Thanks to the support of the European Union (EU) and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the Foreign Trade Chamber of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FTC BiH), in cooperation with GIZ, has established the Center for Responsible Business (Responsible Business Hub – RBH).
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.
“This year we are marking 30 years of bilateral development cooperation between Germany and Bosnia and Herzegovina. One of our priorities is strengthening the foundations of a sustainable and competitive economy. The launch of the Responsible Business Hub in BiH represents another important step in this partnership. This initiative supports domestic companies in aligning with European standards, integrating sustainability and human rights into their operations, and preparing for regulatory requirements of international markets. Together with our partners from the EU and Switzerland, we are proud to contribute to this initiative that reflects our shared vision of an economically resilient and future-oriented Bosnia and Herzegovina,” emphasized Daniel Stinsky, Head of the Economic and Development Cooperation Department at the German Embassy in Sarajevo.
The establishment of the Responsible Business Hub in Bosnia and Herzegovina (RBH BiH) is a key activity within GIZ’s program “Sustainable Economic Development and Employment Promotion” (SEDEP).
“The Center is the result of a strong partnership with the Foreign Trade Chamber of BiH. Through this cooperation, and with the support of BMZ and the EU, we are building a platform that helps local companies respond to new EU regulations while integrating responsible business practices into their supply chains. The establishment of this Center reflects our joint commitment to strengthening the competitiveness, resilience, and sustainability of the private sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina and improving its integration into European markets,” stated Jens Elsner, Head of the SEDEP Program in BiH.
In its first year of operation, the Center has planned numerous activities, including:
- development of three specialized educational programs for priority sectors,
- conducting 10 energy and resource efficiency audits,
- more than 30 individual consultations with export-oriented companies,
- training of 10 consultants in carbon accounting,
- education of at least 40 companies on compliance with CBAM regulations.
As highlighted during the event, the Responsible Business Hub is open to all companies in BiH and serves as a valuable resource for enhancing competitiveness, resilience, and business sustainability.
Public calls for companies to join the energy and resource efficiency network led by the Foreign Trade Chamber of BiH will be published within the next two months.
