As part of a study visit per project Local economic development in BiH (LER BiH), which takes place from 16 to 20 September 2024, Rijeka hosted guests from 11 cities and municipalities in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Representatives of local communities, development agencies, business associations, non-governmental organizations and private companies operating in selected cities and municipalities visited the Rijeka Development Agency Porin and Torpedo Production Park. Topic of the visit, “Public-private dialogue and networking to more competitive local economies“, the importance of cooperation and innovation in fostering local economic development was highlighted, and the City of Rijeka and the Rijeka Development Agency Porin presented to the guests Rijeka’s engagement in promoting entrepreneurship, as well as some EU projects as examples of good practice.
LER I would is the first four-year phase of the program financed by the Government of Switzerland, implemented by the consortium Caritas Switzerland and Niras, and aims to strengthen local economic development in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Visit to the Rijeka Development Agency PORIN
Iva Ribarić, Senior Adviser – Economic and Promotion Coordinator from the Administrative Department for Economy, Development, Ecology and European Projects presented to the guests a general programme of measures to encourage the development of entrepreneurship in the territory of the city of Rijeka, which aims to create a favourable entrepreneurial environment to encourage small and medium-sized businesses at the local level. The remaining efforts of the City of Rijeka in strengthening the entrepreneurial ecosystem were also presented, including support to startups through the Startup Incubator of the City of Rijeka, innovative projects and cooperation with local entrepreneurs.
Nenad Antolović on behalf of the Rijeka Development Agency Porin presented the activities of this local entrepreneurial support institution that implements incubator programs in the sectors of service and production activities. Announcement of the upcoming opening Sinergane, a new incubator for creative industries and IT, which will house over 2,700 m² of usable space of the energy plant of the former paper factory, which will be available to entrepreneurs from 2025 along with educational programs, a network of mentors and other program activities in order to strengthen their innovation potential.
Optional tour of Rijeka
After the official part of the visit, the participants enjoyed an optional tour of the city of Rijeka. This tour enabled guests to get acquainted with the cultural and historical significance of the city and to see how Rijeka as a host contributes to the development and success of local initiatives.
The study visit to Rijeka provided valuable insights into effective strategies and practices that can serve as an inspiration for the further development of local economies in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and guests will return to Rijeka again on Thursday, September 19, when a tour of the revitalized cultural neighbourhood of Benčić will be organized for them, namely the Children's House and the Rijeka City Library, as part of the largest investment in cultural infrastructure in the history of Croatia.
