Biljana Topić, a biologist and ornithologist from Šipovo in western Bosnia and Herzegovina, transformed her passion for nature into a viable enterprise after completing the ILO “Start and Improve Your Business” (SIYB) training this year. She developed a business plan, launched her own company, and brought to market a line of natural, cold-pressed fruit juices made from locally grown ingredients. The SIYB training targets unemployed people in rural areas, and Biljana, whose family had prior experience in juice production, benefited from this practical background. With support from the EU4Employment initiative, implemented by the ILO with EU and Swedish funding, she successfully registered her business.
Today, Biljana operates a small but recognized enterprise that supplies juices to her local community, generating income and demonstrating strong potential for growth. Each juice is named after a bird from her region—Goldfinch, Linnet, and Blue Tit—reflecting her love of nature and creative approach. Her products are 100% natural, additive-free, and valued for their authentic, homemade taste, establishing a sustainable livelihood in a rural context.
Biljana’s entrepreneurial journey attracted the attention of Team Europe ambassadors, including EU Ambassador Luigi Soreca, who visited her workshop to observe how training, skills, and determination can transform local opportunities into decent work. Ambassador Soreca highlighted the EU’s pride in supporting initiatives like EU4Employment, which help families create sustainable livelihoods and showcase tangible results from international partnerships.
What began as a small family workshop has grown into a symbol of empowerment and rural resilience. Biljana emphasizes that entrepreneurship does not require perfect conditions: starting small, continuous learning, and trusting one’s idea can lead to meaningful growth.
Over the past seven years, the ILO has supported entrepreneurship in Bosnia and Herzegovina through several mostly EU-funded projects, also backed by Germany and Sweden. These initiatives have helped those furthest from the labor market, people affected by crises, and those facing obstacles due to structural changes to move from unemployment to sustainable entrepreneurship. They have contributed to more inclusive labor markets and strengthened alignment of national employment policies with EU International Labour Standards and related EU acquis.
