Over one hundred exhibitors – companies, institutions, international projects and employment mediators – will be featured in the Education and Job Fair: Learn, Explore, Network organised on 21 November in Zenica under the auspices of the Office of the European Union Special Representative and the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Visitors will have a chance to meet with employers, embassies and agencies of the Member States of the European Union and the United States, as well as representatives of NGOs and business incubators. There will be over 30 presentations with interesting and useful topics for participants in the Fair, as well as roundtable discussions, and interactive workshops How to Become Visible in the Labour Market and Employment Trends – Global vs. Local.

Participants will be advised on how to search for a job, how to prepare a CV, personal presentation during a job interview, in addition to several hundred job ads and vacancies to be presented.

The Fair will provide opportunities for ‘outsiders’ in the BiH economy such as unemployed youth and minority groups to engage in direct talks with companies and potential employers, as well as to learn about work and education opportunities in BiH and abroad. At the same time, it will provide an opportunity for companies and institutions to present their work, exchange information, develop networks and attract the attention of potential employees and interviewees. Participants will also have the opportunity to learn about the European Union and its involvement in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The Fair will be held in seven pavilions:

Pavilion 1 – Women Entrepreneurs, Educational Initiatives and Marginalised Groups
Pavilion 2 – Entrepreneurship Programmes
Pavilion 3 – Employment Mediators
Pavilion 4 – EU and Other International Employment Projects
Pavilion 5 – Civil Society Employment Initiatives
Pavilion 6 – Programmes of Educational and Training Institutions
Pavilion 7 – Employment Opportunities in the Private Sector

Food and transportation will be provided for students and unemployed people. Buses will leave Sarajevo from in front of the Museum at 08:45 hours, on 21 November. The time and place of departure of buses from other cities will be announced by 17 November.

Applications for transport are to be sent to ena.krkalic@boram.ba or ajla.luckin@boram.ba

The urgent need for socioeconomic reforms in Bosnia and Herzegovina was highlighted at the Forum for Prosperity and Jobs held in May in Sarajevo. Forum participants – including representatives of academia, governmental, political, business, labour and bank sectors – have all identified six major areas for economic reforms and their plan was adopted by the international financial institutions and the European Union. Wide local consultations and further discussions with experts from countries in the region have resulted in the Compact for Growth and Jobs, published in July this year. The Compact outlines priorities for new governments and officials in BiH to consider. The international community is ready to assist in its implementation and firmly believes that these can kick start economic recovery and boost investment and employment.

For more information about the Compact for Growth and Jobs visit the special feature page and take part in the discussion on Facebook and Twitter