HELLO! I'm EDO

Born and educated in Ljubljana, Slovenia, I was invited in 1989 by the esteemed Bosnian philanthropist and businessman Adil Zulfikarpašić and his respected wife, Dr. Tatjana Zulfikarpašić, a Doctor of Philosophy, to join their newly established foundation, the “Bosniaken Institut,” in Zurich, Switzerland.

In time at the Bosniaken Institut was dedicated to promoting Bosnian culture and heritage, driven by a deep sense of commitment to my roots and the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina. During this period, I developed a profound understanding of the Bosnian people and the Bosnian spirit, and I knew that the rest of my life would be dedicated to supporting the welfare of Bosnia & Herzegovina and its people, no matter where they may reside.

Slovenian by birth, Swiss by business, French by way of life, Bosnian & Croatian by heart and origin, and above all, a sincere European.

Since 1998, I have resided in France, first in Nice and then, from 2000, in Paris. For a brief time, I worked in banking, specifically with Citibank Paris, but soon realized my true passion lay elsewhere. I transitioned to the luxury industry, first as the founder and co-owner of a company distributing French and Swiss cosmetics, perfumes, and nutritional supplements to the former Yugoslavia. After selling the company, I continued working as a Business Development Manager, providing consulting services for business development in the luxury sector across Central and Eastern Europe. Despite my professional ventures, Bosnia has always remained close to my heart.

The global COVID-19 pandemic (2020–2021) significantly affected my business activities across Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and the Caucasus region. What initially seemed like a setback became an opportunity to dedicate myself to a lifelong aspiration: contributing to Bosnia and Herzegovina and to the Bosnian people.

This vision led to the creation of the 5 Million Friends of Bosnia and Herzegovina (5MFBH) association, which my son Edwin and I co-founded in March 2020. Since then, professionals from different fields around the world have joined the initiative as volunteers, bringing their expertise and commitment to its development.

In early 2022, 5MFBH was officially launched with its headquarters in Paris, gathering the Bosnian diaspora, friends of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and international partners around a shared mission.

Why my dedication to Bosnia and Herzegovina and the European Union?

Bosnia and Herzegovina, France, and the European Union share a common responsibility to defend and promote universal and European values at a time when these principles face growing challenges. A stable and functional Bosnia and Herzegovina contributes not only to its own development but also to the strength and unity of the European Union and to greater cooperation across the Western Balkans.

For this reason, I invite Europeans to join our mission. A key priority of 5 Million Friends of Bosnia and Herzegovina (5MFBH) is to connect the Bosnian diaspora and friends of Bosnia and Herzegovina with partners around the world, while fostering stronger ties between Bosnia and Herzegovina, France, the European Union, and the peoples and countries of the Western Balkans.

Since its creation, the association has received recognition and support from individuals and institutions internationally, bringing encouragement both to the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina and to its diaspora.

The name “5MFBH” – 5 Million Friends of Bosnia and Herzegovina reflects our vision to bring together at least five million friends of Bosnia and Herzegovina around the world. Our goal is to build, within the next decade, a global community of people who believe in the positive future of Bosnia and Herzegovina by setting aside differences, politics, and ego, and focusing on the collective good of society.

A central part of our mission is to strengthen the connection between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the peoples and countries of the Western Balkans. We believe that greater dialogue, cultural exchange, and economic cooperation between Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Croatia, North Macedonia, Slovenia, and Serbia can contribute to a more stable, prosperous, and forward-looking region.

Our initiative is open to everyone. We warmly invite friends from across the Western Balkans and all people of goodwill around the world who share our values and appreciation for Bosnia and Herzegovina. In the long term, we hope to connect ten million or more friends of Bosnia and Herzegovina worldwide.

Through this initiative, I want to showcase the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina as they truly are: creative, resilient, and successful. Above all, I wish to introduce the world to the beauty of the Bosnian spirit, its remarkable natural landscapes, and its significant economic potential. With one of the most well-integrated diasporas in the world, we have a unique opportunity to serve as a bridge between Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Western Balkans, and the global community.

I have always been passionate about projects that bring together positive, forward-thinking people, regardless of their political, religious, or cultural affiliations.

I look forward to continuing my active role in such initiatives, because I believe that every success story connected to Bosnia and Herzegovina is a success for all of us.

Edo Šabanagić
Founder & President of 5MFBH

HELLO! I'm EDO

"Despite my professional ventures, Bosnia has never left my heart."

Why my dedication to Bosnia and Herzegovina and the European Union?

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