Chairman and members of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Milorad Dodik and Zeljko Komsic and Sefik Dzaferovic talked today with Japanese Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu, whom they briefed on the current socio-economic situation in BiH and BiH’s path to full EU membership.
Minister Toshimitsu emphasized that Japan will continue to support BiH on its path to the EU.
Members of the Presidency of BiH thanked the Government of Japan for development assistance, which through numerous programs has been supporting the reform process in BiH for years.
They pointed out that Japan is one of the most important donors in BiH, where the priority areas of assistance to primary health care, education, demining, water supply, agriculture, environmental protection, infrastructure culture.
They also thanked Japan for its help during the catastrophic floods in BiH in 2014. Minister Toshimitsu informed the members of the Presidency of BiH about the new non-refundable aid in the amount of about eight million BAM, which will be realized within the Program of Economic and Social Development of the Government of Japan.
These funds are intended to strengthen the capacity of the BiH authorities to manage the migrant crisis. He also said that Japan will send a demining aid grant in the amount of around 800,000 BAM, and agreements on the realization of both donations were signed today in Sarajevo.
The current pandemic caused by the Covid-19 virus was also discussed at the meeting. In that context, the members of the Presidency of BiH thanked the Government of Japan for the donated aid in the amount of about 1,500,000 BAM, used for equipping medical institutions in BiH, the Presidency of BiH stated in the elease.
