Signed Agreement Between BHAAAS and the Office of the Sarajevo Canton Government for Diaspora Affairs Aimed at Strengthening Cooperation

Under the auspices of the Office of the Sarajevo Canton Government for Diaspora Affairs, an agreement was signed on the implementation of a project within the Program for Supporting Cooperation Projects and Strengthening Ties with the Diaspora and Countries of the Region in Sarajevo Canton for 2025. The purpose of the agreement is to strengthen institutional cooperation and connect the Bosnian and Herzegovinian diaspora with academic, scientific, and professional institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The beneficiary of the funds is the Bosnian-Herzegovinian American Academy of Arts and Sciences (BHAAAS).

The agreement was signed on behalf of the Office of the Sarajevo Canton Government for Diaspora Affairs by Emir Ibrahimagić, while the signatory on behalf of the BHAAAS Representative Office in Bosnia and Herzegovina was BHAAAS Project Manager Lejla Tahirović. On this occasion, the importance of continuous institutional support for the further development and long-term sustainability of the Academy’s programs was emphasized.

The support program is aimed at strengthening cooperation between the Bosnian and Herzegovinian diaspora, countries of the region, and Sarajevo Canton through the co-financing of activities of non-profit organizations in the fields of education, science, culture, sports, youth engagement, economy, and innovation. Within this program, BHAAAS continues to implement projects that connect experts from the diaspora with academic, scientific, and professional institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Earlier this year, the then President of BHAAAS, Dr. Adnan Begović, held a meeting with representatives of the Office of the Sarajevo Canton Government for Diaspora Affairs at the BHAAAS premises on the University of Sarajevo campus. During the meeting, discussions focused on improving cooperation and strengthening institutional support for programs that connect the Bosnian and Herzegovinian diaspora with domestic institutions. The conclusions of this meeting served as the basis for the subsequent formalization of cooperation through the signing of the agreement for 2025.

Representatives of the Office for Diaspora Affairs emphasized that BHAAAS represents one of the most significant organizations of the Bosnian and Herzegovinian diaspora and that cooperation with the Academy is viewed as a strategic direction in strengthening scientific and professional ties with Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The next steps in cooperation were also agreed upon, including support for knowledge transfer projects, the development of joint programs with universities, and increasing the visibility of the achievements of Bosnian and Herzegovinian professionals in the diaspora.