The Prime Minister of the FBiH Nermin Nikšić, Federal Minister of Finance Ante Krajina, Minister of Transport and Communication Enver Bijedić, and the Minister of Mining and Industry Erdah Trhulj received in Sarajevo yesterday the high delegation of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) consisting of the director-members of the Steering Committee of this financial institution.
The goal of this regular several-day visit to BiH is for the directors to become familiar with the progress of the country in the process of transition, to assess the affect of EBRD activities on that process, and to become more aware of local and foreign businesses and the diplomatic community.
Noting that in preparation of new strategies for BiH for the period of 2013-2015 through an interactive approach to take into account opinions and suggestions from our country, EBRD representatives said that they would continue to lend support to projects in the public sector, and that in the next period to turn to private and, as they have said, the commercialization of state-owned companies.
Prime Minister Nikšić spoke to the board of directors on the efforts made by the government in order to create a better business environment for foreign investors and preparations of laws that would enable a more efficient fight against corruption and organized crime.
“We have noted 360 obstacles to the agreement with the Council of Foreign Investors, and until now we have jointly eliminated 260. Also, we can be happy of what we have achieved so far for the plan to create an environment for an efficient fight against corruption and organized crime, and on the fact that the Law on Confiscation of Property that has been acquired in an illegal way has been adopted. Apart from that, we are the only country in the region that is preparing a law on corruption whistleblower protection. I hope that in this way we can create an environment that would increase investment in the private sector and maintain the level of investment in the public sector’’, said Prime Minister Nikšić.
After evaluating a number of very positive legislative solutions that have been brought or are in preparation, EBRD representatives have promised to continue cooperation and participation in a higher level of investment in the FBiH, especially in infrastructure projects, electro-energy, industry and support of small and medium-sized businesses.
Until now, EBRD has, through hundreds of different projects to increase the development of infrastructure, support of small and medium-sized businesses and strengthening the financial sector in BiH invested around 1,5 billion euros, and from which last year 125 million euros have been approved.
