Bit Alliance and RECONOMY Program: A new partnership for the improvement of the gaming industry in Bosnia and Herzegovina

12.06.2024.

During the previous week, Bit Alliance signed a partnership agreement with the RECONOMY program to offer its work and advocacy platform to the gaming industry and encourage its expansion efforts. RECONOMY will support Bit Alliance in various areas, including market mapping and positioning, advocacy initiatives for the gaming sector, and promotion of the gaming industry among youth, government bodies, educational institutions and organizations. The strengthening of ecosystem actors and their regional cooperation aim to raise the gaming industry to a higher level in the region, creating a robust ecosystem that supports sustainable growth and job creation.

The agreement was signed by Damir Maglajlić, executive director of Bit Alliance and Almin Adžović, head of the HELP office for BiH. The signing of the agreement was also attended by Dinka Majanović, RECONOMY project manager for digitization in BiH.

"The gaming industry has enormous potential for economic growth and the creation of new jobs, especially among young people. Bit Alliance, which has been a leader in the improvement of the IT industry in Bosnia and Herzegovina for a decade, now has the opportunity to transfer its expertise and dedication to the gaming sector. Our organization is known for its commitment and leadership in the development of technological innovations, and through this partnership with the RECONOMY program we will make significant efforts to advance the gaming industry. We will work together to strengthen ecosystem actors and improve regional cooperation, with the aim of raising gaming industry to a higher level. We believe that this initiative will bring significant benefits to our community and industry, and create a solid foundation for long-term development and competitiveness." - said Maglajlić.

Video games are complex products with a combination of technical (hardware and software) and creative elements.

"Young people in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Western Balkans need innovative, modern and well-paid jobs in order to grow, develop, follow global trends, but also stay in their countries. The IT sector as well as the gaming sector have the potential to offer such jobs to young people. With Bit Alliance, we have recognized this opportunity and will work on the promotion of the gaming sector to ensure new investments, support programs and development," said Majanović.

"Help BiH is proud of the cooperation with Bit Alliance through the RECONOMY Program and we look forward to joint efforts to contribute to the growth and development of the gaming sector and the creation of new modern jobs in BiH and the region," said Adžović.

The RECONOMY Program has established partnerships with key market and ecosystem actors from the gaming sector throughout the Western Balkans and beyond, including cooperation with the Serbian Gaming Association and the network of market actors in North Macedonia. The goal is to stimulate the growth of the industry and create new jobs for young people. This initiative includes strategic efforts in the organization and promotion of the gaming sector and its career paths, as well as the improvement of regional cooperation to encourage the growth of the sector.

RECONOMY is a regional inclusive and green economic development program of the Swedish International Development Agency (Sida), implemented by Helvetas Schweiz Intercooperation in partnership with Help – Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe e.V. BH and others in the Eastern Partnership and the Western Balkans.

According to the EU Study on the European video game sector, data from 2023 shows that the video game industry is a significant economic sector. The video game market in the EU27 achieved a revenue of 23.48 billion euros in 2022. The sector employs about 74,000 people within 5,000 studios for game development and publishing, but faces challenges, such as financial and difficulties in hiring and finding the necessary skills.o su financijski te, poteškoće pri zapošljavanju i pronalaženju potrebnih veština.