“If we cannot prevent the people from leaving the Western Balkans, as they are now massively leaving, we say let’s see if there are opportunities in the Western Balkans for people to work there without having to look for better perspectives in Western Europe, the United Kingdom or the Unites states”, says Astrit Istrefi, Executive Director of Balkan Forum, in the interview with CIVIL Media.
He refers to the diaspora from the region as an important element in preventing people from leaving the Western Balkans, and adds that there is no promotion on returning the finances of the diaspora. Istrefi emphasized the intellectual capital of our diaspora abroad and says that their experience is of crucial importance.
“We promote more the intellectual capital of our diaspora from the region, the experience that prominent roles have now such as politicians, engineers and doctors, which we truly need”, said Istrefi.
Balkan Forum is one of the initiators of the establishment of the “LogEx“ network.
*
The LogEx community was established in December 2021. It is a partnership between universities and academics, civil society organizations and business actors from the Western Balkans and the diaspora in the region. LogEx is a consortium of different organizations with a common idea such as circular economy, security, development of strategies on how to continue the focus on these topics, with the purpose to promote and include different entities of society, such as the business sector, local authorities, central governments, to improve legislation, as well as measures that need to be supported. The primary goal is how to attract the attention of the young people for them to be more aware about the potential, personal development and certainly employment through circular economy.
