From 25 to 27 June 2024, CONNECTO 2024 took place at INTERA Technology Park in Mostar. The conference brought together over 280 business people from 29 countries. The goal was to connect Bosnian and Herzegovinian entrepreneurs with the diaspora and create space for new investments and international partnerships.
This was the seventh edition of CONNECTO conference. MICE.BA organised the conference for the second consecutive year, taking full responsibility for one of the most logistically demanding events INTERA Technology Park delivers annually.
Event Details
Client and venue: INTERA Technology Park, Mostar
Event: CONNECTO 2024 – International Business Conference
Dates: 25 to 27 June 2024
Participants: Over 280 from 29 countries
B2B meetings held: 356
Format: Hybrid (in-person and online)
Supporting partners: GIZ, European Union, Enterprise Europe Network
Why INTERA Technology Park Chose an External PCO
CONNECTO involves a large number of government and non-government actors. Diaspora representatives, international partners and the coordination of many speakers and participants across a three-day programme. The preparation starts at least six months before the event and continues for months afterwards through systematic follow-up with partners and participants.
Vedran Šimunović, Director of INTERA Technology Park, made the decision to engage an external event management specialist. Previous editions showed how significantly a conference of this scale strains the internal team’s capacity alongside their daily operational responsibilities.
He chose MICE.BA and Josipa Terzić – Rezić as the external partner. The result was a clearer division of responsibilities, faster decision-making and better coordination across all stakeholders involved in the conference.
For international organisations and agencies considering a similar model, this case study is relevant. Engaging an external PCO for a major annual conference reduces risk, protects internal team capacity and raises the operational standard of the event.
Event Strategy: Programme Design Determines Results
Designing the conference programme is one of the most important steps in organising a business conference. It directly determines whether the event achieves its objectives.
The CONNECTO 2024 programme was built around a clear purpose. Connecting the potential of the Bosnian and Herzegovinian diaspora with domestic entrepreneurs, strengthening joint investment and creating a platform for long-term collaboration.
Particular attention went to aligning the programme content with the strategic goals of INTERA Technology Park as an organisation. This meant that every session served a purpose that went beyond filling time on the agenda.
The programme included four keynote addresses, three moderated conversations and two panel discussions. Notable speakers included Petar Pero Desnica (Ruff Cycles), who spoke about building a globally competitive brand from Bosnia and Herzegovina. Loksan Harley, an international diaspora expert, who discussed the role of diaspora in economic development. Davor Krezić (Alfa Therm), who addressed the consequences of mass youth emigration from the country.
B2B Platform: 356 Meetings Held
One of the defining features of CONNECTO 2024 was the integration of the b2match B2B platform. The platform allowed participants to manage their professional profiles and schedule online and on-site B2B meetings. Participants had the chance to present their companies to the broader business community and access the full programme and speaker details.
The result was 356 B2B meetings held during the conference, creating direct business value for participants. Networking component was structured and measurable as the conference programme itself.
CONNECTO 2024 is a working example of how a well-integrated platform changes the quality of participant engagement.
Hybrid Format and Technical Production
The hybrid format allowed participants who could not attend in person to follow the full programme remotely, with recordings available afterwards. Technical production was handled by ProEvent d.o.o. Sarajevo, covering audio, lighting and LED displays, visual production and live streaming on the b2match platform. INTERA TP Facebook page and YouTube channel were also covered.
For an event with participants from 29 countries, the hybrid format was not only a technical solution. It was a strategic decision to keep the conference open to the diaspora and international partners.
Pre-Conference Networking Dinner
The evening before the conference, a business dinner was held at Marića gaj in Grude, with traditional local food and music. The purpose was to give speakers, panellists and participants a chance to meet informally before the official programme began. These conversations often lead to the most direct and productive connections of the whole conference.
What the Client Said
“Josipa Terzić Rezić and MICE.BA led the organisation of the CONNECTO conference for two consecutive years. She take responsibility for one of the most organisationally demanding events we deliver at INTERA Technology Park. Her engagement, which began at least six months before the conference and continued for months afterwards through systematic follow-up, was central to the stability and success of the entire process. Professionalism, organisational discipline and the ability to manage complex processes made her contribution irreplaceable.”
Vedran Šimunović, Director, INTERA Technology Park Mostar
What This Case Study Demonstrates
CONNECTO 2024 confirmed Mostar as a credible destination for international MICE events and positioned INTERA Technology Park as one of the leading conference organisers in the region. It also demonstrated a model that more organisations are beginning to consider: engaging an external PCO for major annual events while keeping the internal team focused on their core work.
For international agencies looking for a conference organisation partner in Bosnia and Herzegovina with experience managing large, complex and internationally attended events, CONNECTO 2024 is the clearest reference in the MICE.BA portfolio.
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Author: Josipa Terzić – Rezić, CIS and CCMEP Certified Professional Event Organiser
CIS – Certified Incentive Specialist (certified by SITE – Society for Incentive Travel Excellence)
CMPA – Certified Congress, Meeting, and Event Professional (certified by the HCCP – Croatian Association of Congress Professionals)
