A Zenica-based company for processing of laminated materials, Pero, has invested in more appropriate vehicles and elevated the floor of its storage in order to prepare themselves for possible floods more properly. This is to avoid any future damages by floods, as the company was affected by the catastrophic floods in 2014.
Pero is just one of 93 companies across Bosnia and Herzegovina that expand their product assortment, conquer new markets and open new jobs thanks to the joint EU and German Government EUR 13 million worth Programme – ProLocal.
Strengthening flood resilience of SMEs is also one of the goals of the programme – it was highlighted during the roundtable “Are companies in BiH flood resilient?” held in Zenica on 17 April, as a part of the ProLocal programme, financed by the EU (EUR 9 million) and German Government (EUR 4 million) and implemented by GIZ.
The roundtable was the opportunity for companies to analyse progress made in the flood prevention as well as future challenges together with Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation to BiH Melvin Asin and GIZ Country Director Brigitte Heuel-Rolf.
Asin reminded that within the Programme, nearly EUR 1 million has been allocated to the companies affected by the floods in 2014.
“These SMEs have exceeded the level of business they have had before the floods, because they have introduced business innovations. As a result, around 90 jobs were created, and they recorded 20% increase in sales and 14% increase in export“, said Asin.
GIZ Country Director Heuel-Rolf said that the programme was launched when companies were already exhausted from the recovery efforts.
“The Programme’s advisory and financial support has enabled those companies to strengthen their competitiveness. To make the achieved progress sustainable, undertaking of adequate flood-prevention measures is of the key importance”, said Heuel-Rolf.
Flood Prevention and Response Guidance for SMEs in BiH which was presented at the roundtable. It can be regarded as a useful resource for practical measures to prevent or mitigate damages caused by floods. It also provides a set of stickers with instructions on the key actions in the event of floods.
Based on it, EU PRoLocal will start the process of consultation on the flood prevention measures of other Programme beneficiary companies.
To sustain and enhance the progress, the EU continues to support both the floods protection and strengthening of competitiveness of SMEs. The EU support to the SMEs in BiH has reached EUR 70 million with the recently started Local Development Strategies Programme, which will support export oriented sectors, tourism and agro-rural development in the next 4 years.
