1.    Project “Jobs and Entrepreneurship in Mostar” was implemented in the territory of Herzegovina-Neretva Canton.  Planned duration of the Project was 24 months, from October 2007 to October 2009. Objective of the Project was supporting employment of young people through improvement of their professional skills. Total value of the Project was 320.000 EUR. Project was financed by the UniCredit Foundation and it was implemented by the Business and Entrepreneurship Association LiNK Mostar.

2.    Programme “Improving the conditions of children and youth in Bosnia and Herzegovina” was implemented by a temporary association of five Italian NGOs: CESVI, COSV, INTERSOS, MOVIMONDO and CISP as the leading partner. The Project was financed by Italian Cooperation – Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. LiNK Association started with the implementation of its project “Establishing a loan scheme for the young” within this Project, utilising a guarantee fund. CISP implemented the same activity in cooperation with SERDA – Economic Development Agency of the Region of Sarajevo. LiNK provides services to clients of the guarantee fund operating in the economic regions of Herzegovina, Central and North West Bosnia and Herzegovina in cooperation with the following NGOs: CeBEDA – Economic Development Agency of Central Bosnia and Sinergija from Banja Luka. Beneficiaries of this loan scheme are young entrepreneurs aged between 18 and 35. Partner is the Unicredit Bank of Zagreb. A contract with CISP was signed on 16th of May, 2007 for the period up until 27th of March, 2008 but, in accordance with the contract, this loan scheme remains active within the Guarantee Fund of the LiNK Association.

3.    Project “Valorisation and strengthening of loan initiatives in support of development of SMEs in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Pilot project in Mostar” was financed by the Italian Region of Tuscany and implemented by the LiNK Association in partnership with the Loan Consortium Artigiancredito Toscano. The Project entailed creation of a study entitled “Evaluation of the support offered to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the region of Herzegovina” as well as organisation of a training in Italy designed for representatives of local banks, political representatives and personnel of the LiNK Association Loan Office. Duration of the project was from May 2007 to December 2007.

4.    Project “Entrepreneurial Social Responsibility and Socially Responsible Enterprises” was a project financed by the Region Emilia Romagna and Italian NGO COSPE and it was implemented by the LiNK Association. The Project entailed organisation of a training on starting up a socially responsible enterprise, a seminar about the security and work, purchase and distribution of equipment for protection at work to participants of the seminar as well as a training for personnel of the LiNK Association focused on the topics of social responsibility of an enterprise and socially responsible enterprises.

5.    Pilot project: “Young people and Employment”, financed by a British Development Fund DFID and implemented in Bosnia and Herzegovina by the British consortium LSE. Technical support to the Project was provided by the LiNK Association. Duration of the contract was from April 2007 to April 2008. Objective of the Project was to increase the employment rate and to improve skills of the young people by setting up an Agency for employment and education of young people in Mostar and Trebinje.

6.    Project “STARI MOST/Old Bridge” – Reorganisation and redesign of the information system and reception of tourists in the city of Mostar, financed by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Leading partner in the Project was the city of Florence assisted by experts from the province of Pisa. The project was supported by the city of Mostar and the Tourist Board of Herzegovina-Neretva Canton. LiNK provided technical support to this Project for the period between September 2006 and December 2007. Beneficiaries of this Project were tour-operators from the region of Mostar (tourist agencies, hotels, motels, bed and breakfast, restaurants, artisan shops/workshops). Objective of the Project was to improve the quality of the tourist related services in the city. 40 tour-operators were involved in the project and they were awarded a certificate of the Quality of Tourist Service in accordance with European standards. A tourist guide of the City of Mostar in three languages, web site and promotional material were also created as a result of this Project.

7.    Project I.M.P.R.E.S.E. was financed from a tender published the Cooperation of the Italian Region of Abruzzo and approved by the Province Board in its decision nr. 187/C of 14. March 2006. Project entailed strengthening of the LiNK Association, organisation of trainings in relation to setting up own business as well as trainings aimed at improving business activities, organisation of visits of Italian enterprises to local companies and vice versa with a goal to facilitate business cooperation and exchange of experiences between them. Duration of the Project was from December 2006 to July 2007.

8.    Following a successful cooperation with the BIP in 2006, two new trainings were organised with a focus on setting up business in Trebinje. This time, the trainings were designed for the young and women regardless of their age. First training for 15 participants was organised in Trebinje in the period between December and January 2007 and the second one, for 13 participants, in March 2007. Financial awards, provided by the BIP, were given out on both occasions. LiNK’s local partner in this Project was Development Centre for Herzegovina (CRH Trebinje).
LiNK cooperated with the BIP in the implementation of a project “Students’ Entrepreneurship” as a field coordinator for the territory of Herzegovina for five secondary schools (two in Mostar and one in Ljubuško, Trebinje and Kupres) during the 2007/2008 school year.
LiNK and CRH Trebinje continued their cooperation with the BIP fostering cooperation between the Association of Agricultural Producers from Trebinje and Norwegian COOP in relation to export of melons and seedless water-melons (76 tons in 2007) and a new initiative sprang out by Trebinje based Association of Beekeepers “Žalfija” in relation to export of 400 kg of honey, produced in Herzegovina, to the Norwegian market. More information is available at www.linkmostar.org

9.    LiNK Association implemented a project financed by the EU, “Feasibility Study for Establishment of a Loan Guarantee Fund in the Region of Herzegovina” in the period between 28.09.2005 and 28.09.2006. A survey of all municipalities in Herzegovina, banks and MKO (micro credit organisations), institutions involved in economic development on the municipal, cantonal and federal level, institutions in the Republic of Srpska, 119 entrepreneurs and other actors in the economic development of the region of Herzegovina has been carried out. The study recommended an immediate establishment of a Regional Loan Guarantee Fund which would stand for everything that the state had been supposed to do (adoption of a development strategy and all relevant measures to go with it).

10.    Project “Bosnia and Herzegovina – Activities in Herzegovina-Neretva Canton”, financed by Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in accordance with Italian Law 84/01. Leading partner in the Project was an Italian development agency from Parma – SOPRIP SpA in partnership with the Business and Entrepreneurship Association LiNK as a local partner. Objective of the project was cooperation between the two regions, Province of Parma and Herzegovina-Neretva Canton with a focus on economic relations. Duration of the Project was from November 2005 to August 2006.

11.    BIP – Business Innovation Programme is a non-profit foundation financed by Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs with an objective to create new jobs and provide expert assistance in the field of economic development in the Balkans. BIP organised, for the first time, a training in Mostar designed for education of female population, future entrepreneurs which constituted a direct support of entrepreneurship run by women. Local partners involved in the Project were: LiNK Association, NGO La strada and ITEC computer centre. Duration of the Project was from the 12th to 21st January 2006. The training was attended by 14 participants. 14 business plans was created and three most successful participants received financial awards intended for starting up their own business. More information is available at www.bips.no and www.linkmostar.org

12.    In 2005, a year which was, by the UN, marked as the International Year of Micro-financing, Association LiNK, NGO LDA Mostar and Italian organisation COSPE organised in Mostar, on the 10th and the 11th November 2005 an International Conference on the following topics: Entitlement for Economic Initiatives for Local Economic Development, Potential of Micro-financing, Achievements and Challenges in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Conference was financed by: Intereg III Programme, Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Federal Ministry of Development, Entrepreneurship and Crafts and the conference was sponsored by the Italian Cooperation.

13.    Within a pilot project: “Promotion of economic development through social responsibility”, financed by the Central European Initiative and Unioncamere (Association of the Italian Chambers of Commerce) and implemented by Italian Chamber of Commerce from Forli-Cesena and CISE – Centre for Innovation and Economic Development in partnership with Business and Entrepreneurship Association LiNK from Mostar, a presentation of the Observatory for Social responsibility of the society and organisations, as an innovative instrument already in use, was organised in Mostar, on 09th of May. Objective of the Project is to establish and improve business relations between countries involved in the Project (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Romania, Bulgaria and Italy). Duration of the Project was from November 2004 to November 2005.

14.    “Support to Local Development Through Education of Small Agricultural Producers Related to Self-employment and Clustering”. Duration of the Project from February to April 2005. The Project was financed by the Development Cooperation Ireland and implemented by the CARE International and LESPnet BiH.

15.    Project “Local Centres for Development and Integrated Management of the Costal Area”, financed by Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Leading partners in the Project were Italian Region of Marche and a development agency SVIM from Italy (www.swimspa.it). Partners from Bosnia and Herzegovina involved in the Project were LiNK and the Tourist Board of Herzegovina-Neretva Canton. Partners from Croatia were Association DEŠA from Dubrovnik and EKO from Zadar. Objective of the Project was furnishing a sustainable development of border crossings in the Adriatic region and a special objective was creation of local centres in a close collaboration with institutions, public and private stakeholders from the region. Duration of the Project was December 2004 to July 2005.

16.    Within a Programme “Support to Entrepreneurship” financed by the Federal Ministry of Development, Entrepreneurship and Crafts, LiNK implemented a project “Support to establishment of small enterprises through education” which entailed organisation of two trainings (“Start up your own business” and “Basic IT skills – using a PC”) designed for beginners in business. Duration of the Project was from November 2004 to March 2005.

17.    “Network CLAS – Local centres providing support and services to enterprises”, financed by Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Objective of the Project was to promote and establish a network of local centres providing assistance to SMEs operating in the following territories: Romania, Serbia-Monte Negro, Croatia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Duration of the Project was from February 2004 to July 2005. LiNK was a partner from Bosnia and Herzegovina involved in this Project. (www.reteclas.org)

18.    Project “Virtual Incubator between Enterprises from Mostar and Tuscany” financed by Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Objective of the Project was to create a network of consultants and economic operators from Mostar and Tuscany with a goal to implement an initiative to internationalise SMEs from these regions. Additionally, the project aimed to establish a long-term relationship and cooperation between enterprises operating in these two regions. Duration of the Project was from April 2003 to August 2004.

19.    Project “Supporting the Return of Minorities to Bosnia and Herzegovina Through Supporting Economic Stability”, financed by USAID and implemented by the IRC in partnership with Association LiNK responsible for the area of Mostar. Duration of the Project was from September 2003 to June 2004.

20.    Project: “Support to Employment and Self-Employment of the Young and Involving the Young in Local Economic Development Projects”, financed by Ireland Aid. Duration of the Project was from 01.09.2003 to 15.10.2003.

21.    “Institutional Building as Support to Economic Development in the Area of Mostar”, a project financed by Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Region of Tuscany. The Project aimed to support development of entrepreneurship, establishment and development of small enterprises through a number of activities (trainings, exchange of experiences with Italian enterprises, affordable loan schemes, promotion), development of association of entrepreneurs and services. Duration of the Project was from September 2002 to June 2008 including rather long interruptions. LiNK was a local partner involved in the implementation of this Project.

22.    Capacity Building, budget line “Cards 2002 integrated return project Southern Bosnia and Herzegovina 2002-2003” in partnership with DRC (Danish Refugee Council), financed by the EC. Duration of the Project was from January 2003 to June 2004.

23.    Within an IRC run project “Support to Implementation of Property Legislation and to Spontaneous Cross-Border Return in the municipalities of Herzegovina-Neretva Canton Through Reconstruction of Homes and Infrastructure and Appropriate Assistance for CARDS 2001 FIRM”, LiNK organised a training of members of Women Humanitarian Organisation “Prijeteljice/Friends” from Konjic with a goal to train them for an independent auditing of SMEs (October to December 2002)

24.    Collection of data on micro loans in Bosnia and Herzegovina for use in a publication “Pocket Guide on Micro Loans in Bosnia and Herzegovina” within a project EU QIF, financed by the EU (February 2002)