A local business promoting women’s employment

Article | 22 December 2022
Merima Kukić Gego is a young engineer, who graduated in agricultural engineering. During the COVID-19 crisis, when her employment contract was about end, she heard about an ILO project funded by the European Union that was supporting start-ups. Despite her lack of experience in the entrepreneurship world, she thought that was an opportunity not to be missed and decided to set up a food and tourism business in the municipality of Jablanica, in rural Bosnia and Herzegovina. The business, named “Most Jablanica”, produces authentic local and traditional products and aims at promoting the region.

With ILO’s support, Marima attended SIYB training and made the business grow during the pandemic.

Despite the challenges, my business is managing to stand up to larger multi-national companies. By producing healthy, local food, I can export our products throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina with online orders."

Merima Kukić Gego
Merima realized that during the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a lack of imports, and people needed to buy domestic products. Besides, her products were considered to have medicinal value and help boost people’s immune systems, which increased her sales.

Merima’s company has a socially responsible approach. It hires mostly women from rural areas and marginalized groups. The company provides benefits to many local women and the whole community since all the fruits and vegetables used are coming from local organic suppliers.

I would recommend to future entrepreneurs, above all to women entrepreneurs, to always take what is offered at a given moment. We should not be afraid, and we should take risks."

Merima Kukić Gego
Merima and an employee carrying a kitchen tray full of fresh, local blackberries © ILO/OIT Nedim Omeragić