Bosnia-born Hannah Sumeja Atic fled war-torn Bosnia as a ten-month-old baby. Today, she makes a difference as the youngest member of the Norwegian state government.

Hannah sees her success as a recognition of her hard work in the past period and confirmation that all dreams can come true if one has a clear goal and strong wish to achieve that.

“The responsibility is certainly huge. But at the same time, this means a challenge to me as a young person who has many ideas. I am extremely happy for the opportunity I got and because of Prime Minister Erna Solberg's support,” she said.

Atic was recently appointed Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry of Norway after serving for three past years at two important posts, as an Advisor to the Minister of Education and later as an Advisor in the Ministry of Trade and Industry.

Torbjorn Roe Isaksen, the Trade and Industry Minister, said commenting on her appointment that Atic was a person “full of knowledge with impressive views on all issues that the Trade and Industry Ministry deals with.”

“He said he is looking forward to the continuation of our good cooperation. I will try, of course, to justify the trust I received,” said Atic.

She graduated from the University of Bremen where she studied law and has returned to Oslo, the place of residence of her parents.

“I'm not afraid of new job tasks and I believe we will fulfil the promises we gave to the citizens as the Hoyre (Norway's Conservative Party), whose member I became at the age of 15,” she emphasised.

Atic is proud of herself but also of many other Bosnians who achieve significant results in the countries where they currently live. She said that Bosnians who live and work in Norway are known for their success.

She moved to Norway in 1993, a year after her family left Bosnia and found a temporary shelter in Croatia.

“When the war was over my father joined us, and now we all live here, in the country which offered my parents, my brother, sister and me everything we need. Of course, the longing for our homeland is always present and we're happy whenever we go there,” said Atic.