The panel “One Region, One Economy – Connectivity and Potential” was held in the framework of the Sarajevo Business Forum. In the focus of the panel was the economic connection of the region and the unused potential of cooperation of businessmen and countries in the region.
Minister of Communications and Transport of BiH Ismir Jusko said that BiH, thanks to the framework transport strategy, will earn around 200 million EUR in the next period.
During the panel, Minister Jusko talked about regional infrastructure projects and projects on which the Ministry is working. He recalled that BiH could have lost funds if it had not adopted the Framework Transport Strategy, and he noted that the European Union extended the deadline for our country in order for the strategy to be adopted at the state level.
Former President of Croatia Stjepan Mesic gave his support and attended the Forum as well. He noted that for the regional countries, besides mutual interconnection, it is important to understand what is currently happening in the international economic environment because the countries of Southeast Europe cannot afford to stand passively while changes are taking place everywhere else.
Vice-President of the European Commission and European Commissioner for employment, growth, investment, and competitiveness Jyrki Katainen noted the importance of the SBF in connecting the business community of the Western Balkans with international investors, via a video message from Brussels.
He also noted that they have allocated 1.3 billion EUR for 139 projects in the western Balkans in the fields of transport, energy, environment and social projects in the past few years through their investment capacities.
“We have invested around 900 million EUR in the infrastructure sector in BiH, mainly in roads, railways and the Corridor 5C, as well as the highway Doboj – Banja Luka,” said Lan Brown, Director of the EBRD.
(Source: akta.ba)
