Platform of the BiH Diaspora in Switzerland
Based on the results of the study «The population of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Switzerland» conducted by the University of Neuchâtel (CH), the Swiss Government recognised the potential of the BiH diaspora in Switzerland concerning its contribution to the development of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Therefore, it decided to support the establishment of a platform of the BiH diaspora in Switzerland in cooperation with the association i-dijaspora.
The results of the above mentioned study and the first conference of the BiH diaspora in Switzerland, which took place on 13. December 2014 in Berne, proved that there exists a need for the establishment of a platform, which is politically, religiously and ethnically independent, in order to exchange information, knowledge and experience. The aim of the platform is to provide various associations and organisations of the BiH diaspora in Switzerland access to the database in order to establish contact with other associations and institutions in Switzerland, but also in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The platform of the BiH diaspora in Switzerland will also provide its member information about current activities of the diaspora in Switzerland and BiH, foster mutual cooperation and help to establish contact between its members, as well as support the realisation of joint projects in the following domains: economy, culture and science/education.
Furthermore, the members of the platform will be given the possibility to attend thematic conferences and scientific, cultural and economical sessions. Another aim of the platform is the formation of expert groups in the above mentioned domains to exchange information, experience and knowledge.
Results and conclusion of the bilateral meetings and conferences
The participants of the bilateral meetings and conferences had the possibility to discuss with the members of i-dijaspora the following questions concerning the domains economy, culture and science/education:
What kind of expectations do actors in Bosnia and Herzegovina have of such a platform? Which possible sub categories of the three main domains (economy, culture, science/education), which are discussed in three separate workshops, are interesting?
Who are the actors in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with whom the platform could and should collaborate? What is the benefit of such a collaboration?
- Which possible obstacles and problems (norms, laws, practices) could occur and how should the platform deal with them?
After a lot constructive and interesting discussions, the members of i-dijaspora had the opportunity to collect plenty of important and useful information, ideas and concrete suggestions. Concerning the expectations of the platform of the BiH diaspora in Switzerland out of the perspective of actors in BiH, we would like to present you a selected number of interesting suggestions:
Economy:
Direct collaboration with governmental institutions;; organisation of business forums; employment initiatives; one-stop-shops; business and investment consulting; investment funds; academy for entrepreneurs; coaching/mentoring for start-ups; private partnership; sub domains: tourism and medical/health tourism; fostering the organic food production etc.Culture:
Work based on the local identity (presentation of BiH identity/culture in Europe); mutual culture exchange; diaspora=market; student exchange; internships for students in Switzerland and BiH; support concerning complex and bureaucratic procedures (e.g. import/export of art pieces); programs for seniors etc.Science/education:
Import of knowledge to BiH (mentoring);; mutual communication and cooperation; student/professor exchange; internships in Switzerland and BiH; summer schools; partnerships between Swiss and BiH universities;; knowledge exchange (agriculture, mining industry, IT, lumber industry, tourism);; embedding of BiH universities into EU funds (complex application procedures --> support from the diaspora);; inter-ethnic/religious exchange/communication; intersectional cooperation (science/education and economy) etc.The answer of the question concerning actors in BiH as potential cooperation partners of the platform was in all workshops very diverse. Governmental institutions, various ministries, but also the direct cooperation with local communities and municipalities, NGOs, universities and industries were proposed by the participants.
As possible obstacles concerning the cooperation between the platform and actors in BiH the participants mentioned distrust and missing information. Generally speaking, the need for a platform in order to exchange information, knowledge and experience does exist and was confirmed by all participants, but also the necessity to give the diaspora the trust back into the government and individuals.
Further steps
The positive feedback from the participants of the conferences in Sarajevo and Banja Luka as well as the successful bilateral meetings with institutions on various levels strengthens the association i-dijaspora in attaining their aim to establish the platform of the BiH diaspora in Switzerland. The value and success of the future platform for the BiH diaspora in Switzerland and key partners in BiH depend on the active collaboration of all actors together. The huge amount of useful information, which were collected during the conferences and bilateral meetings is very important and will be of great use for the creation and realisation process of the platform.
The main goal of i-dijaspora is to establish a platform to foster the cooperation between the BiH diaspora in Switzerland, but also with institutions in BiH. In cooperation with the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) i-dijaspora aims to integrate the diaspora into the development process of BiH and to strengthen the cooperation between Switzerland and BiH till the end of 2016.
At the beginning of 2016 the website of the platform will be accessible containing information about associations of the BiH diaspora in Switzerland and institutions and possible partners in BiH. News concerning current activities of the platform will also be published on the website.
Consultations in form of information events with associations and interested individuals of the BiH diaspora will take place in all regions of Switzerland from February till March 2016. The aim of this information and public events is to present the idea, tasks and services, which are provided by the platform, to potential members and partners of the platform.
During this process, there will start a formation of expert groups in the domains economy, culture and science/education. The organised meetings by the platform will provide to the experts the possibility to exchange information, knowledge and experience, but also to talk about concrete projects, which could be realised in the year of 2016.