INTERVIEW: RAMIZ MULAOMEROVIĆ, DIRECTOR AND CO-OWNER OF COMPANY ‘NEIMARI’ D.O.O. SARAJEVO
Interviewed by: Hamed IBIŠEVIĆ
SARAJEVO, Aug. 23 (ONASA) – Director and co-owner of the company “Neimari” d.o.o. Sarajevo in the interview for the Agency ONASA, among other things, talks about the core business of the company, profile of employees, tradition and love of work, previous restoration of buildings, materials for restoration, the current state of the construction industry, the message to young people…
Co-owner and director of the company ”Neimari” gave the interview during a recent visit to the Agency ONASA in new premises at Hamdije Kreševljakovića 12/I.
ONASA: What year was the company Neimari d.o.o. Sarajevo founded and can you describe in more detail its activities?
MULAOMEROVIĆ: The company was founded in 1938, and as “NEIMARI” d.o.o. Sarajevo we operate since 1995. The principal activities of the company are the design, engineering, construction and transport. However, we are mostly focused on the construction, thus we have profiled in two sectors. One is reconstruction, conservation and restoration of old buildings, and the second is based on the construction of modern buildings.
ONASA: How many employees does your company have and what kind of profiles are employees who deal with specific restoration works?
MULAOMEROVIĆ: We currently employ 75 workers, of which 10 are highly educated persons of construction, architectural, archaeological and economic profession. Others are masters of various profiles necessary for the performance of our business – locksmiths, masons, bar benders, carpenters, plasters, ceramists, restorers, painters…
ONASA: What is the strength of family businesses in relation to other types of companies?
MULAOMEROVIĆ: The strength of our company is in a long tradition. Introduction to the construction starts at an early age, or better to say at young age one is learning about construction, researching and in that way you fall in love with the profession. Of course, later on through school and faculty that introduction gets new dimension, new knowledge is acquired, and later through actual practice the base gets its necessary upgrade and get the complete engineer. Also, it is necessary, as in any other business, to have mutual trust, without which nothing would be achieved.
ONASA: What are buildings you have restored that you are the most proud of and do you restore more religious buildings or other buildings?
MULAOMEROVIĆ: We are especially proud of our old buildings that we restored because we have a “feeling” for the old. For us old is beautiful, but it needs some work, and then it has invaluable value. The most important buildings we restored are: Gazi Husrev-bey’s Hanikan in Sarajevo, the White Bastion, mosques in Sarajevo: Bey’s, Emperor’a, Čekrekčinica, Ferhadija, then the restoration of the Old Town in Stolac, Ferhadija mosque in Banja Luka. We are particularly proud of the stone bridges in Sarajevo: Šeherćehaja’s bridge, Goat Bridge, and Latin Bridge. We have just finished work on the former Hotel Zagreb in Sarajevo. We are currently engaged on the conservation of the old town of Sokolac in Bihać, and the restoration of the Emperor’s Mosque in Foča, as well as the construction of some new buildings in Sarajevo. Soon are to begin the reconstruction works on the entire Baščaršija square in Sarajevo.
ONASA: Do you have problems with materials, given the fact that these old materials with which were built historically important objects practically do not exist anymore?
MULAOMEROVIĆ: Restoration works do not really know new technologies. We mostly use local materials, where we the first do the analysis and try to apply the same or similar technology of the installation. These are authentic materials. New materials for this type of work are very rarely used.
ONASA: What is the annual turnover of the company, how many projects do you currently have ongoing and how does the construction progress?
MULAOMEROVIĆ: The turnover of the company is growing from year to year and is around 5 million BAM per year.
ONASA: What is the situation in the construction industry in BiH?
MULAOMEROVIĆ: The situation in the construction industry is generally very difficult. Investors usually only look to get the cheapest contractor without paying attention to quality. For us, quality is still in the first place. We prefer not to work, than to do bad work. The arrival of new investments should significantly improve the situation.
ONASA: What would you say to young people who are entering faculties or who have just finished the faculty and are looking for a job?
MULAOMEROVIĆ: To all young people the message is to choose the profession they love, that is, a job where they see themselves in the future. Education is the key to every success, and that during the studies they should strive for knowledge, not for the title. Only then can they expect success in business. (end)