The Chairman of the Council of Ministers Vjekoslav Bevanda received today in Sarajevo the Deputy Director of the IMF Nemat Shafik.
Chairman Bevanda expressed satisfaction with the current cooperation with the IMF, and added that during its work in BiH, hte IMF made a significant contribution in the implementation of reform activities in fulfilling the committments made by interantional financial institutions.
Deputy Director of the IMF Shafik congratulated Bevanda to a good start to the stand-by arrangement, and especially for the adoption of the 2013 budget.
She pointed out that in the coming period, the priority of the BiH government has to be economic revival, as well as addressing the high unemployment rate.
Bevanda said that BiH is a country with untapped potential, and that with hard work there will be more opportunities for economic growth through renewable energy sources, hydropower potential and public works, primarily through the construction and strenghtening of road infrastructure. Priority for the construction of an energy strategy in BiH was also emphasized.
He also stressed that the Croatian accession to the EU is an opportunity for BiH, especially since the departure of Croatia from the CEFTA system provides a prospect for relocating to BiH.
”By improving the business environment, on which we are intensively working, we believe that we will encourage private investors, and in this way provide support for medium-term development”, said Bevanda.
Emboldened by the priorities set by Bevanda, the Deputy Director of the IMF Shafik announced that the IMF willl in the coming period lend support in achieving these goals.
The meeting was also attended by the IMF President in BiH Ruben Atoyan.
