Banski Dvor Cultural Center hosted yesterday the ONEX Connect 2025, the first international business and innovation forum organized by the Consortium of the Enterprise Europe Network of the Republic of Srpska (EEN RS), which brought together around 200 representatives of institutions, businesses and innovation organizations from 12 countries of the region, Europe and the world.
The forum was dedicated to strengthening international partnerships, digital transformation, sustainable development and connecting domestic companies with European and global markets, with a special focus on bilateral B2B meetings between businesspeople from the Republic of Srpska and foreign companies.
The Minister of Economy and Entrepreneurship of the Republic of Srpska, Vojin Mitrović, officially opened the ONEX Connect 2025 international forum held in Banja Luka, which brought together prominent experts, innovators, entrepreneurs and representatives of institutions from the Republic of Srpska, the region and Europe.
The forum was organized in partnership with the institutions of the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) from the Western Balkans, thus once again confirming its role as a central place for connecting, exchanging knowledge and strengthening regional cooperation in the field of innovation and digital transformation.
Addressing the participants, the Minister noted the importance of such events for the development of entrepreneurship and competitiveness of the economy, emphasizing that forum topics – digital transformation, green transition, innovation and international partnerships – were fully aligned with the strategic priorities of the Ministry of Economy and Entrepreneurship.
The Minister recalled that the Ministry had allocated more than BAM 58 million in non-refundable support to over 800 business entities in the Republic of Srpska from 2022 to 2025, through programs aimed at procuring modern equipment and technologies, developing small and medium-sized enterprises, female entrepreneurship, increasing workers’ salaries, preserving old crafts, attracting investments, and organizing fairs and conferences. It was specifically announced that financial support for local self-government units was planned for 2026 with the aim of strengthening entrepreneurial infrastructure and improving business zones, which would further facilitate domestic and foreign investments.
The Minister expressed his confidence that the Enterprise Europe Network Consortium of the Republic of Srpska would be a strong partner in further development of the economy, and said that the Republic of Srpska was a place of progress, development and investment opportunities.
‘Development cannot be built in isolation, but through connections, trust and knowledge exchange. The Enterprise Europe Network has been providing strong support to small and medium-sized enterprises for years, and through EDIHs, this support is now gaining a new – digital, sustainable and international dimension,’ said Ćudić, Director of DIH ONEX and Coordinator of the Enterprise Europe Network of the Republic of Srpska, noting the importance of including the diaspora as a significant part of the regional innovation and business ecosystem.
The ONEX Connect 2025 program included three panel discussions dedicated to innovation and sustainability, digital transformation and the role of EDIHs in the region, as well as smart cities, a discussion on the Enterprise Europe Network with coordinators from the countries of the region, a fireside chat with a successful businessman operating in the European Union market, and a presentation of innovative company solutions.
The central forum segment consisted of organized B2B meetings, during which participants had the opportunity to establish direct contacts, exchange business interests and initiate concrete forms of cooperation.
ONEX Connect 2025 confirmed once again the importance of international networking, institutional support and innovation as the foundation of sustainable economic development and strengthening the competitiveness of the Republic of Srpska in the European and global context.
Source: Republic of Srpska Government – Nezavisne novine
Photo: Republic of Srpska Government
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