UMCOR Bosnia and Herzegovina

Stolac

With multi-ethnic membership of 102 members, Privrednik represents businesses from all areas including craftsmen, artisans, agricultural producers and students. Membership costs 5KM per month. It provides multiple benefits for its members, assisting them with registration of businesses, business advice, production techniques, training and marketing strategies to name but a few. The association is also very active in advocating for its members and their needs.

Privrednik is currently involved in a variety of projects which range from setting up an organization involved in greenhouse production to a planned cheese-production project including activities ranging from donation of cows to selected beneficiaries, production methodology for successful cheese making, training in Livno through to market identification, product launch and more.

Privrednik is also at the forefront of a campaign to set up a market place in Stolac which will provide association members as well as other local producers with a fixed location to sell their goods. At the moment, many small businesses sell their produce by the side of the road. In this way, subsistence sales are created but there is no impulse to shop or encouragement for people to congregate. The location of road-side stands will necessarily change, so purchases are often random and so the creation of a loyal customer base is problematic.

During our visit, Privrednik organized a mini-fair to advocate for the market with the local authorities on the site where they hope the market place will be constructed (see photo above left). The vendors I spoke to were strongly in favour of the idea which will provide them a space in which they can sell on a regular basis. They pointed out that this measure would bring increased enterprise to the town as currently, many people travel to markets in Mostar or Capljina.

The Executive Director of BA Privrednik is Ernest Djonko (right) and the President is Ragib Dizdar (left). Mr Dizdar is a cobbler and received income generation assistance from UMCOR a few years ago which enabled him to buy tools and materials to start handmade shoe production. Mr Djonko is a graduate in economics. Working on a voluntary basis, his colleagues Veldina, Zlatan, Asim, Salko, Ernest and Ragib, assist Privrednik beneficiaries in a variety of areas including economic management, financial management, fundraising, marketing, legal matters and more.

Privrednik works in co-operation with UMCOR to identify potential UMCOR beneficiaries for income generation in Stolac Municipality. Potential beneficiaries receive help with the business plans they need to submit with their application as well as advice on all other areas concerning the application process. Privrednik also organizes training for these beneficiaries.

Privrednik brings great benefits to Stolac, strengthening the community, enhancing business activities and democratisation while its activities provide a practical way of achieving a multi-ethic, prosperous and stable community.

Updated June 2004.