With aim to support agricultural business development in the Central Bosnia region, the “Agro-incubator Žepče” was opened in Žepče on Friday, August 29, 2008. Mr. Johann Hesse, Head of Operational Section for Economic Reform and Natural Resources of the Delegation of the European Commission to BiH, Mr. Ivica Ćurić, President of the Žepče Association of Entrepreneurs and Employees, Mr. Mato Zovko, Head of Žepče Municipality, as well as representatives of the FBiH Ministry of Development, Entrepreneurship and Crafts and other representatives of local authorities addressed the guests at the opening ceremony.
Beneficiaries of the incubator will be individual producers-farmers and various associations and small and medium enterprises that work in the field of agricultural production. The European Commission ensured the funds for the project implementation amounting to approximately 260,000 Euro (90% of the project value).
Johann Hesse warns on this occasion that Bosnia and Herzegovina still imports a significant amount of food, while very small quantity of agricultural products are exported to the European Union countries. Among many reasons for such situation, Mr. Hesse pointed out the lack of funds or work premises, difficult access to the market as well as the lack of information on the latest agricultural technologies. „The Zepce Agro-business incubator will not solve all of these problems, but as a regional centre it will provide much needed technical assistance and advice to regional farmers and businesses. More importantly, this centre will support the creation of new jobs, and alternative source of income for people in the wider rural area,” concluded Hesse.
Ivica Ćurić emphasized the importance of the project for agricultural producers for the municipalities of Žepče, Maglaj and Zavidovići, but also for the whole region of Central Bosnia. Agro-incubator will ensure improvement of the quality and quantity of agricultural products from this area.
„Our area is a rural area. That is a significant resource. Agro-incubator is a base project that will provide education, cold-storage for the products, pedological laboratory for analysing the quality of the soil, so that the farmers do not have to go to more developed centres for these services,” stressed Mr. Ćurić.
Important aspect of the project is also employment of young professionals. Three young agronomists,
Dragomir Dunđer, Ivan Antunović and Mario Jozić make the management team of the „Agro-incubator Žepče”. Together, they provided a tour around the incubator to the guests of the opening ceremony and announced educational programs in accordance with agricultural seasons.
As BiH moves towards the European Union, access to other components of the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) will be opening once BiH obtains candidacy status, announced Mr. Hesse. Meanwhile, the European Commission Delegation to BiH provides support to five regional development agencies aiming at developing of their capacity for providing support to local stakeholders in identifying regional projects and preparing development projects.
ABOUT PROJECT
Project „Agro-incubator Žepče“ is financed within the CARDS program as a part of the fifth call of the EU to assist small and medium enterprises and regional economic development (EU RED Fund)
The project is implemented by the Žepče Association of Entrepreneurs and Employees together with partners – Association of Agricultural Producers “Poljoprovrednik” from Zavidovići and Association of Agricultural Producers „Jedinstvo“ from Bočinja, Maglaj.
„Agro-incubator Žepče“ is located in a newly reconstructed facility spread on 650 square meters.
