RECONSTRUCTION OF BOSNIA&HERZEGOVINA ECONOMY

CONSTRUCTION WORKERS ON THE GO

The program of reconstruction of the "Bosna" Construction Enterprise which does nor differ much from various similar programs of other B&H firms, includes three basic issues - physical repair and putting into operation of the construction machinery, provision of working capital, and renewal of personnel. The first construction workers are already on their way to Mostar with the aim to start reconstruction of the city.

AIM, Sarajevo, June 5, 1994

Unofficial data report that the war in B&H devastated up to 80 per cent of the economy in Bosnia-Herzegovina. The few firms which managed to continue operation during the war, adapted their reduced production facilities to the war conditions, producing only the basic needs for defense of the country. Food processing firms were reduced down to satisfying the humanitarian needs of the citizens, and service industries are just trying to move from the deadlock the frentic war had thrown them down to. Although enormous sums of money are promised for the reconstruction of the B&H economy among the international circles, its future will nevertheless depend primarily on the deals it will do and the profit it will make. The domestic public was recently informed about an exceptional successful business result of the "Bosna" Construction Enterprise which raises hopes in the possibility of faster reconstruction of the economy of Bosnia&Herzegovina.

Namely, through a contract signed in the end of March, "Bosna" Construction Enterprise took on 15 million dollar worth construction works in Libya. Construction workers of this firm will build facilities of the Plastic Surgery Hospital in Tripoli, and together with "Hidromontaza" from Maribor, they will construct installations for water-supply of cement works in Suki Hamis. A new contract of equal value will be signed in the next few days, for reconstruction of hospitals in Tripoli, Tarhuna, Msalat, Bany Walidu and Strit. The undertaken works should be completed until the end of this and in the course of next year, which will enable "Bosna" to maintain its foreign currency rating which, for almost three decades, amounted to 18 to 120 million dollars annully for construction works abroad.

General Director of "Bosna", Abdulah Sehic, telling the story of the firm which is present in Libya for 27, Germany for 10, and Croatia for 25 years, says that the war and the destruction in the country significantly affected the scope of works of this enterprise. A big part of the workers are in the units of the Army of B&H, and 70 of them were killed defending their homeland. But, there are still abot 300 workers engaged at works outside the borders of B&H, mostly in Libya, and a part of them are in Zagreb where they are completng a housing facility worth 15 million German marks. In Germany they are using the so-called system of detached workers - "Bosna" has 60 permits, and they are not all used.

• We were offered directly by the Libyan Ministry of Health to carry out the reconstruction and take over maintenance of five more hospitals, and we accepted it. We will engage our own and the facilities of our cooperative firms in B&H. Conditions are created for our participation in construction of steel-works in Missurati, and the Libyan partners initiated foundation of a mixed enterprise in which we would participate with our expert personnel, and the partner with its machinery - Semic explains, adding that the idea was accepted.

But, whether "Bosna" will be able to make the most of the new opportunity will largely depend on its possibility to replace the personnel in Libya. The present team is working there for almost three years, separated from their families during the entire war. That is why, an attempt was made to reach an agreement with the B&H military authorities to reallocate a part of the fighters, workers of "Bosna" to work abroad. In this way, new energy would be engaged, but economic rehabilitation of a part of the employees of "Bosna" would also be provided for, i.e. the foreign currency income of the enterprise would be equally distributed.

Preparations and plans for peace and participation in the reconstruction of the country are also connected to the jobs abroad and their effects. The program of reconstruction of the enterprise itself anticipates repair of more than a half of "Bosna"'s equipment and its putting into operation by money earned abroad. War damage of only this one firm, which has managed to operate despite the war, is estimated to amount to over 16 million German marks, not counting the lost profit. It should be said that the rehabilitation program is implemented already for more than six months already. Three priority issues, which probably do not distinguish "Bosna" from other B&H firms, are physical repair and putting construction machinery into operation, provision of working capital, and renewal of personnel. The initial results, they claim, promise that all the three tasks will successfully be accomplished. With the existing facilities in Sarajevo (three), Zenica, Travnik and Vitez, establishment of a new one in Mostar is planned, and an agreement about it was already reached with the authorities there. The President of the Mostar district has already publicly declared that the first group of construction workers of "Bosna" is already on its way to Mostar from Sarajevo, with the task to work on the reconstruction of the city.

Obviously, all these people need is just a little peace to start to renew what the frantic hate of power hungry sick persons managed to ruin by war.

DRAZENA PERANIC