Economic experts, business people, public office holders and representatives of the diplomatic corps in BiH gathered today at the “World in 2023” conference in Sarajevo to analyze the economic environment in the country and the world.
The Governor of the Central Bank of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Senad Softić, emphasized in his opening address that it is an elementary fact that economic growth is only possible with investments, private and public, domestic and foreign, and that is why the Central Bank agreed to be a co-organizer of the conference.
“We hope that she will give us concrete answers or at least alternative views on the issues, the solution of which is crucial for stronger investments in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Because without an open and constructive dialogue of all interested parties, which, in addition to the above, are also entrepreneurs, politicians, public figures, but also the population, we will not be able to move forward in the way we want,” said Softić.
He also emphasized that the expected trajectory of inflation in Bosnia and Herzegovina is similar to that in the Eurozone.
“The strong inflationary shock in 2022, which we estimate at 14.4 percent, will gradually weaken in the next two years. Expected inflation of 6.1 percent in 2023 and three percent in 2024, respectively, means that real disposable income will be under strong pressure, which will further slow down nominal, not only real, economic activity in the country. According to the November round of medium-term macroeconomic projections, in 2023 we expect growth in real economic activity of 4.1 percent,” said Softić.
British Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Julian Reilly, said that 2023 should be a year of used opportunities for Bosnia and Herzegovina because the country has a huge economic potential that needs to be used.
He added that the domestic authorities will play the biggest role in this by implementing the necessary reforms for the prosperity of all citizens and that his country is ready to support Bosnia and Herzegovina in these efforts.
Ambassador Johann Sattler, head of the EU Delegation and the EU’s special representative in BiH, stated that for faster progress, BiH needs a faster formation of government and implementation of specific programs adopted by the coalitions, which can be helped by the candidate status granted by the EU to BiH.
During panel discussions, representatives of the economic, business and diplomatic communities will try to answer questions about what challenges the world faces in 2023, the problems facing the world and the economy in BiH and how to overcome them, and offer opportunities for recovery and development of society.
Color Media Communications organize the gathering in cooperation with the Central Bank of Bosnia and Herzegovina and with the support of the Embassy of Great Britain in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Delegation of the EU to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Fena reports.
