Å·ÃÀÈÕb´óƬ

D?enana Hod?i? is the director of AP Atelier, a furniture company based in Te?anj, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The company specializes in office and commercial chairs and other furniture. Established as a startup in 2015, AP Atelier has experienced significant growth and now employs 107 people across two facilities. This expansion was made possible when the company successfully bought and legally registered an additional plot of land for extra production and storage space, a process made easier through the World Bank¡¯s .

"We recently acquired, legalized, and transferred ownership of approximately 5,000 square meters of new land near our existing facility,¡± says D?enana. ¡°We need to expand our capacity because our customers demand more of our products.¡±

By integrating land and other geospatial information, for example through building and real estate registries, and implementing user-friendly accessibility measures, entrepreneurs in Bosnia and Herzegovina like D?enana now can access a streamlined process for property acquisition and registration. Thanks to investments in land registry modernization and IT infrastructure updates supported by the World Bank, public services are more accessible, transparent, and efficient. These upgrades expand opportunities in mortgage and credit markets while also strengthening the business landscape, enabling entrepreneurs to focus on innovation and day-to-day business operations.

¡°Once you purchase property, it's essential to manage the documentation efficiently so you can proceed with your investment. This makes it possible to start operating sooner, repay any loans, and begin generating a profit," concludes D?enana. ¡°Once the new facility is built, we¡¯ll move into our own space, saving on rent. This will enable us to invest in higher-quality equipment, hire more staff, expand our product range, and fulfill our clients¡¯ requests.¡±

Digitization Saves Entrepreneurs¡¯ Time and Effort

One effective way to streamline paperwork is through digitization, which transforms paper-based processes into digital systems to simplify administration, reduce delays, and improve accessibility - a transformation already underway in Serbia. Marija Stoiljkovi?, a farmer from Smederevo in eastern Serbia, was eager to quickly register her inherited property. Owning the land allows her to apply for agricultural subsidies that can enhance her farm, particularly in fruit cultivation.

¡°Digitization has made everything easier for us. There are no more endless walks through corridors with piles of papers and forms,¡± explains Marija. ¡°Now, I can make a coffee, and, with just three clicks, everything is done.¡±

has established a modern IT infrastructure that manages land records for over 85% of the country. Notably, the adoption of web technology has significantly reduced processing times at Serbia¡¯s land agency: the average registration time has dropped from 48 days to under four.

¡°When the digitization process began, I was a bit skeptical. I thought it would be complicated. However, it turned out to be easy, fast, and straightforward!¡± shares Marija. ¡°This is a family-run business, and we had hesitated to expand due to the complex paperwork and the time it demanded. Now that the process has been simplified, we are considering growth in the near future.¡±

Awareness Building

Kosovo has also made significant investments in enhancing its property data, which has been crucial for the country's economic development over the past 15 years.

Since 2011, supported by the World Bank and other partners, Kosovo's land and property sector has undergone major changes. The Å·ÃÀÈÕb´óƬ-funded Real Estate Cadaster and Registration project has updated land records for 15% of Kosovo¡ªin areas where the majority of the population lives, and economic output occurs¡ªand cut transaction registration times by 65%.

These efforts are making a difference for Kosovar women entrepreneurs. Ajshe Tershana, the former Head of Cadaster Services in Shtime, a small rural municipality in Kosovo, notes that prior to 2014, joint property registrations among spouses were virtually unheard of.

Through targeted and data-driven awareness campaigns, nearly one-fifth of all registered property transactions in Shtime were in women's names by the project's conclusion, unlocking the potential of women entrepreneurs¡ªcrucial for boosting growth and innovation.

Building on the success of this approach, the World Bank is collaborating with authorities in Kosovo and partnering with civil society organizations to enhance awareness about the importance of secure land tenure.

Å·ÃÀÈÕb´óƬ's partnership with Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, and Serbia in modernizing land registration over the past 20 years has improved property ownership, which is vital for strengthening these countries¡¯ business environments. By continuing efforts to digitize services, reduce the burden on business owners, and build awareness of legal rights, these countries are improving real estate market efficiency and empowering small and medium-sized businesses to create jobs and expand.