The meeting created a quality platform for connecting Croats from Bosnia and Herzegovina and emigrants, and for developing new partnerships, investments, and joint projects.
Under the motto “The Power of Connection”, the First Meeting of the Network of Croats from Bosnia and Herzegovina was held in Ljubuški on July 30, 2026, bringing together representatives of the economy, institutions, Croatian returnees and emigrants with the aim of strengthening cooperation, exchanging experiences, as well as encouraging investment and returning Croats to their homeland.
The meeting was attended by the Prime Minister of West Herzegovina Canton Predrag Čović, the Mayor of the City of Ljubuški Vedran Markotić, the President of Ljubuški City Council Tihomir Kvesić, the State Secretary of the Ministry of Demography and Immigration Mladen Barać, Žana Ćorić, Envoy of the State Secretary of the Central State Office for Croats Abroad Zvonko Milas, and Snježana Radoš, the Envoy of the CHF Director, with her associate Danijela Primorac.
Through the exchange of experiences and examples of good practice, the importance of connecting the homeland and diaspora, quality education as the foundation of development and the creation of conditions that will encourage the return of people ready to direct their knowledge, experience and international contacts into the development and future of their homeland was emphasized.
The central part of the program consisted of two panels, moderated by Petar Bilobrk. At the panel “Economic Development – The Power of Connecting Croats from BiH,” Snježana Köpruner, CEO and owner of GS-TMT Travnik; Petar Puljić, owner of the Australian company Living Gems and Philanthropist; Dominik Turudić, entrepreneur and owner of the companies HercKom d.o.o. Medjugorje and T&T Projekt GmbH in Germany; and Ante Stipić, President of the Association of Returnees and owner of PROTV, shared their experiences in entrepreneurship, investing and connecting the diaspora with the homeland.
Participating in the second panel, “From Transnational Cooperation to Local Development: Opportunities, Challenges and Future Directions”, were Gabrijel Lukić, president of the “Mladi za domovinu” Association, Bruno Penava, president of the Epsilon Association and owner of the WEST Business Center in Posušje, and Robert Tokić, member of the Council of the Government of the Republic of Croatia for Croats Abroad.
In addition to the panel discussions, the development potentials of the cities and municipalities involved in the project were presented, a mentoring program was launched to connect young people with successful Croats from abroad, and Synergy Circles were held, interactive workshops aimed at exchanging experiences, establishing new contacts and creating concrete foundations for future cooperation.
The meeting program was complemented by a visit to the Pršutana Herceg prosciutto-curing facility and a trip to Kravica Waterfall, which gave participants the opportunity to learn more about the economic, culinary, and natural heritage of the Ljubuški region.
The Association of Returnees from Tomislavgrad organized the meeting under the auspices of the Government of West Herzegovina Canton, with the Croatian Heritage Foundation as a co-organizer, along with the Institute for Migration Research (IMIN), cities and municipalities from Herzegovina, and partner associations.
The first meeting of the Network of Croats from BiH confirmed that togetherness, knowledge and experience exchange, and stronger ties between the homeland and the diaspora form an important foundation for the economic, social, and demographic development of the Croatian people in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Text: CHF / Photo: PROTV, Ljubuški portal and CHF
