As part of the event “Let’s do eCommerce – Checkout the Future”, organized by the eCommerce Association in Bosnia and Herzegovina (eComm BiH), GIZ contributed by organizing the interactive BizConnect Speed Dating workshop and participating in an expert panel discussion dedicated to the development of digital commerce and payment systems in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The BizConnect Speed Dating: E-commerce and FinTech – New Opportunities in the Digital Economy workshop brought together representatives of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and the FinTech sector with the aim of strengthening cooperation and identifying new opportunities for the digital transformation of businesses.
Through a speed networking format, participants had the opportunity to exchange experiences, discuss the challenges they face in digital business operations, and identify needs and potential solutions for improving e-commerce and digital financial services. The conclusions and recommendations gathered during the workshop will serve as an important contribution to future activities aimed at enhancing the business and digital environment in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The workshop was organized within the framework of the EU4Private Sector Development in Bosnia and Herzegovina (EU4PSD) project, co-financed by the European Union and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), and implemented as part of GIZ’s Sustainable Economic Development and Employment Promotion Programme (SEDEP).
In addition to the workshop, Jens Elsner, Head of the SEDEP Programme at GIZ, participated in the panel discussion dedicated to the future of digital payments and online commerce.
During the discussion, participants highlighted the importance of digital payments and e-commerce for the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as the need for further development of the digital ecosystem in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Activities implemented by GIZ in the field of e-commerce and digital financial services were presented, including support for eComm academies, efforts to advance e-commerce in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and new initiatives such as Better Way 2.0 and the development of the Retail Payments Strategy.
Particular attention was given to the Better Way 2.0 – Digital Payments for Sustainable Development of the Western Balkans initiative, which is being implemented in cooperation with Visa and Mastercard. The initiative supports the wider adoption of digital payments among SMEs, strengthens financial literacy and trust in e-commerce, and promotes dialogue between institutions, the business community, and the payment services sector.
Through these activities, GIZ continues to support the development of a competitive, innovative, and digitally connected economy, contributing to the creation of a more enabling environment for the growth of e-commerce and digital services in Bosnia and Herzegovina and across the Western Balkans region.
