This year, the Ministry of Economy of the Zenica-Doboj Canton allocated close to 850,000 KM for the purpose of co-financing and subsidizing projects of small craftsmen in order to protect and help small businesses and preserve traditional crafts. In this way, the ministry made its contribution to save jobs and save hundreds of small businesses throughout ZDK.
– We have found ways to help our trades and artisans who cultivate traditional crafts. These people live from their work. They feed themselves and their families from what they make with their own hands. They mostly employ themselves. These are small family businesses. It was they who came under a severe attack this year due to the measures adopted by the Government of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, when they had to allocate far more money that they hardly earn for contributions and taxes, which directly threatened their existence – the words of Minister Šibonjić.
In total, there are as many as 250 trades and traditional crafts from Zenica, Zavidovići, Visoko, Kakanj, Tešnja, Žepča, Maglaj, Doboj Juga and Usora. Subsidies and co-financing were made based on the construction of a building for craft activities; based on the purchase of facilities, equipment and machines, as basic assets, for the performance of craft activities; on the basis of the costs of introducing standards/recertification of standards and quality systems and on the basis of administrative costs for carrying out activities according to the Regulation on the Protection of Traditional and Old Crafts.
The total amount of allocated funds for those under 35, then for women and disabled persons was increased by 20 percent.
24,000.00 KM was set aside for the construction of a building for craft activities, and 40,000.00 KM was allocated for the purchase of a building for craft activities. The most was set aside for the purchase of equipment and machines, as basic assets, for the performance of craft activities as much as 617,888.40 KM, as well as for the performance of activities according to the Decree on the Protection of Traditional and Old Crafts 166,000.00 KM.
– We try to help as many workers as possible and those who are self-employed, and I am very happy about that. They are the most affected by high inflation and it is important that they all save their jobs and survive. Because they are not to blame for what happened to them – these are the words of Minister Šibonjić.
