SUMMARY
The period from
1945 until 1991 is extremely important in terms of the effort undertaken
primarily by the citizens of the Gradačac for the purpose of overcoming
the significant lagging in the economic and social development of
this area inherited from the previous time period. In the period of
1945-1991, a programme of reconstruction of territories devastated
by war was carried out, numerous five-year plans were implemented
with diverse, but generally positive effects. Various results in the
total socio-economic development of the municipality were achieved.
Immediately after the Second World War, the realisation of key projects
for the infrastructure was begun mainly employing the municipality’s
own resources and voluntary work. The construction of the Gradačac-Modriča
railroad was crucial for both economic and social development. In
the 50s, this contributed to the general opening up of the Gradačac
area towards other regions of Bosnia-Herzegovina, while the construction
of the power-transmission line and especially the electrification
of the Gradačac province (municipality) were an immeasurable contribution
to the improvement of the living standard. However, apart from the
railroad and first power-transmission line, in the period of 1945-1960,
the desired progress in the economic development of Gradačac was not
achieved. Nevertheless, in this particularly difficult period much
was done in terms of the reconstruction of communal infrastructure,
the repair of the destroyed roads network. Furthermore, trade companies
were formed and the development of agriculture, trading and other
branches was launched.
The government activities for achieving literacy among the population
are of special significance. Because, in 1945 there were only 20 teachers
employed in the elementary schools of Gradačac with some 900 pupils,
and more than 80% of the population were illiterate. By 1990, the
Gradačac municipality had 312 educational workers, 110 assistant workers
and over 7000 pupils in the eight-year-long elementary education system.
Along with the development of elementary education during the 60s,
the opening of the four-year secondary school, the Higher General
Gymnasium, in Gradačac in 1951 was the main facilitator of development
of the educational system. Capable professionals were formed: professors,
engineers, agronomists, veterinarians, economists, lawyers and professionals
in other fields, in order to satisfy the needs o society. In comparison
to the educational situation of 1945, by the end of 1991, this branch
had reached a level that was worthy of respect, which, reciprocally,
had a great impact on the entirety of social reproduction.
Serious steps towards the alternation of the economic and social structure
of this region are undertaken during the 60s, and accelerated development
is noted after 1970.
In the past century, in the period from the 60s until the 80s, the
most significant changes in socio-economic development took place.
The foundations for the industrial development of the Gradačac municipality
were established by the launching of industrial concerns such as:
“Kula” (clothes), “Namještaj” (furniture), production facilities of
the Sarajevo Tobacco Factory, Factory of Motor Parts (TMD), “Hempro”,
Rubber Products Factory “Ris”, “Bosnaprodukt” (fruit processing factory
with a refrigeration plant) and other concerns. Industry becomes the
leading branch of the economy. In this period, over 4000 workers are
employed in the public sector. Investment increased gradually, which
facilitated the construction of important structures s such as:
- the earthen dam on the lake “Hazna”, with the water accumulation
capacity of over 800,000 cube meters, and a sports and recreation
centre on the grounds surrounding the lake;
- lake dam “Vidara” with the water accumulation capacity of approximately
400,000 cube meters, which eliminated the possibility of devastating
floods in this region and contributed to the improvement of water
supply to the town and the industry;
- modern water-supply structures for the municipality, and especially
for the town of Gradačac, and the installation of the most modern
waste water purification system in the town and the industrial zone;
- regulation of the Gradašnica river and the construction of the East
and West lateral canal, which contributed to the regulation of the
water regime not only in the Gradačac area, but also in the entire
Posavina;
- modern motorways and the reconstruction of existing roads in 1968,
including the most significant asphalt motorway Gradačac-Ormanica,
which connected the municipality to the modern regional motorway Županja-Tuzla-Sarajevo-Mostar-Opuzen,
and the modernisation of roads to Modriča, Bosanski Šamac, Gračanica,
Orašje, as well as local motorways;
- he construction of asphalt streets in Gradačac and roads towards
larger villages (in the 90s, Gradačac had 239.6 km of motorways, of
which 40 km were main roads, 44 km were regional roads and 155,6 km
were local roads);
- the development of the electrical power supply system where, apart
from the construction of the power-transmission network, the necessary
sub-stations were also constructed, which enabled the supply of electricity
to the entire are of the Gradačac municipality (This provided the
economy with sufficient electrical power for its existing capacities
and also for the construction of new capacities. In the 90s, the total
consumption of electrical energy in Gradačac was 35,000 MWh, of which
over 20,000 MWh was household consumption);
- hotel in the town centre and the adaptation of the Tower of Husein-kapetan
Gradaščević as an extremely significant and attractive cultural and
historical monument, the construction of the “Banja Ilid`a” hotel
with 160 beds and other facilities for the use of thermal mineral
waters (The construction on these facilities opened a perspective
for further development of tourism through spa and health tourism);
- construction of the socio-economic centre “Skenderija” which was
necessary for the international economic and tourism manifestation
called the “Plum Convention” (the “Day of the Plum” was established
in 1969), the literary manifestation “Kikić’s Meetings” (established
in 1973 as a literary event of Yugoslav importance) and sports and
recreational activities (the women’s volleyball club of Gradačac was
a member of the first federal volleyball legue);
- improvement of healthcare according to the requirements of the citizens
(Replacing the capacities of a single doctor that cared for the health
of the Gradačac population in 1945, a few years after the war the
necessary healthcare facilities were constructed and furnished with
modern equipment, and in 1990, Gradačac had some 60 highly qualified
health workers and a modern Medical Centre with the necessary specialist
services).
The development period until the 70s had a slower tempo, but great
efforts were undertaken for the purpose of designing a productive
orientation for socio-economic development. In that period numerous
processing capacities are built, which introduce, with greater or
lesser success, new processes and a new approach to production. In
the industry, lesser capacities than the ones built elsewhere in Bosnia-Herzegovina
are constructed (which will later prove to be a correct and wise approach).
And, due to its productivity, the industry became the leading branch
in the development of the Gradačac region.
The level of total employment in the public and private sector in
the 90s reached the number of some 8000 employed. However, this region
was not free of the so-called “grey” economy related to agricultural
households. In terms of employment levels and national product and
national income, this category of activities is not included in official
statistical data. According to realistic estimates, some 5000 workers
were involved part-time in this very significant activity sector.
This sector also had significant basic means (a great number of vehicles)
and substantial financial capital. This was why outsiders often wondered
how Gradačac could be an undeveloped area when according to external
phenomena (the construction of roads, residential buildings, schools
and even economic activities) it does not leave such an impression.
In the field of agriculture (excepting some side-tracks and mistakes)
processes of modernisation were conducted as well as the application
of the commodities of science and modern technology in production.
This took place in the public sector as well as on private estates.
The business of economic organisations was substantially improved.
Through the modern organisation of work and modern technology, greater
efficiency was achieved. Positive changes were noted in the accepting
of expert staff in the organisations of joined work. The Gradačac
economy of the 90s achieved the export value of approximately 15 million
USD per year, exporting mainly to the West-European market, with a
positive foreign-currency influx, considering the extent of export.
The constant efforts of working people with organisational contributions,
i.e. donations of means in the form of income portions, and the significant
support of the wider socio-political community (beginning in the 70s)
in the supply of financial means for a faster material transformation
pulled the Gradačac municipality out of the circle of significantly
under-developed municipalities by the end of 1979. That is the first
occurrence of such achievement in post-war development. Otherwise,
according to numerous statistical indications, until the 60s Gradačac
was among the 5 least developed municipalities of the 104 municipalities
of Bosnia-Herzegovina.
In the 46-year-long period of 1945-1991, Gradačac was rejuvenated
in all the areas of socio-economic life. New generations of highly
educated people, professional workers, qualified enthusiasts were
formed, industry became the leading branch in the development of the
Gradačac region, and in agriculture new methods were adopted which
enable greater production for the requirements of the population and
for the purposes of export.
