Students from the Faculty of Technology in Zvornik and students from the Department of Chemical Engineering and Technology at the Faculty of Technology in Tuzla visited BIMAL in Brčko, the only edible oil production factory in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
During June, as part of professional field visits, a total of 46 students, accompanied by professors from study programs ranging from the first to the fourth year, became acquainted with the edible oil production process — from grain reception and processing, refining, bottling, to the dispatch of finished products to various markets.
In this way, students had the opportunity to see in practice what they learn in theory, making it easier to acquire the necessary knowledge and gain insight into technological processes.
Today, the world’s largest private label trade show, titled “World of Private Label,” kicked off in Amsterdam. Over the course of the two-day event, BIMAL Group is presenting its product range in Hall 14 of the RAI Exhibition Center.
Just at the opening, several thousand visitors and buyers from more than 100 countries around the world gathered. There are over 2,900 exhibiting companies from more than 70 countries.
The trade show in Amsterdam records great success every year, and the organizers hope for the same this year. The event is organized by the Private Label Manufacturers Association (PLMA), founded in 1979 with the aim of promoting the products of private manufacturers in the food and non-food industries.
Bosnia and Herzegovina is once again represented by BIMAL Group, which is showcasing its product range — sunflower oil, Omega, and Fino — produced at the factory in Brčko, with the goal of expanding into new markets and strengthening its position in existing ones.
The trade show closes tomorrow, and if you are in Amsterdam, make sure to visit the BIMAL Group stand.
Domestic production, the pillar of agricultural and economic development
Organized by the company BIMAL dd Brčko and the Institute for Agricultural Development and Improvement IRUP Brčko, the traditional, and this year also the jubilee, 20th Oilseeds Day was held in Brčko today.
This is a unique gathering of agricultural producers, organizers of agricultural production, professional institutions, and government institutions, where valuable conclusions are made each year for all actors in the agriculture sector of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
At the beginning of this year’s gathering, the attendees in the amphitheater of the European University were addressed by Damir Bulčević, President of the Assembly of Brčko District BiH, Anto Domić, Deputy Mayor of Brčko District BiH, Siniša Milić, Mayor of Brčko District BiH, and the event was officially opened by Ilija Studen, President of the Board of STUDEN Holding and General Director of BIMAL.
The central event of Oilseeds Day was a professional panel discussion, featuring Ilija Studen, President of the Board of STUDEN Holding, Kemal Hrnjić, Minister of Agriculture, Water Management, and Forestry of the Federation of BiH, Amir Softić, Head of the Department for Agriculture, Forestry, and Water Management of the Government of Brčko District BiH, Mato Brkić, Minister of Agriculture, Water Management, and Forestry of Posavina Canton, Saša Lalić, Assistant Minister of Agriculture, Food Industry, and Rural Development of Republika Srpska, Ljubiša Dukić, Director of VITA LAND Gradiška, and Siniša Šišić, COSMOCEL Belgrade. The panel was moderated by Ševal Suljkanović, Executive Director for Economic Affairs at BIMAL dd.
The panelists spoke about the importance of domestic production and incentives in agricultural production as the pillar of agricultural and economic development in Bosnia and Herzegovina. After a rich discussion and constructive debate, several conclusions were reached at this gathering. It was emphasized that synchronization of incentive measures provided by the entities and Brčko District BiH for their agricultural producers is necessary. Furthermore, the issue faced by farmers who own and cultivate land in both entities, or in one or both entities and the District, was highlighted, as they can only receive incentives based on their place of residence and not the location of the land they cultivate. Also emphasized was the need for a joint approach by the entities and the District to pre-accession funds, as well as a better systemic approach to agricultural development, the creation of a stable market, encouragement of economic investments, and linking the education system with the economy. The conclusion of the gathering was also that support for innovation and the introduction of modern technologies in production is essential.
BIMAL General Director Ilija Studen emphasized that the most important link in the entire system is the farmer, without whom neither the work of the company nor the ministries would be meaningful. He expressed hope that villages will not be abandoned and emphasized that our company is available to organize additional meetings and discussions on all these topics between government representatives and the agricultural sector, as it has been doing since the privatization of BIMAL when the company began working on gathering and educating farmers.
At the end of Oilseeds Day, the guaranteed purchase prices for grain for this year were announced, and certificates of appreciation were presented to collaborators and partners, production organizers, producers, women, and young people in agriculture.
Representatives of the Brčko District Chamber of Commerce visited the Agro-industrial complex of STUDEN Holding in Brčko.
In an informal conversation with the President of the Management Board of STUDEN Holding, Ilija Studen, they spoke about the economic and political situation in the region and the Brčko District of BiH. Also, they discussed about the participation of the Holding’s member companies in the work of the Chamber of Commerce and other business organizations in the Brčko District of BiH, and about the vision of the Holding, as an investor, on how to improve the position of the economy in the Brčko District of BiH as a community.
After the meeting, the guests made a tour through the Agro-industrial complex, and visited the BIMAL edible oil factory, STUDEN AGRANA Sugar Refinery and other companies of the group.
Mutual satisfaction was expressed with the organized visit, and the intention was shown for further dedicated cooperation between Brčko business owners and members of the Brčko District Chamber of Commerce.
At the ceremony “100 The Biggest in B&H”, BIMAL Brčko was among the 2.3% of B&H companies with above-average business results.
At the 37th “100 The Biggest in B&H” ceremony, BIMAL Brčko received the first place award for revenue in the branch of “Production of food products”. According to the business results from 2023, in the category of large companies, BIMAL Brčko is in 28th place for export and 48th place for revenue.
Mr. Ševal Suljkanović, executive director of the company BIMAL for economic affairs, accepted the award on behalf of the company at the award ceremony.
“Our company, like all large companies that do serious business in Bosnia and Herzegovina, constantly faces challenges but also works to overcome them. We are aware that the development of domestic industry is crucial for our economy, especially in a turbulent time, such as today, in which global circumstances are not favorable to small countries with weak economies. This recognition means a lot to us: the 2023 business year was not easy for the food or other industries. We continue to work on being the first in our field and to send the best from Bosnia and Herzegovina to foreign markets as well as our own. We would like to thank the organizers of this project, which gives additional motivation to BH businessmen not to give up and to push forward the development of the country,” said Mr. Suljkanović.
The traditional recognition event for the “100 The Biggest in Bosnia and Herzegovina” was held on September 26, 2024 in Sarajevo. This most respectable business event in Bosnia and Herzegovina, for the 37th time in a row, was organized by Poslovne novine, in partnership with the Foreign Trade Chamber of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Business newspapers ranked companies in small, medium, and large categories based on revenue, exports, profit, and number of employees. Only 2.3% of the total number of companies in BiH, or 929 of them, were ranked among the 100 largest in BiH, with above-average business results. The rankings were made based on the final accounts for the year 2023, which the companies submitted to the competent agencies in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Republic of Srpska, and the Brčko District of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The awarding evening was preceded by the “ESG IMPULS 2024” conference, which gathered more than 400 participants.
BIMAL Brčko, the only edible oil factory in Bosnia and Herzegovina, is a member of the BIMAL Group, a leading producer of edible oils in the Western Balkans region and a leader among exporters of refined oils from the region of Southeast Europe.
