On the occasion of the opening, Johann Hesse (Head of Operational Section for Economic Reform and Natural Resources of the Delegation of the European Commission to BiH) warned that Bosnia and Herzegovina still imports a significant amount of food, while very small quantity of agricultural products are exported to the European Union countries. Among many reasons for such situation, Mr. Hesse pointed out the lack of funds or work premises, difficult access to the market as well as the lack of information on the latest agricultural technologies. „The Žepče Agro-business incubator will not solve all of these problems, but as a regional centre it will provide much needed technical assistance and advice to regional farmers and businesses. More importantly, this centre will support the creation of new jobs, and alternative source of income for people in the wider rural area,” concluded Hesse.

Ivica Ćurić (President of the Žepče Association of Entrepreneurs and Employees) emphasized the importance of the project for agricultural producers for the municipalities of Žepče, Maglaj and Zavidovići, but also for the whole region of Central Bosnia. Agro-incubator will ensure improvement of the quality and quantity of agricultural products from this area. „Our area is a rural area. That is a significant resource. Agro-incubator is a base project that will provide education, cold-storage for the products, pedological laboratory for analysing the quality of the soil, so that the farmers do not have to go to more developed centres for these services,” stressed Mr. Ćurić.

The project is implemented by the Žepče Association of Entrepreneurs and Employees together with the Association of Agricultural Producers “Poljoprovrednik” (Zavidovići) and the Association of Agricultural Producers „Jedinstvo“ (Bočinja, Maglaj).

Source: Website of the Delegation of the Euopean Commission to Bosnia and Herzegovina (Nov. 4, 2008)