The Third Adriatic Congress began in Neum today. At this congress, political leaders, mayors and businesspeople from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia and Serbia will review the business conditions in Southeast Europe and they will enable regional cooperation in the field of encouragement of economic development and new investments.
The Congress was opened by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of BiH Mato Franjičević, stressing that the Adriatic Congress is an extraordinary opportunity to secure better life for people in four regional countries.
“The fact that we are interested in joining the EU makes us act in an integrating manner on a regional level, meaning that we must be in line with EU standards,” Franjčević said.
This congress will name the best municipalities and cities for investment in the region – those who were awarded the Business Friendly Certification South East Europe – BFC SEE.
“This unique program of certification met a good reception in both entities in BiH. Out of 79 local administrations in the Federation, the certification was awarded to 11 in the period 2012-2015,” said the Federation of BiH Minister of Justice Mato Jozić on behalf of the FBiH Government.
He said that increasing the development of the business environment should be a continuous process which cannot be stopped when certifications are attained.
In that sense, Jozić adds, the FBiH Government will continue to provide support to municipalities through incentives in order to create a favorable business climate.
“The Republika Srpska Government is trying to enable the unburdening of the economy. The Ministry for Economic Relations and Regional Cooperation of Republika Srpska formed the Foreign Investors Council. In the following period, we will draft a strategy for encouraging foreign investment,” said the RS Minister for Economic Relations and Regional Cooperation Zlatan Klokić.
The National Alliance for Local Economic Development (NALED) has started a certification program of the favorable business environment in Serbia in 2007, and it was joined by Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Macedonia in 2012.
“To date, 10 municipalities/cities received certification, namely: Bjelovar, Ivanec, Sanski Most, Prijedor, Ruma, Stara Pazova, Leskovac, Veles and Strumica. The Congress will award new certifications to Banja Luka and Pančevo,” said Chairman of the Steering Board of NALED Vladan Atanasijević.
The Congress is organized by the Regional Council for Favorable Business Environment and the Open Regional Fund for The Modernization of Municipal Services as part of the German International Cooperation Organization.
(Source: Fena)
