Dijaspora može pomoći IT sektoru da doprinese zajednici

Sarajevo, 11. October 2024.

The USAID project "Diaspora Invest" and Bit Alijasna have successfully concluded the six-month educational program of the DiaLab Academy for Business and Social Impact, which is part of the broader activities of strengthening cooperation between the Bosnian diaspora and local companies on the transfer of good management practices and cooperation with the community in which they operate. The final meeting in Trebević was an opportunity to reflect on the positive initiatives of IT companies, but also on the possibilities of cooperation with emigration.

"With the completion of this year's DiaLab - Business and Social Impact Academy program, we have taken another important step towards strengthening cooperation between the BiH diaspora and the local IT industry. This project has clearly shown that the diaspora is not only a source of knowledge, but also a key force that enables us to be competitive on the global market. Bit Alliance will continue with initiatives that enable long-term connection and development, with a focus on creating sustainable and strategic programs that will ensure the continuous growth of the IT sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina," said Damir Maglajlić, director of Bit Alliances.

At the event, certificates for successful participation in the Academy were awarded to employees of the companies AtlantBH, Authority Partners, Academy387, IDEA Software, Klika, Kodeks, Orka, Rubicon, Shop Cirlce BH and Walter Code. Armin Alijagić from the association "Naša perspektiva" spoke about the DiaLab network itself, which gathers organizations from all over the country.

"DiaLab Social Impact Network was created as an initiative that brings together a large number of organizations that work to stimulate the diaspora to influence social and economic progress in BiH. The initiative for this Academy, which is supported by USAID through the "Diaspora Invest" project, was born from that network. The IT sector really brings together socially responsible companies, and today's gathering is proof of that. Lecturers from the diaspora have been sharing their knowledge and practices for several months, and it is clear that the Academy really means a lot to companies and attendees. In light of the recent tragic events and floods, we recognize how important it is that we all contribute to the community. That we are a support and make a difference. We can count on our diaspora," said Alijagić.

Also, the need to organize self-sustaining and continuous programs that would ensure a lasting impact on the IT sector and beyond was emphasized. One-time activities, no matter how useful, will not bring long-term changes, so the key is in creating initiatives that can pool resources and expertise to have a wider and more lasting effect on social and economic development.

"The diaspora played a key role in the opening of Western markets for Bosnia and Herzegovina, which was crucial for the development of the IT industry. Our people established contacts abroad, enabling our industry to become competitive on a global level. We have a base of experts, hardworking people and a work ethic shaped by Western standards, which allowed us to very quickly meet the demands of the market. The opening of these opportunities significantly accelerated the development of the IT sector. However, now it is up to us to further develop these opportunities and send clear signals towards the diaspora. It is necessary to consolidate initiatives in order to achieve a significant effect, and to organize self-sustaining and continuous programs that will ensure a lasting impact on the industry. Our cooperation with the diaspora must be long-term, structured and strategic, in order to use all the potential it provides." - said Amina Karić, vice president of operations at Authority Partners and president of Bit Alliance's Board of Directors.

Through the project DiaLab - Business and Social Impact Academy, participants gained new knowledge and experience through mentoring, workshops and direct cooperation with experts from the diaspora, which opened up new opportunities for future projects and networking.

"My experience with this project was extremely positive. When I look back on the past four months, we went through a number of important topics and had the opportunity to exchange valuable experiences with experts from the diaspora. Their approach to education was precisely adapted to the needs of our market, and the support they provided, through lectures and mentoring, was continuous and valuable. I look forward to the continuation of such initiatives, because they are of key importance for the further development of our market," said Mirela Čeljo, head of the KODEKS company.

"I am grateful to Bit Alliance and USAID for recognizing the importance of this opportunity, where we had the opportunity to improve our knowledge together with experts from the diaspora and colleagues from the industry, expand our horizons and exchange valuable experiences. Such initiatives have an invaluable impact on our professional development and on the further progress of the IT sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina," said Sara Avdagić on behalf of the Atlantbh company.