Governor of the Central Bank of Bosnia and Herzegovina (CBBH) Senad Softić attended, as a member of BiH delegation, the Annual Session of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, held from October 9 to 15 in Marrakesh (Morocco).
The BiH delegation, apart from Governor Softić, consists of the Minister of Civil Affairs of BiH Dubravka Bošnjak, the Minister of Transport and Communications of BiH Edin Forto and the Deputy Minister of Finance and Treasury of BiH Muhamed Hasanović.
Current developments in the world economy and international financial markets, the consequences of heightened geopolitical tensions on the economy, and the strengthening of international cooperation were discussed at the Annual General Meeting. IMF Director General Kristalina Georgieva presented the Global Policy Program at the session.
During his stay in Marrakesh, the governor, together with Minister Bošnjak, held bilateral meetings with senior officials of the IMF, the Deputy Director General of the IMF, Bo Li, and the Director of the European Department of the IMF, Alfred Kammer.
The meetings highlighted, among other things, the importance and role of the CBBH in preserving monetary stability in a complex political and economic environment.
The Governor presented the activities and plans of the CBBH in the coming period with the aim of providing support to the economy and citizens, and particularly emphasized the further improvement of the payment system and harmonization with SEPA (Single Payment in the Eurozone) and TIPS (Instant Payment in the EU). On this project, he added, close cooperation was achieved with the World Bank and other countries of the Western Balkans.
“The goal is to align with the rules and standards of the EU and create a basis for payments to be more efficient, faster, cheaper and safer,” said the governor.
The governor pointed to the need for accelerated implementation of the planned reforms in order to improve the environment in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and create conditions to encourage qualified and highly educated young people to stay in the country.
Minister Bošnjak informed the representatives of the IMF about the agenda of the Council of Ministers of BiH, as well as about the necessary reform processes in BiH that are in accordance with the recommendations of the IMF, as well as the set priorities for membership in the European Union.
The IMF and the World Bank have given full support to the CBBH and the institutions of BiH in continuing to implement their mandate and planned reforms.
As part of the Annual Session of the IMF and the World Bank, the governor also attended a meeting of the Dutch-Belgian constituency to which Bosnia and Herzegovina belongs, and a meeting of IMF officials with the governors and finance ministers of the countries of Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe, where economic issues were discussed. prospects, potential risks and challenges for Europe for the next period.
The annual meetings of the IMF and the World Bank are a platform where central bankers and finance ministers of member countries discuss the world economy and policies as a response to the challenges of achieving growth, equality and progress, the CBBH Communications Office announced.
