DOBOJ EAST

Doboj Istok is situated 50 km Northwest of Tuzla. It was proclaimed a municipality on 22/11/1997. Its territory is mostly rural, consisting of 5 villages (local communities) and the economy is based on agricultural production. However, from 1992 the strong development of small and middle enterprises has been evident, largely due to useful influence from the neighboring municipality, Gracanica where private sector was developed even before the war.

One of the big challenges for this municipality could be a process of transferring land registered as agricultural into industrial. The transfer should be performed in accordance with a wider regional development plan taking into account the interest of a company Vegafruit whose main activity is processing fruits and vegetables and therefore it dependant on the existence of agricultural cooperatives. The role of Tuzla Canton in the economic development of the region should also be considered.

The main developmental potential is agriculture, especially in supporting cooperatives, as well as in private business consolidation, which has recorded significant growth.
There are more than 2500 unemployed people registered in the municipality.

Food industry, textile industry and building are the key economic driving forces in the municipality. Other sectors like trade, tourism and handicraft (around 200 registered small and middle enterprises) are increasing in number, although they are not synchronized and well organized in order to contribute to the overall municipality’s economic development appropriately.
Doboj Istok municipality is comprised of five local communities, and two were included in MDP since October 2002. There are three registry offices in the municipality.

General impression is that the relations between local communities and local governance are satisfactory. Modern information dissemination system was developed in the municipality with MDP support and will certainly contribute to further linking between Local communities’ councils, registries respectively, with the main system in the local governance building.
There are total of eight citizens’ associations in Doboj Istok, and two are youth oriented.

Doboj Istok municipality has already expressed interest for cooperation with other municipalities through de-mining projects and other smaller projects (joint project with Doboj municipality in constructing sports terrain in Bosniak returnee community in Doboj).
There is a potential project which would deal with solid waste management on the Tuzla canton level (common waste center).