Diaspora Platform for Bosnia and Herzegovina in Switzerland

In 2014 the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation has started to work with a group of six individuals from the Bosnian Diaspora in Switzerland who have initiated a process to constitute an overarching diaspora platform for Bosnia and Herzegovina in Switzerland. The platform aims at connecting the fragmented Bosnian Diaspora in Switzerland with view to providing information, fostering exchange and transfer of knowledge and skills, as well as promoting initiatives of the diaspora for the development of their country of origin. The platform is intended to cover the areas of economy, education and culture.

In the area of economy, it is foreseen that the platform provides information on laws, procedures, support mechanisms, services, institutions, etc. relevant to doing business in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Switzerland. It may further offer its own support systems in terms of established diaspora entrepreneurs offering mentoring or financing to start-up businesses of young entrepreneurs.

Currently, the project is in its initial phase consisting of the conceptualization and development of the Diaspora Platform for Bosnia and Herzegovina in Switzerland through a broad-based consultation process with the Bosnian Diaspora. The project will only offer concrete products and services, once the platform has been institutionally and structurally established until the end of 2016.

GFMD 2015 - RT 3.2

Bosnia and Herzegovina