Two premises of Entrepreneurship Incubator were officially opened on 22 June 2009, in former military barracks Palanciste near Prijedor. This event marked the end of the second phase of the project “Development of Entrepreneurial Incubator Prijedor”, financed by European Union and Prijedor municipality. 

The total value of the project is 280.979 €, out of which the European Union provided €248,892 or 88.58%, while Prijedor municipality provided €32,087 or 11.42%. Reconstruction of 688 m2 of total surface within the Entrepreneurship Incubator resulted in premises for five production companies thus creating 20 new jobs.

The project was implemented by the Prijedor municipality Economic Development Agency (PREDA-PD) and supported by local development agencies from Novi Grad/Bosanski Novi and Kozarska/Bosanska Dubica. Active involvement of municipalities in the region as project partners contributed to sustainability of the project, promotion of the entrepreneurship and economic development, and creation of new jobs. Such a positive action of the local governments will increase attractiveness of the region for business and it is expected to increase investments in the region, both domestic and foreign

Johann Hesse, Head of Operations Section for Economic Development and Natural Resources within the Delegation of European Commission to BiH, expressed his satisfaction about the completion of the second phase of this project and underlined that the incubator will have an important role to play for SMEs in this region not only in reduction of the start-up costs for businesses but also in providing services to the companies and making them more competitive.

Hesse stressed that EC supported the project in order to help private sector to create jobs. He said that Entrepreneurial Incubator may not resolve all problems of local entrepreneurs. However, he added that  possibility of – placing the production in reconstructed premises as well as services of counseling and technical support, will represent significant assistance to companies which will begin their work in these facilities.  

“I hope that Entrepreneurial Incubator will serve its purpose and that in the time of economic crises it will enable private sector to work normally and increase revenues,” Hesse stressed.

Branislav Vujašin, project manager for building Entrepreneurship Incubator Prijedor, thanked the Delegation of European Commission in BiH for the significant financial assistance which enabled completion of the second phase of this project. The works also included provision of utilities – water supplies, sewage and telecommunication network, electricity, as well as the access road. 

“The aim of the Entrepreneurship Incubator is to provide location for newly-founded production companies for their first five years of working. After that, they are to move to industrial zones and provide locations for new firms in incubator”, Vujasin stressed.  

Mayor of Prijedor Marko Pavić said the development of the Entrepreneurial Incubator was a step forward in reducing unemployment, the main challenge this local community is facing.