According to the published preliminary data of the Central Bank of Bosnia and Herzegovina, direct foreign investments in 2018 reached the amount of 800 million BAM, recording an increase of 2.8% compared to 2017, when 777 million BAM was recorded.
The growth trend of foreign investment from 2017 has continued in 2018.
FIPA Director Gordan Milinic said he was satisfied with this amount because last year was extremely difficult to attract foreign investors due to pre-election rhetoric that deterred foreign investors questioning whether their capital would be safe in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
If judged by the number of meetings and contacts that FIPA established and held since the beginning of 2019, it can be expected the growth trend in 2019 to continue. There are also announcements of new investments this year, as well as a significant number of projects started in 2018, which implementation will continue in 2019. The start-up cycle will bring new jobs, employing our citizens, increasing the state tax, new technology, and strengthening our citizens’ living standards, was stated from FIPA.
It is very important to continue with the reform processes and to show a willingness to improve the country’s opportunities. Increasing investment and employment is a sufficient motive to continue to improve the business environment in the country by stimulating businessmen, improving competitiveness and image of the country.
In 2018, the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) magazine placed BiH on the third place as the region of the future for attracting foreign investment on the basis of business costs for the year of 2018.
This great acknowledgment is another proof that BiH is a profitable location for foreign investments and that with solving of some of the crucial shortcomings, which cannot be compensated by promotional activities, it could realize a much larger inflow of direct foreign investment.
Moreover, BiH was included in the competition of 481 locations among the top 10 investment destinations in a total of 7 different categories regarding price competitiveness, FDI strategy and economic potentials. The RS was also included as one of the entities of BiH, as well as the West Herzegovina Canton and Bijeljina, Prijedor and Zvornik.
