The Foreign Investment Promotion Agency (FIPA) will continue its activities in 2013 for the promotion of BiH economic sectors, which could attract foreign investors, activities for presenting available BiH investment projects, providing information to potential foreign investors connected to the business environment in the country, and legislation in the sphere of foreign investment.
This is what the Spokesperson for FIPA Jasmina Halilović said in an interview with FENA. She added that the Agency, in cooperation with the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of BiH and the Foreign Trade Chamber of BiH, would regularly inform the target groups and potential foreign investors, of available investment projects in any sector, whether in BiH or abroad.
She pointed out that among the planned activities in 2013, FIPA is participating in the first Investment and Trade Forum of BiH and the United Kingdom on 18 April.
She explained that at the forum investment opportunities and conditions for investing in BiH would be presented, with an emphasis on the energy sector, agriculture, tourism, and infrastructure and manufacturing industries.
At the Forum, FIPA will have its own booth where those interested could receive detailed information on the possibilities of investing in BiH, as well as information on concrete investment projects that are looking for foreign partners.
“It is also planned to participate at the Munich Fair in October, and eventually in other fairs based on available funds. Among the activities in 2013 it is important to mention the planned activities of post-investment support to foreign investors in countries where FIPA will implement in cooperation with relevant institutions of the FBiH, cantons and municipalities. An agreement of cooperation is expected between the BiH Council of Ministers and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) on a project to improve the business environment in BiH”, said Jasmina Halilović.
She announced that such institutions would work together to lend support to current investors to motivate them to continue to invest and in the current capacities of their expansion. Their goal is to increase the number of employed and the economic development of the country.
‘’They will work together to identify the barriers to business and to eliminate them as soon as possible. It is necessary to mention the creation and distribution of FIPA promotional materials (electronic and print) as one of the activities”, she said.
She noted that over the past few years, foreign investment for the most part was based on reinvesting in current projects, which is the main trend at the global level, as well as in BiH.
“Therefore, FIPA will focus a large part of its activities in 2013 on lending support to current foreign investors in BiH in order to motivate and encourage them to reinvest in current projects or expand current capacities.
“The encouraging fact is that the interest of foreign investors is expressed for the planned energy projects of hydroelectric power plants in the RS or the thermal power blocks in the FBIH”, said the Spokesperson of FIPA.