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SARAJEVO, March 28 (FENA) - The region must pay more attention to digitalization and innovation to promote technological progress, reduce inequality and ensure better economic resilience, it was pointed out today in Sarajevo at a conference on the topic 'Investing in digitalization in the Western Balkans'.
The conference was organized by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the European Investment Bank (EIB) Global and it was said that new technologies and digital transformation are rapidly changing the world, including the Western Balkans.
Director of the Department for Policy Strategies and Implementation at the EBRD, Christoph Denk, said in his opening address that the focus of the conference is on the private sector and that digitalization increases development, competitiveness and new business models. Also, as he added, there will be talking about how the public sector develops thanks to digitalization and how it becomes more efficient and accessible, as well as the regulatory environment regarding digitalization.
“We see digitalization as an instrument for economic development. There is still a lot that needs to be done in the Western Balkans so that we can enjoy the results of digitalization and that is exactly why we gathered here to consider some successful models, to talk about possibilities and networking,” said Denk.
Head of the Regional Center for the Western Balkans at EIB Global, Alessandro Bragonzi, said that digitalization is the key to economic development and a prerequisite for a better economy and social benefits. He emphasized that the region must accelerate its progress on this path and that access to the digital economy for the wider population is the key to development.
“Our goal in the Western Balkans is to contribute to the improvement of the digitalization of the private sector. Europe and the Western Balkans must focus on three elements, namely the creation and support of a digital ecosystem, a strategic vision and appropriate political support for the development of digitalization and appropriate skills,” Bragonzi pointed out.
Majlinda Bregu, Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council, said that digitalization and the digital agenda for the Western Balkans in the last few years show that they have a positive role and that they embody the spirit of inclusive regional cooperation.
“Today's event is very useful because it is about shared potentials and I hope that we will all hear some inspiring stories in the panels that will show the way forward and point out the main challenges faced by digitalization in this region. The meeting of donors this afternoon will seek a joint effort for one, quantitatively and qualitatively, a new step in digitalization in the Western Balkans,” said Bregu.
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