01.09.2010 - Networking of Partners from BiH and Croatia

NERDA took part in the partnership meeting held in Karlovac 01 September 2010, hosted by the Karlovac County Development Agency. The purpose of the meeting was to initiate creation of network of partners from BiH and Croatia and ensure conditions for development of joint projects that could qualify for both Cross-Border Cooperation Programmes and other donnor programmes (CfPs). Besides representatives of Karlovac County Develooment Agency and NERDA, the meeting was attended by representatives of Karlovac County Government, Sisak-Moslovina Development Agency, and PLOD Centar from Bihać. This initial meeting will be followed by signing of Cooperation Agreement among the respective Agencies.

10.08.2010 - NERDA at the Tuzla Canton Government session

The Government of Tuzla Canton was in its 136th regular session today. Information on activities realized by Development Association NERDA in the past year was on the agenda of the session and it was completely adopted by the Government. Members of the Government exspressed their satisfaction with the successes and results of NERDA. The Director of NERDA joined the Government members at a press conference that followed.

02.08.2010 - Sida representatives visited NERDA

Representatvies of Swedish Agency for International Development and Cooperation Sida were hosted by NERDA today and also made few visits in the area of Gračanica. Apart from meeting with the staff managing NERDAs subregional offices, the guests from Sida visited two companies, beneficiaries of the CREDO Development Fund: Bema Ba from Gračanica and Furnir Fix from Doboj Istok. A meeting with Gračanica Municipalitiy officials also took place, as this municipality is another beneficiary of the Development Fund and has been successfully cooperating with NERDA over the past few years.

06.07.2010 - Protect Your Business: Benefits of intellectual property rights

On 06 July 2010 NERDA and USAID funded project Intelectual Property Rights (IPR) held a counselling session "Protect Your Business: Benefits of intellectual property rights". The objective of this session was to initiate dialogue on benefits and importance of intellectual property in the view of economic development as well as to define possibilities of networking between businesses and communication between businesses and education/research institutions related to intellectual property. The attendees of the session also learned about novelties in BiH legislation regarding industrial property right.

25.06.2010 - XXXI session of the NERDA Management Board

The 31st regular session of the NERDA Management Board took place in Tuzla on 25 June 2010. The Board was thoroughly informed of the activities implemented between the 30th and the 31st session (March-June). The Board was also informed of the new projects/contracts, namely with the FIRMA Consortium and with Sida for realization of the CREDO Herzegovina project.

24.06.2010 - Session of the Regional Board for metal-processing industry

Regional Board for metal-processing industry in NE BiH held the third session in 2010, on 24 June. The meeting took place in company ALPRO from Vlasenica. Local expert presented the website for NE BiH metal processing sector as well as sort of expected feedback from the Board members. The Board also agreed to have a study visit to Slovenia in September 2010.

24.06.2010 - Round table in ALPRO Company

As part of CREDO Project the company Alpro A.D. from Vlasenica hosted the round table on Quality Assurance on 24th of June. This activity is included in the project component “Raising awareness about Quality Assurance in SMEs in NE BiH”. The invitees were representatives from SMEs from metal processing industry as well as members of the Regional Board for metal processing industry. ALPRO Staff presented their experience in implementation of the system of quality assurance and gave recommendations about benefits from having such system.The participants had an opportunity to visit production site of Alpro.

23.06.2010 - Initial meeting on the Wood Testing and Quality Control Infrastructure held in GIT Tuzla

The initial round table devoted to the issues related to the wood testing and wood products quality infrastructure in BiH was held at the Tuzla Institute for Construction and Construction Materials on June 23, 2010. The event was organized under CREDO Project and it was attended by representatives from the Institute for Accreditation of BiH, Federal Ministry of Energy, Mining and Industry, JP Šume TK Kladanj, Regional Wood Processing Industry Board and NERDA.

17.06.2010 - NERDA at Novi Sad Conference

„Inter-municipal cooperation – best paractice“ conference was held in Novi Sad today and NERDA representative was one of the speakers. The purpose of this conference, organized by Vojvodina Regional Secretariat for Local Self-Governance and Inter-Municipal Cooperation, was to underline the importance of inter-municipal cooperation in different areas aimed at economic growth through various legal and institutional models and instruments. The presentation given by NERDA representative that outlined the North-East BiH experience received great attention and many contacts for future cooperation were made.

09.06.2010 - NERDA hosted "Regional Competitiveness" event in Tuzla

Today in Tuzla NERDA hosted a Regional Competitiveness event that brought together large number of representatives from local and higher instances of governments, as well as businessmen from the region. Keynote speakers were distinguished experts: Mrs. Jelica Minić, Deputy Secretary general, Regional Cooperation Counicl (RCC) for South-East Europe, and Mrs. Valentina Ivanić, Director of Centre for Strategic Economic Studies, Vojvodina, who presented regional initiatives of the RCC, and the Vojvodina Economy Competitiveness study. Some of the conclusions from todays meeting were that competitiveness of comapnies is the only real competitiveness, and therefore capacity building of businessmen and company managers to create development policies is called for. The participants evaluated this event as highly professional and responsive to real needs.

07.06.2010 - PADOR Workshop in NERDA

Following its mission to provide direct technical assistance to Municipalities and on the basis of interest expressed by local authorities in the NE BiH region, Development Association NERDA organised the workshop on 07.06.2010. for civil servants in order to present and elaborate the registration procedure in PADOR (Potential Applicants Data On-line Registration) database. As a follow-up to this workshop, NERDA will continue to provide direct support to municipal representatives in development of their absorption capacities.

03.06.2010 - Regional Board for Wood-Processing Industry of NE BiH in session

On June 3, Regional Board for Wood-Processing Industry of NE BiH held the 2nd session in 2010 cycle. The session took place in NERDA premises and the Board discussed the current situation in the sector as well as tasks and activities to be implemented in the next 3-month-period, such as identification of Reference Centers and preparation of wood testing and control initial round table.

31.05.2010 - Fair "Days of Berries" in Čelić

In the period 27-29 May 2010 NERDA took part in the Economy Fair "Days of Berries" in Čelić. Besides participation in exhibition part of the Fair, NERDA attended the expert session at the Fair and presented the brochure "Protection of Autochthonous Food Products".

26.05.2010 - Regional Economic Development Board in Šekovići

The third session of the Board for Regional Economic Development took place in Šekovići on 26 May 2010. The Board discussed the April study visit and lessons learned, while they later on agred on the dynamics for realization of the Board activitis in 2010, with the focus on integration of economic development stakeholders and capacity building of municipalities.

20.05.2010 - Regional Board for Metal processing Industry meeting

Regional Board for metal-processing Industry in NE BiH held the 2nd session in 2010, on 20th May. New Board members were introduced at the beginning of the meeting, and the draft structure of the website related to metal-processing industry was also presented. Potential study visit locations for autumn of 2010 were also discussed. NERDA informed the Board members about current activities within FIRMA project that NERDA closely cooperates with.

13.05.2010 - 9th session of NERDA Assembly

On 13.05.2010. the 9th regular session of the Assembly of Development Association NERDA was held in Tuzla with the aim of informing its members, as well as the other actors in the process of regional economic development, on results achieved over the past year. The Annual Report on the work of NERDA Management Board, and the Annual Narrative and Financial Report of the Development Association NERDA were presented and adopted at this session. In addition, Mr. Senad Subašić was re-elected as the president of the Assembly.

06.05.2010 - Signing of Agreement with FIRMA Project

On the 6th of May, the Development Association NERDA and FIRMA Project signed the Agreement for the realization of project activities aimed at development of SMEs. The Project is financed by USAID (American agency for international development) and Sida (Swedish international development cooperation agency) and will be implemented in the next five years in the BiH. Together with the project team of FIRMA consortium, NERDA will implement project activities in the wood processing and light manufacturing /metal processing industry (automotive parts and aluminium joinery) in the North-East BiH.

27.04.2010 - Preparatory meeting related to the FCS Certification Conference

On April 27, 2010 NERDA organized and hosted the preparatory meeting for the FSC Certification Conference to be held mid May in Sarajevo, under the auspices of FIRMA project. The meeting was held in attendance of the main actors from the Tuzla Canton forestry sector: Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Waters, Cantonal Forestry Management and JP Šume TK Kladanj, and FIRMA and NERDA representatives. The main aim of the meeting was to raise awareness and initiate joint approach of the Cantonal stakeholders in the light of planned Conference.

09.04.2010 - Study Visit to Slovenia

The Board for Regional Economic Development that has been established by NERDA within CREDO project was in a study visit to Slovenia from 5 to 8 April 2010. The host of the visit was Kozjansko Development Agency seated in Šentjur, while the Board members also visited Chamber of Crafts in Slvoenske Konjice, the Municipality of Slovenske Konjice, Employment Bureau and Regional Chamber of Commerce in Celje, Entrepreneurial Incubators in Šentjur and Rogaška Slatina. This study visit was an opportunity for the Board members to exchange experience with Slovenian hosts, and also to acquire knowledge on absorption of EU funds, support to entrepreneurship, and actions to increase employment rate.

08.04.2010 - NERDA at GRAPOS-EXPO Fair

The first International Fair of Entrepreneurship and Trade GRAPOS-EXPO is taking place in Gračanica from 7 to 10 April 2010. NERDA has actively participated in the Fair both by providing assistance ot the organizers in preparation phase, and now as an active participant and exhibitor at the Fair. In the thematic session „Entrepreneurship and Competitiveness“ NERDA presented the results of CREDO project and Development Fund, while the members of NERDA Regional Sectoral Boards were presenters in sessions "Metal Processing - Opportunities and Threats" and "Agriculture and Food Industry".

26.03.2010 - NERDA Management Board held the 30th regular session

On 26 March 2010 the Management Board of NERDA held its 30th regular session in Tuzla. The Board in full capacity and unanimously adopted the NERDA Activities Report and Financial Report for 2009, with compliments paid to the NERDA Team for great results achieved during the previous year. The Board was also informed of the current activities of NERDA, particularly of the plans for new projects. Together with the NERDA Assembly President the Board discussed the next Assembly session that is scheduled for May 2010.

22.03.2010 - Visit to Furniture Fair INTERIO 2010, Sarajevo

Upon the invitation of the organizers – Foreign Trade Chamber of BiH, Wood Industry Group, Ecos Education Institute and Sarajevo Fair Skenderija Center, NERDA representatives attended the seminar devoted to novelties in the forestry and wood processing industry, organized within the Sarajevo Furniture Fair INTERIO 2010 on Friday 19 March 2010. The seminar covered the topics such as: new business environment with focus on characteristics of the market of the certified forestry and wood processing, simplified customs procedures, CE marking; new technologies, new trends in furniture design, etc. This was also an opportunity for NERDA to visit the booths of the NE BiH CREDO wood-processing companies, and to establish contacts with other companies from NE BiH.

19.03.2010 - Contracts signing ceremony

On the 19th of March 2010 NERDA hosted a ceremony of contract signing with the most successful applicants to the second public call for allocation of grants from the Development Fund, which was made available through the CREDO Project. The ceremony was attended by My. Anders Hedlund, Director of Swedish International Agency for Development and Cooperation in BiH (Sida BiH). Contracts were signed with 30 small and medium enterprises and 2 municipalities that successfully applied to the second public call for grant funds. Through two public calls NERDA signed contracts with 55 SMEs and 10 municipalities, and the total value of contracted projects is ca 5.555.000 KM, with the total value of grant funds in the amount of ca 1.835.000 KM. It is expected that by the end of 2010 all contracted project will have been completed with the creation of 156 new jobs, while 1800 existing jobs will have been sustained.

25.02.2010 - Round Table on cooperation of University and local communities

NERDA supported the organization of Round Table "Research and Technical Cooperation of Tuzla Unviersity and Local communities in the process of European Integrations", which took place on 25 February 2010 at the unviersity of Tuzla. The main goal of this Round Table was to initiate dialogue between local communities (Tuzla Canton municipalities), Tuzla Canton Government, University, non-governmental organizations, business community and other stakeholders as potential beneficiaries of donor and national funds. NERDA presented its best practice in development and implementation of projects. During the discussion the participants agreed on formation of netwrok of Tuzla Canton stakeholders.

19.02.2010 - Presentation of NERDA and FARMA Project

On 19 February 2010, Zvornik hosted a presentation of NERDA Development Association and FARMA Project. The presentation was organized for representatives of farmers associations, agriculture cooperatives, and individual farmers from Birač sub-region. NERDA informed the audience of its activities aimed at the agriculture sector, with the focus on food industry, which is one of the priority industrial sectors supported through Sida funded project CREDO. Representatives of FARMA Project, funded by USAID and Sida, presented their program for development of agriculture and processing sectors, aimed at improving competitiveness of BiH agricultural producers and agricultural businesses. Next week the same joint presentation will be held in Brčko, Bijeljina, Orašje and Tuzla.

19.01.2010 - Regional Economic Development Board in Session

Regional Economic Development Board held the second session on 19 January 2010 in Tuzla. The Board outlined the structure of Action Plan for 2010 and identified four priority areas: 1. Human Resources Development through cooperation of SMEs, education system and labor market. ; 2. Continuous cooperation of municipalities and local businesses; 3. Financing of development initatives/projects, and 4. Rural Development. For each of the four areas the Board definied activities that it will initiate and/or realize together with NERDA and other regional sectoral boards durign the year of 2010.

28.12.2009 - Round table on "Creation of effective cooperation between metal-processing companies and scientific-research institutions"

NERDA hosted a round table on "Creation of effective cooperation between metal-processing companies and scientific-research institutions” in Tuzla on 28 December 2009, as part of CREDO project activities. The Round table participants were representatives of scientific-research institutions and SMEs from metal-processing sector. The aim of this Round table was to analyze the current situation and propose future activities and ways to support effective cooperation between the respective small and medium enterprises and scientific research institutions in North-East Bosnia and Herzegovina.

15.12.2009 - NERDA Assembly held 8th session

NERDA Assembly held the 8th regular session on Monday 14th December 2009. The Assembly session was attended by majority of members who took active part in discussion and adopted NERDA Annual Report, Financial Report, and Management Board Annual Report for the previous year. Information on realised activities in 2009 and plans for the future, biannual period were also presented. NERDA Director, Mr. Enes Drljević, emphasised that 2009 was very successful year for the operation of NERDA and new projects should confirm results up to date.

07.12.2009 - Second round of the Improve Your Business training programme

In the year of 2009 NERDA continued with organizing the training programme Improve Your Business. The second module of the training programme took place 3-5 December 2009 and the attendees of the second round are not only companies from North-East BiH, but from other parts of BiH too. The second module was marketing and the attendees were joined by representatives of NERDA, who shared their experience with the Improve Your Business programme and those with marketing actions.

04.12.2009 - NERDA at the International Economic Fair in Brčko

As part of the Brčko 2009 International Economic Fair Program, which was organized by Brčko District Chamber of Commerce, NERDA held a presentation of its key projects and results on 04 December 2009. The presentation was focused on SME development instruments, such as Guarantee Fund and Development Fund, as well as on other activities aimed at capacity building of SMEs and municipalities in NE BiH.

26.11.2009 - Press Conference in Bijeljina

Today in Bijeljina NERDA held a press conference and presented its key development projects and results achieved over the past years. The media representatives were addressed by NERDA Management Board President, Mr. Svetislav Stevanović, and by NERDA Director and staff members. Special attention was paid to the SME development instruments, such as Guarantee Fund and Development Fund, as well as to other activities aimed at capacity building of municipalities in NE BiH. The support of Bijeljina Municipality was underlined as very important for successful functioning of NERDA Office in Bijeljina.

16.11.2009 - New Project

Late October 2009, NERDA signed a service contract with the European Commission, Directorate General for Information Society and Media, to conduct a six-month-study – RTD Technological Audit of ICT capacities in Bosnia and Herzegovina (ENTIK BiH). The goal is to evaluate and increase participation of entities from Bosnia and Herzegovina in the EU 7th Framework Programme (FP 7) as well as to initiate participation of BiH researchers in ERA – European Reserach Area. On 13 November 2009 the project kick-off meeting was held in order to define details of all project activities.

06.11.2009 - NERDA in International Conference "Competitiveness of the Regions"

NERDA Development Association participated in the 2nd International Conference "Competitiveness of the Regions" organized on 5 and 6 November 2009 in Novi Sad and hosted by the Centre for Strategic Economic Studies "Vojvodina CESS" of the Executive Council of Vojvodina. The conference was prepared in cooperation with the Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies - WIIW and the Institute for Advanced Studies - IHS from Vienna and under the auspices of the Austrian Development Agency - ADA in the framework of the project "Strategic Partnership in Support of the Integrated Regional Development Plan of AP Vojvodina". The conference gave an opportunity for the presentation of good practices from surrounding countries (Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Hungary, Austria, etc.) and it pointed out the models, instruments and policies that Vojvodina has at disposal in the process of creating competitive advantage.

05.11.2009 - Study visit of Regional Board for industry of plastics and tools

Regional Board for industry of plastics and tools participated in a study visit to Slovenia from 02 to 04 November 2009. Goals of this visit were to establish contacts, and to exchange experience in the field of application of modern technologies, specialization and linking with leading companies and institutions from the sector of plastic and tools from Slovenia. Board members visited Alatnica Gorenje in Velenje, TECOS (Center for Tools Development Slovenia) and Cluster of plastic producers of Slovenia in Celje. Best practices from Slovenia were presented together with challenges and problems that Slovenian hosts were faced with. This was a good bassis for the Board members to better plan their future actions in the sector of plastic and tools in NEBiH.

28.10.2009 - Signing of the Protocol of Cooperation

Protocol of Cooperation was signed today in Zvornik Municipality, and it will serve as the basis for elaboration of the Agriculture Development Program for municipalities of: Zvornik, Osmaci, Bratunac, Srebrenica, Milići, Vlasenica, Sapna and Šekovići. The Protocol will be signed by the aforementioned municipalities and NERDA Development Association, Association ofr Sustainable Return in Podrinje and Federal Department for Agriculture. The main objective of elaboration of this Program is the analysis of the current situation in agriculture, definition of production opportunities, and identification of primary production for each municipality. NERDA will take active part in the elaboration of the Program and will provide technical assistance to other partners.

27.10.2009 - Quality Assurance Round Table

As part of the CREDO project “Herceg” Company from Srebrenik hosted a round table on Quality Assurance on 27.10.2009. This round table was realised within one of the CREDO project components. Participants came from metal-processing SMEs and from the Regional Board for Metal-Processing Sector. “Herceg” Managers presented their experience in the introduction of Quality Assurance system and gave recommendations and views on the benefits of this System. This was an opportunity for quality discussion, while the participants also had a guided tour of the Herceg Company and facilities.

26.10.2009 - NERDA Management Board in session

On the 26th of October in Tuzla the Management Board of NERDA held its 29th regular session in full capacity and with presence of NERDA Assembly President. The Director informed them of the activities and achievements of NERDA in the previous months and submitted progress reports on NERDA projects. The Board also expressed their appreciation for continuous efforts of NERDA to apply for new projects aimed at creating a more favorable business environment and capacity building of NERDA. Therefore the Board recommended that NERDA organizes press conferences in major towns of the Region and bring the results and successes of NERDA closer to the public.

09.10.2009 - NERDA signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with Varaždin County Agency AZRA

On October 9, 2009 in Varaždin, NERDA signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with the Varaždin County Development Agency "AZRA". Signing of the Memorandum of Cooperation is the result of successful cooperation established so far and it defines the scope and content of the mutual cooperation that will be focused on the business cooperation through the following: enhancement and establishment of cross-border partnership network aimed at creation of better business environment and regional competitiveness; transfer of know-how; exchange of best practices in entrepreneurial and free business zones, business incubators and technological parks, clusters, etc. By signing this Memorandum NERDA extended the network of its regional partners.

06.10.2009 - Presentation of ACInD studies u Tuzli

TOday in Tuzla NERDA presented two feasibility studies: Technological park for energy and ecology Tuzla and Standards and certification - environment protection in Power plant Tuzla. Over the past two years NERDA, as one of the project partners, participated in implementation of ACInD project (Adriatic Cooperation for Industrial Development) co-funded by the European Commission. With participation of various partners this project was realised in Italy, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia and Albania. One of the project resulst was development of these two feasibility studies. The first study is related to possibilities of opening of a Technological park for energy and ecology Tuzla, while the other tretas the application of European standards and certificates in Power plant Tuzla with the aim at environment protection and reduction of air pollution.

04.10.2009 - Study visit of the Regional Wood Board of NE BiH to Croatia, September

In line to the 2009 Plan of Activities and decision from the Third Board session held end of August 2009, the Regional Board for Wood Processing Industry of NE BiH carried out the two-days study visit to Croatia in period September 30-October 1, 2009. During the first day of the study tour, visits to the Euroinspekt –Drvokontrola Laboratory for testing and quality of forests and wood products in Slavonski Brond and furniture factory DD Spin Valis in Požega were carried out. The second day, wood board had a meeting with the Wood Cluster of North-west Croatia seated in Varaždin, reception in the Varaždinska županija Hall and visit to the wood processing company Hrast export Puklovec. The study tour , in which 7 out of 10 members of Regional wood board took part, is highly evaluated by the participants and presents valuable input for the future activities of the Board.

24.09.2009 - Forum of Integrated Economic Development in Tuzla

NERDA and Swedish Agency for International Development and Cooperation (Sida), under the auspices of the Embassy of Sweden to BiH organized the Forum of Integrated Economic Development in Tuzla. Over 150 stakeholders of LED and RED from the country and wider Region took part in the Forum. Besides the introductory speeches by Swedish Ambassador in BiH, Tuzla Canton Prime Minister, and Tuzla Mayor, the presentations were also given by distinguished professors, Mayor of Koprivnica, Director of Center for Strategic Economic Studies from Novi Sad and many other guests. Forum participants adopted the Integrated Economic Development Declaration, which, among other things, underlined the importance of integrated approach to RED, regional cooperation in SE Europe, and the significance of coordination among local and international actors in design of economic development and support programs. The participants also stressed the need to have more similar events organized by NERDA.

25.12.2008 - NERDA Ensured a Development Fund for Municipalities and SMEs

On 19 December 2008 NERDA signed the contract with Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency Sida to continue the realization of activities within CREDO Project - Competitive Regional Economic Development in NE BiH. The second phase of CREDO will be implemented in the next two years, during which cca. 1 mil € will be allocated for support to SMEs and municipalities in North-East BiH. The funds will be disbursed through Development Fund according to criteria which will be defined, aiming at job creation and sustaining the existing ones. Assistance to municipalities in NE BiH will be directed at creation of a more favorable business environment.

23.12.2008 - Partner Search Forum in Bijeljina

On 23 December 2008, in cooperation with the Directorate for European Integration in BiH and with the support of the EU Project EU CORIN, NERDA organized a Partner Search Forum for potential projects within the IPA Cross Border Program BiH-Srbija. The Forum was attended by some 150 representatives of local authorities and other potential applicants from both sides of the border. The Forum was organized in a form of a fair and all participants had a chance to present their organization/institution as well as their cross-border project ideas. The BiH areas eligible for this specific program are two economic regions, North-East and Sarajevo region, while on the Serbian side eligible are the counties of Srem, Mačva, Zlatibor and Kolubara. The Call for Proposals is being prepared and is expected to be launched in early 2009.

26.09.2008 - Swedish Ambassador Visited NERDA

Development Association NERDA was a host to the newly appointed Ambassodor of Sweden to BiH, H.E. Bosse Hedberg, who was accompanied by Mr. Nedim Bukvić, the National Programme Officer of Swedish Agency for International Development and Cooperation (Sida) in BiH. The visit was an opportunity to present activities of NERDA in the context of the regional economic development in the North-East BiH, focusing on Sida funded CREDO project. The Delegation then met the Mayor of Tuzla, Mr. Jasmin Imamović.