Jahorina, May 27, 2025_In the presence of representatives from Bosnia and Herzegovina’s institutions, international partners, and experts, the final conference of the ANC BiH Project – “Sustainable Economic Development and Environmental Protection of Areas With Natural Constraints in Bosnia and Herzegovina” was officially held today at Hotel Vučko on Jahorina. On the same occasion, the launch of a new project was announced: ProBio BiH – “Promoting Local Biodiversity through Nature-Based Innovation in the Agri-Food Sector in BiH“. Both projects are funded by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI) and implemented by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) through CIHEAM Bari, in cooperation with institutions across all levels of government in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Addressing the attendees, the Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Staša Košarac, emphasized that these are very important projects for sustainable development in rural areas. “Today, we had the opportunity to hear from the municipalities that benefited from the ANC project, and they stated that it may have been the most efficient project with the best achieved results. This will certainly not be the end — together with our Italian partners, we will continue working on other projects, and ProBio is one of them,” said Minister Košarac, adding that a framework strategy for the development of agriculture and rural areas has been developed at the state level, and in the coming period, action plans will also be drafted at the entity level.
“The biological diversity present in Bosnia and Herzegovina has significant development potential, and we are pleased that together we will pave the way for the creation of new and recognizable products in the agricultural sector, through their valorization and promotion. At the same time, we will continue to strengthen institutions and support the alignment of the legislative framework with the EU acquis, with our support also reflected in the strengthening of technical capacities through the provision of equipment and personnel training,” emphasized H.E. Sarah Eti Castellani, Ambassador of the Republic of Italy to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Ms. Stefania Vizzaccaro, Director of the AICS Regional Office in Tirana, emphasized Italy’s long standing commitment to sustainable development and inclusion in Bosnia and Herzegovina: “This project represented a strategic investment in local human capital, as it chose to strengthen and valorize human resources from the project areas, training more than 250 local officials and stakeholders, providing all those necessary tools to support communities living in territories with natural constraints, and at the same time supporting a full alignment between the central level and local authorities, guaranteeing a complete and successful implementation,” said Vizzaccaro.
Fabrizio Contento, from CIHEAM Bari, the implementing agency of the project, emphasized that the center has been cooperating with Bosnia and Herzegovina since the year 2000. “We have implemented several projects in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and we currently have four active projects funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS). Our work begins first and foremost by listening to the local communities in BiH and understanding their needs. Through our projects, we strengthen institutions in BiH,” said Contento, adding that there are many challenges in implementing these projects, but that all of them can be overcome through dialogue and human relations.
The newly launched ProBio BiH project aims to enhance the capacities of public administration in the sectors of agriculture, rural development, and biodiversity protection, in line with European Union standards. The project focuses on strengthening youth entrepreneurship, promoting innovation in the agri-food sector, and valorizing local plant varieties and products. It will involve training for more than 200 civil servants and researchers, direct engagement of 100 agricultural producers, and support for start-ups and young entrepreneurs developing nature-based products and solutions.
The successfully completed ANC BiH project invested over 1,000,000 BAM across 11 municipalities: Bužim, Berkovići, Bratunac, Donji Žabar, Glamoč, Goražde, Fojnica, Kupres, Posušje, Rudo, and the Brčko District. In addition to infrastructure investments and equipment procurement, the project conducted a comprehensive socio-economic analysis of 109 municipalities, trained 62 experts in Italy, and developed rural development strategies for nine municipalities.
The Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), through its regional office based in Tirana, has been supporting countries in the Western Balkans for years in their transition and alignment with EU standards. The implementing partner for both projects, CIHEAM Bari, is an international organization with decades of experience in agronomy, education, and research, delivering projects in partner Mediterranean countries, including Bosnia and Herzegovina.
