Summary of the round table „BH creative industries – Startup for creative entrepreneurs“

Centre for policy and governance, within its program „Road to recovery”, on 05/20/2014 organized the round table „BH creative industries – Startup for creative entrepreneurs“ in association with the first bosnian startup accelerator BIZOO, that comprehended opportunities and perspectives for self-employment and development in this sector. The necessity  for development of new policies for incenting „Startup“ in creative sector was presented, new sources for financing, and potentials that creativity, knowledge, new technologies and access to information may have on social and economic development and growth. Once more, the problems of employees in creative sector were presented, and the fact that government through support and assistance did not recognize the economic potential of creative industries as the fastest growing economy globally  through production of new values and job creation. The need for cluster and sector consociation was underlined as an opportunity for development of creative industries and possibility for creative entrepreneurs to engage in global projects.

Presenters:

Agnesa Šećerkadić, Centre for Policy and Governance

Edin Mehić, executive director of Kolektiv d.o.o.  and founder of the first bosnian startup accelerator BIZOO

Larisa Halilović, director of British Council in BiH

Creative entrepreneurs and employees, students of University of Sarajevo, representatives of Ministry of Culture and Sport of Canton Sarajevo, NESCO and other international organizations attended the round table.

The debate of the round table offered a set of recommendations for addressing the problems of creative entrepreneurs, and the role that legislative and executive government can have in process of development of venture capital market and obtaining the desired effect . Through debate the participants presented a set of key questions such as high contributions on wages, administrative problems for export, lack of subsidies and other forms of financial support, and functional problems for access to foreign markets and distribution of goods and services. The participants concluded that government should shift its focus on strengthening entrepreneurship and development of small and medium enterprises, and the need for expert associations to establish cooperation with government institutions.
Representatives of the private sector expressed their interest for collaboration with Centre for policy and governance as an institution able to bridge barriers between public and private sector and offer strategic approach to development of entrepreneurship in BiH.