Ethno-nationalism is escalating and it seriously hinders the development of the economy, a society of Bosnian independent intellectuals Krug 99 warned on Sunday.

“Crime, corruption and everything else that downgraded this society and divided it on ethnonationalist ideologies stem from ethnonationalism, which dates back to the war, and it has brought Bosnia and Herzegovina to an edge,” said Bosnian businessman, Milislav Tomovic, a keynote speaker at a session on influence of ethnonationalism on development of economy.

Immigration of citizens, especially young people, is concerning and it directly affects the existence of companies that operate in the country, Tomovic warned.

Sarajevo businessman Tomislav Grizelj shares the concern over the departure of citizens from the country, stressing that the decline in the youth population worries him the most.

“Young and educated people are leaving Bosnia and Herzegovina in search for a better living, going to the places where their work will be appreciated and where they will feel safer,” he added-

The economy is the most efficient tool to combat ethnonationalism, claims a businessman who returned to Bosnia from Sweden. He said this was the best possible decision he could make.

“When they ask me why, I say everything is better up there but everything is nicer here. I think the problem lies in perception. Everyone thinks it is better elsewhere but that simply is not true,” said Samir Jusufovic, who decided to leave Scandinavia eight years ago.

“By developing the economy, we will push the strongest tool out of the hands of ethnonationalism. If one can pick between two or three jobs then they don’t have to think who to vote for to get a job. We would solve a lot by strengthening the economy,” said Jusufovic.