Mr. Zukan Helez, Deputy Chair of the Council of Ministers and Minister of Defense of Bosnia and Herzegovina, opened his official visit to the United States with a meeting at the Maryland–Bosnia and Herzegovina Exchange Council. He met with Council co-founders Dr. Emir Nurkić, Chief Operating Officer at the Institute for Development Impact, and Mr. Adnan Hadrovic, Senior Advisor for Diplomacy, International Relations, and Global Security.
The meeting followed up on Minister Helez’s April 2023 visit to Maryland, where he delivered a letter of intent proposing to broaden cooperation beyond military engagement to include higher education, healthcare, culture, and economic development. Maryland leadership welcomed the proposal and encouraged concrete next steps to deepen the relationship.
The Maryland–Bosnia and Herzegovina Exchange Council was formally established in November 2023 to advance both civic and civic–military partnerships under the State Partnership Program. Since its launch, the Council has initiated links between Bosnian and Maryland institutions, including engagements with universities, hospitals, and cultural organizations. It also coordinated a Maryland delegation’s visit to the Sarajevo Film Festival.
At this week’s meeting, the Council shared updates on priority initiatives, including academic exchange programs between universities in Sarajevo, Mostar, and Banja Luka and U.S. institutions. Preparations are underway for bilateral student exchanges and collaborative academic events, with both Yale University and the University of Sarajevo expected to co-host upcoming conferences. Maryland higher education institutions are also engaged in developing joint programming.
Economic engagement was another area of focus. Maryland-based companies have expressed interest in importing high-quality goods from Bosnia and Herzegovina’s furniture and defense sectors. Bosnian representatives highlighted opportunities for investment and trade expansion, while discussions continue on creating a Maryland-based academic program to support crisis and disaster management training for higher education professionals. This program would complement ongoing capacity-building efforts within Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The Council also confirmed its participation in the upcoming North American Bosnian Student Diaspora Conference in Sarajevo this August. In October, it will host Bosnia and Herzegovina Days in Maryland, convening Bosnian and Maryland leaders from academia, government, and business to form new partnerships and reinforce existing ties.
Minister Helez expressed appreciation for the Council’s progress and the leadership of Mr. Hadrovic and Dr. Nurkić. He encouraged wider engagement from both public and private institutions across Bosnia and Herzegovina to ensure that this momentum leads to lasting, mutual benefit.
The Maryland–Bosnia and Herzegovina Exchange Council will continue to serve as a connector and facilitator for practical, long-term collaboration between the two communities.
