Sanjin Halimovic, FBiH minister of development, entrepreneurship and crafts, and the mayors of 12 municipalities and cities in FBiH signed yesterday agreements on allocation of money for promotion of enterprise zones in the Federation.
The signatories were mayors of Sanski Most, Maglaj, Zenica, Tesnje, Usora, Cazin, Siroki Brijeg, Livno, Zavidovici, Kresevo, Stolac, and Odzak.
The total value of the financial mechanism for financing the projects in local administrative units is 1,570,000 KM, of which the FBiH ministry secured one million, and the Swiss government will provide 570,000 KM.
It is expected that after finalization, the projects will result in the creation of 670 new jobs and improve conditions for new investments, as well as expand businesses in the enterprise zones.
Securing the systemic support to realize development priorities at the local level is a common goal for which the FBiH Ministry of Development, Entrepreneurship and Crafts, in cooperation with the Integrated Local Development Project, which is jointly supported by the Swiss government and the UNDP, launched a grant scheme to “improve enterprise zones.”
After signing the agreements, FBiH Minister Halimovic said that this means a true contribution to employment and investment in BiH and a better business environment.
“Today, when there are no great economic systems, we are trying to create business communities and can be great subjects in their perspective,” he said.
Husein Smajlovic, mayor of Zenica, said that in BiH there is missing the business environment for foreign investment.
“If we want progress for BiH, the environment needs to change to strengthen local communities, which the Federal ministry is doing,” said Smajlovic.
Miro Kraljevic, mayor of Siroki Brijeg, said that the local level must function and today’s agreements are the path to support capital investment and creating jobs.
Radoje Vidovic, mayor of Kresevo, expressed the hope that the development of business zones will attract foreign investment as well.
(Source: Oslobođenje)
