Within the AI-NURECC Initiative – Adriatic Ionian Network of Universities, REgions, Chambers of Commerce and Cities, the FAIC participated in the International Fair of Mostar (BiH), from 9 to 11 April 2019, in collaboration with City of Mostar (FAIC vice-presidency), Chamber of Commerce of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Forum of Adriatic and Ionian Chambers of Commerce.
The AI-NURECC Second Infokiosk/Booth, set within the Mostar International Fair, attracted the interest of many citizens, tourist agencies and economic operators and contributed to promote the FAIC activities within the EUSAIR strategy and the potentialities of city-to-city cooperation in the area and also in the economic and tourist fields.
Within the same event, the FAIC also organized the workshop on “Cities and Cultural Heritage: Ideas and Best Practices for the Adriatic and Ionian Region” – Adriatic Ionian Cities for Culture.
The initiative aroused great interest and appreciation from the over 50 high level participants from the economical, political and social sectors of Bosnia and Herzegovina but also of Italy and Croatia. The theme concerning the enhancement of the tourism and cultural heritage within the AI area was at the center of a dialogue among the Italian Embassy in Sarajevo, the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Forum of Adriatic and Ionian Chambers of Commerce, the Split Chamber of Commerce, the City of Mostar, the City of Urbino (Italian UNESCO City), the Council of Europe and Mirabilia Network Association.
The event represented a precious occasion to create synergies among university institutions, international organizations and the business world, to enhance collaboration among the different realities of the country, and to promote public-private partnership starting from the Italian experience and best practices in the sector of tourism and development of cultural heritage.
Through these activities, that were placed during a very important economic and tourist event in Mostar, EUSAIR and AI-NURECC had a great visibility in Bosnia and Herzegovina and not only. The capitalisation activity, facilitated by the AI-NURECC initiative, started right after the conference since a technical meeting on EU and UN projects in BiH and in the Balcanic area was held among the participants. FAIC will keep on making more visible and solid the results coming from culture and tourist cooperation in the EUSAIR area and it will keep on concretely supporting the cooperation among local, regional, national and international associations and bodies working within the AI area, especially on specific projects.