The following is attributable to Acting Spokesperson Pooja Jhunjhunwala:

U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Deputy Administrator Bonnie Glick visited Bosnia and Herzegovina from February 2 - February 5, 2020.

Deputy Administrator Glick met with the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina to discuss USAID's support for the nation's Journey to Self-Reliance and the importance of addressing the critical challenge of human trafficking in the country. She emphasized the need to support key reform efforts to attract foreign investment.

The Deputy Administrator toured sites representative of the four traditional religions in Bosnia and Herzegovina with leaders of the Inter-Religious Council. She congratulated the members of the Council for their efforts to set a positive example of tolerance and collaboration across faiths by engaging citizens of different ethnic and religious backgrounds. She participated in a signing ceremony with the Council to launch a new USAID-funded initiative to respond constructively to attacks on religious sites by strengthening interreligious dialogue and preventing a cycle of recrimination and violence.

While in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Deputy Administrator Glick met with representatives of USAID's Energy Policy Activity, implemented by International Advanced Engineering Associates, to discuss USAID's work to enhance the country's energy security and maximize its potential for economic growth. As the leading donor in the energy sector, USAID is assisting stakeholders to develop laws, regulations, and processes to strengthen the country's connection with European energy markets and allow it to take full advantage of its position as one of the region's net electricity exporters.

The Deputy Administrator toured the USAID-supported firm Trikon and met with entrepreneurs to learn more about USAID's efforts to catalyze diaspora investment in Bosnia and Herzegovina, a potential source of tremendous economic growth. USAID's efforts to assist interested diaspora investors has already generated approximately $9.5 million in new capital.

Deputy Administrator Glick also attended a screening of the USAID-funded "Connect the Dots" documentary, part of a program that brings together young people of different ethnic and religious backgrounds through cultural exchanges and study visits to religious sites across the country. She asked a number of young people who participated in past exchanges how their experiences have informed their views on the importance of engaging with people from different backgrounds and their plans for civic engagement in the future.

In addition, the Deputy Administrator toured Herbos Nature, an agribusiness that expanded its operations by co-financing the construction of a 12-ton, 24-hour deep-freeze tunnel through a grant from USAID and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida). As a result, the company increased its exports by 50 percent in 2018. The success of this co-financing model is part of a broader initiative to prepare Bosnia and Herzegovina for accession to the European Union by enhancing the competitiveness of agricultural producers and businesses.

The Deputy Administrator also met with a number of investigative journalists to highlight USAID's ongoing support for high-quality, independent media, and to discuss the challenge disinformation presents to democracies across the region. She highlighted how important investigative journalism is in a democracy, to give all citizens access to accurate information about their communities, their government, and their country.

USAID's Deputy Assistant Administrator for Europe and Eurasia, Gretchen Birkle, accompanied the Deputy Administrator in Bosnia and Herzegovina.