RETURN OF PEOPLE FROM ABROAD - A MAJOR DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY

LAKTAŠI, NOVEMBER 5 /SRNA/ - The return of people who have moved abroad to acquire new knowledge, experience and capital could represent a major development opportunity for Republika Srpska, and it is therefore necessary to create conditions that would make the decision to return both realistic and sustainable, participants at the Back to Srpska 2.0 Conference in Laktaši said today.

Goran Vujaković, president of the Citizens' Association Evolvis, which organised the conference, pointed out that migration does not have to be a one-way process.

"Our focus is on highly qualified, highly educated and professionally active people who live and work abroad and are considering returning to Republika Srpska. We want to provide them with clear access to relevant and reliable information," Vujaković told reporters ahead of the conference.

He said that the data showed that people had already begun returning to Republika Srpska from abroad, adding that this could be seen in school enrolment figures.

"People who have returned to Republika Srpska will provide us with answers about the challenges they faced in the process. They are a real example showing that returning is possible for those who are considering it," Vujaković said.

Goran Vučić, Assistant Minister for European Integration and International Cooperation of Republika Srpska, said that the ministry supported these activities, which aim to connect people who have moved abroad, the knowledge they have acquired, and the opportunities available in Republika Srpska.

He said that, as part of the project, a podcast titled Back to Srpska with Saša Čađo had been produced, featuring people who had decided to return to Republika Srpska after living and working abroad.

"We have already recorded 16 episodes, and we aim to show that returning is a step forward, not a step backward. Today's conference is an opportunity to bring this issue to the forefront and use positive examples to show that returning is possible," Vučić said.

Laktaši Mayor Miroslav Bojić stressed that the town was an example of a growing number of people choosing to return from abroad.

"According to the available indicators, more people have returned to Laktaši than have left for abroad, which shows that we have created an environment in this town, as well as in Republika Srpska, that encourages people to make the decision to return," Bojić said.

He said that more than BAM 600 million had been invested in the Laktaši economy since he took office as mayor and that he planned to continue in the same direction.

"I will put on hold my mandate as a member of the BiH House of Representatives, which I won in the general elections, and remain committed to developing my town," Bojić said.