Economic cooperation between Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) and the United States should be deepened, leveraging the significant potential of the BiH diaspora in the US, according to Benjamin Tikvina, president of the Inclusive Movement for Bosnia and Herzegovina (IMBiH). Speaking to FENA in Washington, Tikvina outlined his organization's mission to connect the two countries through innovation, culture, and economic collaboration.

Tikvina described IMBiH as a voluntary, non-governmental, and non-partisan organization dedicated to inclusivity.

“We aim to engage people who care about Bosnia and Herzegovina. Our mission is to support BiH’s progress by fostering entrepreneurship and innovation, promoting cultural and humanitarian activities, and building networks,” Tikvina said.

One of the organization’s key initiatives has been hosting virtual business seminars between BiH and the U.S., which serve as platforms for networking and sharing success stories. The sixth seminar is scheduled for December, and plans are underway for a large BiH-U.S. business forum in Washington.

“Our vision is to act as a bridge between BiH and the United States, strengthening economic ties and encouraging investments in BiH,” he explained.

Tikvina stressed the importance of engaging the BiH diaspora in the U.S., many of whom are highly educated and financially successful. While remittances play a vital role in supporting families back home, many in the diaspora want to contribute more meaningfully through investment.

“We aim to facilitate this through a business forum, showcasing potential projects and fostering stronger economic cooperation,” Tikvina said.

Acknowledging challenges, Tikvina highlighted corruption as a significant barrier to foreign investment in BiH.

“We’re aware of this issue and openly address it during our seminars. Corruption is a major concern for potential investors, and more needs to be done to create an environment conducive to large-scale investments,” he said.

Tikvina concluded by emphasizing the need to elevate economic cooperation with the US, the world’s largest economy, to unlock BiH’s full potential.