Bijeljina City Administration, within the "Prilika Plus" programme, presented today the results of research on the needs of the company for missing occupations from the area of Bijeljina region.

The workshop was organized in cooperation with the Republic Agency for Small and Medium Enterprises and the Youth Communication Centre Banja Luka, and was attended by representatives of companies and directors of vocational schools in the region of Bijeljina:

- During the first phase of the project, which is about to be completed, the survey was conducted among 54 companies from Bijeljina, as well as five secondary vocational schools. With reference to the survey results, the harmonization of the education system with the needs of the labor market will be done. Certain vocational departments that companies require don’t exist in our vocational schools. Currently, we are arranging, along with the Bijeljina secondary technical school and all other relevant organizations, to establish new vocational department- carpentry.

Carpenters are occupation in demand and we hope to achieve the great success with the establishing of the new department, stated Ankica Todorović, a Head of the Section for Local Economic Development and European Integration in Bijeljina City administration. She added that the City administration, during the second phase of project „COTON“, funded by the Swiss government, would apply for grants, as well as work on project proposals preparation.

Bijeljina Mayor, Mićo Mićić said at the opening session of the focus group that this was a very important project for students and their professional orientation, and that Bijeljina would benefit from providing  a high quality workforce.

- The project is of special significance for wood-processing industry, which required a qualified staff, Mayor Mićić said.