According to the information published by the Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees of BiH, more than two million people native to this country live outside of its borders. Through bank transfers, from different addresses abroad, around 3.5 billion BAM or more than 1.7 billion EUR arrive in BiH every year. Even more money comes to this country through unofficial channels. The money is intended for private purposes, i.e. as support for families, while the investments of diaspora in the economic growth of their country are still not sufficient.
Over the past five years, the share of this money in gross national income ranges between ten and 15 percent. Haris Halilović, Vice-President of the World Federation of BiH Diaspora, sees as “a gold mine that is untapped”.
Why is the money that arrives from more than 50 countries where Bosnians and Herzegovinians live today intended mostly for families and friends, and not invested in economy and development of BiH?
“Everyone who knows something about business and businessmen do not invest with hearts but heads, and they go to places where they can generate profit. Conditions in BiH – corruption issues, poor tax policies, issues with obtaining of paperwork and various permits – take too much time in BiH. In Macedonia, all paperwork can be completed in three days. In BiH, the record so far is 60 days,” said Namik Alimajstorović, one of the founders of the umbrella organization of BiH citizens abroad.
All those are reasons that push back serious investors, Alimajstorović claims.
“So, family and friends receive help, but when it comes to serious business, people simply give up when they see all the problems that follow investing in BiH,” Alimajstorović said.
Medaga Hodžić who lives in Italy also mentions some obstacles for investing in national projects: “There is always this constant obstacle – administrative and political, as well as the insufficient will of BiH authorities for joint investments with investors abroad”.
Hasan Šehović, President of the Main Board of the World Federation of BiH Diaspora, said that in order to implement serious investments the country must have an official strategy. BiH still does not have one.
“We knock on the door and the door opens. But it all comes down to enthusiasm of individuals who are ready to do something. The state must have an institutionalized relation, a strategy, plan and program according to which they can work and connect with diaspora,” Šehović said.
The Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees of BiH announced that by the end of the year the document that will show a different attitude of BiH towards its two-million diaspora will be adopted.
(Source: fokus.ba/photo: avaz.ba)
