prijava
SARAJEVO, April 21 (FENA) - Nearly 2,000 participants, including the highest-level representatives of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the leaders of the Western Balkan countries and representatives of the business community from many other Western European countries, will gather from May 7 to 9 in Sarajevo at the Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors, the investment conference and a business forum of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).
Author: Hana Imamović
The EBRD President Suma Chakrabarti confirmed in an interview with FENA that the business communities from the 38 economies in which the EBRD is present are also to attend these events.
As noted by the EBRD, it will organize its annual meeting and a business forum in 2019 in Sarajevo as a unique opportunity to present Sarajevo and Bosnia and Herzegovina as a place suitable for doing business, assessing that BiH has huge potentials.
"Foreign direct investment is crucial not only for BiH, and not only for the countries of the Western Balkans but for the whole of Europe. Such investments are very important not only as a source of long-term financing, which comes with dedication and perspective but also for the transfer of skills and knowledge," explained President of the EBRD.
Therefore, he rated as important the need for countries to take the next steps in the development, but also noted that it means a lot to foreign investors when they have the opportunity to get to know a country first hand.
Chakrabarti noted that this is a unique opportunity for investors that they will get at the annual meeting of the EBRD, as it will enable investors to be able to get to know Sarajevo and Bosnia and Herzegovina, as many of them would otherwise not come to BiH.
Chakrabarti also spoke about the areas of investment in the countries of the Western Balkans, saying that the Western Balkans is a region of key importance for the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
"Last year alone, we invested more than 1.1 billion euros through 67 projects in six countries, which is a record result, and this year we are striving to achieve a similar level of investment," he explained.
The activities of EBRD are based on addressing the region's core challenges, and investments are often made in combination with advisory services and policy reforms, including private sector development, regional and European integration, and projects in the area of so-called green energy.
"The potential of the region is significant and we want to reveal it," Chakrabarti said, adding that the annual new investments in 2018 increased to almost 200 million euros, a significant increase from 130 million euros allocated in 2017.
So far, the EBRD's investments in Bosnia and Herzegovina amounted to 2.3 billion euros through 160 projects since the start of operations in 1995.
"This year we expect a further expansion of investments of up to 300 million euros, which should be made possible partly because of the annual meeting, and on the other hand, there is a significant demand for our financing," he stressed.
Asked about the EBRD's cooperation with representatives of the institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina, President Chakrabarti said that there are very close relations and, as he said, fruitful cooperation with government representatives and at all levels of government at the state, entity, cantonal or local levels.
"Our work is based on a national strategy that is being developed in agreement with government representatives and relevant decision makers. In the case of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the last strategy was adopted in 2017, for a five-year period," recalled Chakrabarti.
As a sign of good cooperation with the business community and the BiH authorities, he singled out a high percentage of credit utilization.
EBRD President Suma Chakrabarti, at the end of the interview with FENA, thanked the BiH authorities for the great support they have provided in organizing and holding the Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors, an investment conference and a business forum of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) in May this year.
It is expected for Bosnia and Herzegovina to sign contracts with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development worth 220 million euros, which have already been prepared, which relate to the development of infrastructure, primarily continuation of the construction on the Corridor 5-C.
(FENA) S. R.
