Senaid Husić departed from his homeland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, in the late 1980s. As the economy of Yugoslavia was deteriorating, he relocated to Switzerland with the aspiration of providing a better life for himself and his family. Over the course of several years, he held various management positions in different industries, including the information technology sector. After a successful business career spanning more than 25 years in Switzerland, Senaid resolved to return to his country of origin in the early 2000s and establish a company in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In consultation with his business associates and friends in Switzerland, he decided to invest in a factory dedicated to producing shirts, which led to the establishment of Bontex in 2004.
“Currently, we dominate around 80 % of the shirt market in Switzerland, and in due course, we will establish another international partnership in Austria, where we supply medical garments. In recent years, we have also collaborated with partners in Germany and other countries.”
Admira Basic, General Manager, Bontex
Initially, Bontex hired approximately 50 employees and entered into a partnership with a Swiss company for the export of shirts to Switzerland. This partnership expanded significantly over time. Admira Basic has been serving as the General Manager at Bontex for more than seven years now. “Currently, we dominate around 80 % of the shirt market in Switzerland, and in due course, we establish another international partnership in Austria, where we supply medical garments. In recent years, we have also collaborated with partners in Germany and other countries,” Admira explains.
Further bin the context Amira continues: in addition to their high-quality products, the key to their success lies in the proximity of their factory to EU countries. Moreover, unlike their competitors, they are able to handle orders in small quantities. Despite supplying numerous companies and brands over the years, Bontex had not previously sold under its own label. “We invested heavily in technology and our workforce and didn’t have the chance to focus on branding and marketing our own products,” Admira explains. However, an opportunity arose with the call for proposals launched by the EU-funded EU4 Business programme, which was aiding businesses in Bosnia and Herzegovina to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic. With the support from the EU4 Business recovery programme, Bontex launched a new website and online store, established a design unit within the company to create Bontex-branded designs, and procure quality textile fabric for their new product lines.
“Our design team, consisting of five young colleagues, has delivered impressive results, and I am optimistic about the future of our company. We got a chance and we showed that we can justify that trust.”
Admira Basic, General Manager, Bontex
With the recently received support from the EU4 Business recovery programme, Bontex anticipates a 30% growth in revenue in the near future. “Our design team, consisting of five young colleagues, has delivered impressive results, and I am optimistic about the future of our company. We were given an opportunity, and we have demonstrated our ability to justify that trust.” Admira says.
At present, Bontex has a workforce of 200 employees, and they are planning to expand this number to over 300 in the years to come. Additionally, they plan to continue investing in technology and marketing their brand.
About the project
EU4Business is an EU project that aims to strengthen Bosnia and Herzegovina’s capacity for economic growth and employment by fostering competitiveness and innovation in selected sectors. It has a budget of €16.1 million: €15 million funded by the European Union and €1.1 million by the Federal Republic of Germany.
EU4Business is part of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development’s Local Development Strategies – Local Self-Government and Economic Development Programme in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Photo credits: Bontex
Initially, Bontex hired approximately 50 employees and entered into a partnership with a Swiss company for the export of shirts to Switzerland. This partnership expanded significantly over time. Admira Basic has been serving as the General Manager at Bontex for more than seven years now. “Currently, we dominate around 80 % of the shirt market in Switzerland, and in due course, we establish another international partnership in Austria, where we supply medical garments. In recent years, we have also collaborated with partners in Germany and other countries,” Admira explains.
Further bin the context Amira continues: in addition to their high-quality products, the key to their success lies in the proximity of their factory to EU countries. Moreover, unlike their competitors, they are able to handle orders in small quantities. Despite supplying numerous companies and brands over the years, Bontex had not previously sold under its own label. “We invested heavily in technology and our workforce and didn’t have the chance to focus on branding and marketing our own products,” Admira explains. However, an opportunity arose with the call for proposals launched by the EU-funded EU4 Business programme, which was aiding businesses in Bosnia and Herzegovina to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic. With the support from the EU4 Business recovery programme, Bontex launched a new website and online store, established a design unit within the company to create Bontex-branded designs, and procure quality textile fabric for their new product lines.
With the recently received support from the EU4 Business recovery programme, Bontex anticipates a 30% growth in revenue in the near future. “Our design team, consisting of five young colleagues, has delivered impressive results, and I am optimistic about the future of our company. We were given an opportunity, and we have demonstrated our ability to justify that trust.” Admira says.
At present, Bontex has a workforce of 200 employees, and they are planning to expand this number to over 300 in the years to come. Additionally, they plan to continue investing in technology and marketing their brand.
About the project
EU4Business is an EU project that aims to strengthen Bosnia and Herzegovina’s capacity for economic growth and employment by fostering competitiveness and innovation in selected sectors. It has a budget of €16.1 million: €15 million funded by the European Union and €1.1 million by the Federal Republic of Germany.
EU4Business is part of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development’s Local Development Strategies – Local Self-Government and Economic Development Programme in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Photo credits: Bontex
Please wait while your video is being uploaded...
Don't close this window!
