Sarajevo Business Forum 2011

Bismillah.

On 6^th April 2011, Sarajevo hosted an outrageous international event which was held for three days. Sarajevo Business Forum (SBF) 2011 was the second this year since it is just started last year. My friend and I were very lucky since we got the chance to witness this international conference which gathered investors from all around the world. At first, we thought that we would sign up for volunteers for the event but unfortunately it was already full. It was a bit frustrating but then when my company told me that they are going to be part of SBF again this year, I jumped happily.  (I was not really jumping, just in my mind). Teloptic was going to open its booth and promoting their product line. And when I asked my supervisor to volunteer during SBF, he simply says, “Sure, why not. You are going to be a volunteer for Teloptic” Thanks, Mr Serif!

The first day involved only people from local government. On the next days, investors started to crowd Holiday Inn, a hotel, which was where it was held. Mr Serif told me again that he wanted me to come just for an exposure. Nothing heavy as what he was doing there like meeting and persuading international investors. He wanted me to walk around and see things and people. I was grateful because that was exactly what I wanted to do and he was like reading my mind. =’) And yes, I really enjoyed the day. Meeting people was what I did the most during the event.

Teloptic booth, MILKOS products

With another volunteer for Teloptic

In the conference room

The press and media

There were several very important persons (VIPs) that my friend and I met especially those from Malaysia such as:

Dato’ Ar Haji Esa bin Haji Mohamed, a renowned architect who was responsible for the building of Putrajaya, KLIA and more.

Dato' Haji Esa Mohamed and his Bosnian Australian wife.

We also had the opportunity to sit and talk with the Chief Minister of Melaka, Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam

Also included delegation from Khazanah Nasional Berhad, Tabung Haji Malaysia, Amanah Raya, and PKNS.

We also met the president of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mr. Bakir Izetbegović

And also the speaker for the forum, Mr Sami Zeidan from Al-Jazeera English. It's more interesting since Al-Jazeera has now open their new headquarter in Sarajevo for Al-Jazeera Balkan. You can read more by clicking > NEWS (Mr Sami Zaidan is wearing orange neck-tie)

We met lots of UIA graduates as well. 

With Nermin and Vedad, -UIA and Lim Kok Wing grad

Mr Linar Yakupov, from Tatar (CEO of IFC Linova) -UIA grad also

Some of my friend even thought that this forum was like UIA Bosnian Alumni! J But, for me it was great to meet UIA Bosnian graduates, because it is nice to meet someone who knows about Malaysia and when they started to talk about how they lived in Malaysia, ate Nasi Goreng USA, ‘teh-O-ais bungkus’ ( takeaway iced-tea), all of us just smiled widely as we did miss Malaysia as they do.

I never think of attending such international event before, let alone in another country. It was a whole new experience for me to be part of this event. Syukran Ya Allah. 

* Credit to Arif and Amalina (BBI) and SJ for the photos. =)