Snjejana Köpruner: “If there is a life before life, then I must have spent it here.”
In Prozor-Rama, the new “GS-Rama” factory was inaugurated yesterday, an important step in the industrial development of this municipality. The opening was attended by a large number of dignitaries, including citizens of the Municipality of Prozor-Rama. Beautiful and sunny weather additionally completed this historic moment for the local community and the entire region. The factory represents a significant contribution to economic progress, employment and improvement of the industrial sector in Prozor-Rama and the wider environment.
START OF THE PROJECT
The “GS-Rama” project started in Travnik, and continued its full development in Prozor-Rama, where highly specialized parts will be produced for renowned companies such as Liebherr and German railways. The “GS-Rama” factory is focused on providing high-quality services to its partners, using the latest technologies. In its operations, it focuses on ethical principles, occupational safety and environmental protection, and its goal is to continuously contribute to the sustainable development and economic progress of the community. With a special emphasis on competitiveness, the factory decided to develop and implement construction, trade and installation services, as well as the distribution of technical construction materials and their finished products.
CEREMONY OPENING
“The foundations of the factory represent the hope and faith that people can stay on their land and live a life worthy of a man.” These inspiring words were the introduction to the festive program, which opened with a special dance performance by members of the Sarajevo National Theater ballet. The choreography was uniquely combined with the cultural heritage of the Ram region, creating a bridge between tradition and modernity. In ballet dance, the legacy of the past, authentic expressions of folk creativity and the sounds of the music of this region met.
During the ceremony, the vocal group “Arabella” and the Folkloric Society “Ram tradition” also performed, whose performances enriched the program with their musical and dance performances.
The opening of the factory was attended by many distinguished guests, among them the owner of the factory Snježana Köpruner, the mayor of the municipality of Prozor-Rama dr. Jozo Ivančević and Helmuth Kaindl, representative of Liebherr.
Each of the speeches emphasized the importance of this project for the local community, economy and infrastructure development, and the importance of cooperation between local authorities and the private sector in creating better conditions for future generations.
RAMA – THE CENTER OF HOPE
In a time of general insecurity and economic instability, one small town is celebrating its victory. As they say, it celebrates because it had people who knew how to recognize the right investments and who stood up for a better future for their people. In his address, the chief points out that he wants to pay special attention to the Ramsk man, the Ramsk families, fathers, mothers and children, especially those who, long ago, had to leave their bellies for bread: “Many left their homes, beautiful landscapes, relatives and friends, in search of a better life. It was a response to the political and economic backwardness that gripped the area.
Mayor Ivančević emphasizes that today many houses in Prozor-Rama remain empty or half-empty and that it is time to change that. How? From the beginning of his political involvement, he had a clear goal – he didn’t want to be just a politician, but he had a desire to help his people, arrange settlements, roads, streets and create better living conditions. His dream was to establish a factory that, based on the example of successful German factories, would enable the employment of local workers, who would work in good conditions and be satisfied with their wages: “That dream became a reality when noble people connected him at the beginning of 2002 with Snježana Köpruner. After 40 years of waiting, they finally achieved their goal – a factory that brought 250 new jobs.”
Although there is a lot of talk about the investments in the square footage of the factory and the millions invested, Ivančević points out that the most important thing for him is that the factory has created 250 new jobs, which means 250 families who will remain living in the municipality. If the value of the factory is seen through the prism of new jobs, then its value is priceless. The mayor concludes that this achievement enabled the survival of the municipality, which was his goal 15 years ago, and that Sněžana Köpruner accepted the hand offered and together they managed to achieve this great victory for the community.
A similar narrative is shared by the Liebherr company representative, Helmuth Kaindl, who says: “Long-term cooperation is primarily based on trust and good business communication. This factory is the result of the cooperation of all of us, it will allow us better productivity, but also another more successful cooperation than we have had so far.”
Without the dedicated and conscientious work of workers, there can be no successful production either, because they are the foundation of every business success. In this spirit, the representative of the workers, Jozo Jeličić, in his speech emphasized the importance of this opportunity for all workers: “We got the opportunity not only to work, but also to actively contribute to our community, here, in the place where we grew up and where we belong. It is with particular pleasure that I would like to express my gratitude on behalf of all of us, because this moment is extremely important. A new factory was opened, which brings us not only stable jobs, but also the opportunity to return to our region, to a place we hold in our hearts and which is filled with our roots and memories. Working here, close to family, means much more than just the economic aspect – it’s a return to our community, our identity. Some of us, due to the distance, have already forgotten the smell of home air, so this opportunity is really something we have all been waiting for and gives us hope for the future.”
The “GS-Rama” factory represents more than just an increase in the number of jobs – it is a symbol of returning to the community and family. In his words, Jozo Jeličić reminds us of the importance of the connection between workers and their homeland, which includes not only an economic but also an emotional dimension.
VISIONARY OF GENERAL PROGRESS
Snjejana Köpruner recalled her arrival in Bosnia and Herzegovina 20 years ago, when she found 52 employees in Travnik who were fighting for survival after the war and post-war hardships. Those employees enabled the opening of 580 new jobs, including the factory where they are located today.
Köpruner pointed out that there is a great opportunity for further job creation, and she called on the employees to continue working with dedication and hard work, in order to attract customers and enable the return of people from abroad.
She also emphasized the importance of children who are now attending school finding jobs in the future. After that, she received a Rama towel and expressed her emotional feelings towards Prozor-Rama. Although she is not from that area, she said that every time she sees folk costumes and hears that music, she feels a strong connection and that, if there is a life before life, she must have spent time in that area in a past life: “Whenever I see these folk costumes and I hear that music, my heart flutters. If there is a life before life, then I must have spent it here.”
SNJEŽANA KÖPRUNER DONATES FUNDS TO HELP THE APPLE ORCH
After the recent floods in Jablanica, which caused great damage and seriously threatened the life of the local community, Snjejana Köpruner and her team showed exceptional solidarity and humanity, which resonated as a strong message of togetherness and responsibility. Instead of using the funds intended for gifts to the guests at the official opening of the factory for commercial purposes, they decided to donate them to help those most affected by the floods. This selfless gesture was a clear demonstration of their commitment not only to business success, but also to social responsibility.
Accordingly, the “GS-Rama” factory represents a key step in the development of the Municipality of Prozor-Rama, bringing not only industrial progress but also new hope for the local community. The opening of the factory, which will employ 250 workers, opens the possibility for a better life and for young people to stay in their area, reducing migration and restoring confidence in the future.
SS
Source: akta.ba
