prijava
SARAJEVO, January 30 (FENA) - The World Bank has been present in BiH for a long time and it has implemented many important projects in the country, and several of them are being implemented at the moment, stated the BiH Council of Ministers Chairman Zoran Tegeltija in Sarajevo today after a meeting with the Executive Director of World Bank in BiH Koen Davidse.
Tegeltija added that they discussed all the important topics that dictate and define relations between BiH and the World Bank, as well as priorities for the preparation of a new strategy for the operation of that financial institution in BiH.
He recalled that the bank is not only present as a creditor in BiH, but also provides consulting and other services to all government institutions in BiH, but also to local communities and public companies.
“The problem is that it takes more than 30 months from the time the World Bank Board approves a project to its implementation. The ratification process with the World Bank is too long and it is necessary to simplify and shorten this ratification process by excluding certain procedures,” said Tegeltija.
According to him, the World Bank's strategy for the next five-year period should also follow the Council of Ministers' program of work and socio-economic reforms that have been jointly agreed in BiH.
He stressed that the strategy should focus on several areas - restructuring of the health sector, reform of public enterprises, and reform of the education system. The World Bank will analyze and present in the next two to three months. Also, the implementation of projects currently under implementation, such as those related to energy efficiency and road infrastructure, will also continue.
“The cooperation is at a high level and I expect it to continue in the future. Most of the projects are implemented through entity governments, some through cantons and local communities. The BiH Council of Ministers will do its part within set deadlines,” Tegeltija pointed out.
Davidse said they had a constructive talk on topics that would be included in a cooperation program, the elements of which are investing in people, health, education ... They will also continue with the reform of state-owned enterprises, creating opportunities for work in the private sector, and trying to build on earlier successes including energy efficiency projects.
“The World Bank has had extremely successful cooperation with BiH in the past decades, and we hope that it will continue in the new five-year cooperation program that we plan to agree in the coming months,” said Davidse.
The meeting was also a chance to discuss the upcoming Annual Meeting of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) constituency to be held in Sarajevo in June.
“It is a gathering of 13 World Bank members of which BiH is a part of. I am glad to come to BiH again soon, but I will not be alone then. There will be the highest representatives of these 13 countries, as well as the highest representatives of the World Bank and IMF,” added Davidse.
(FENA) S. R.
