabilities and persons with disabilities, as well as members of the Roma national minority in the District.
On this occasion, Project Manager Branislav Tanasijević expressed his gratitude to the Ambassador for her selfless support, as well as to everyone who has continuously supported the SEI project.
“Only with the selfless support of the Government of the Czech Republic over the past two and a half years has the project implemented a number of significant activities, including the renovation of the SEI Center building and the employment of four experts to provide comprehensive support, with a special focus on marginalized target groups in the field of employment and self-employment. We have also supported internship programs and established a Business Incubator to foster the development of start-up business ideas,” Tanasijević stressed, adding that more than 40 new jobs have been created through these activities during the previous period.
He stated that the SEI project has reached a new development phase through the opening of the first social enterprise in Brčko.
“I hope that the extremely successful cooperation will be continued this year, through the additional strengthening of the social enterprise and the realization of its development plans, but also through a new project step forward. It is about the support and partnership of the Government of the Czech Republic and local businessmen at the forthcoming jubilee 20th International Business Fair, which is planned in Brčko in mid-October this year,” stressed Tanasijević.
He concluded that the successful implementation of the Socio-Economic Inclusion project in Brčko, as a unique example of quality cooperation between local partners and international donors in Bosnia and Herzegovina, deserves to be a model that will be transferred to other areas throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina.
