The best places for investments in Republic of Srpska

Local communities that are thinking about their economic progress should enter the BFC SEE certification process, because it will help them be more efficient in communicating with businessmen and future investors - is one of the messages that could be heard from the recent meeting in Jahorina.

How to reach investors, how to improve competitiveness and the importance of the international program BFC SEE certification of cities and municipalities – are some of the main topics discussed at the conference: "Business friendly environment and investment increase", which is supported by NALED as the Regional Technical Secretariat, and organized by the Chamber of Commerce of Republic of Srpska and the Business Friendly Environment Network of Republic of Srpska, consisting of the Ministry of Administration and Local Government, the Ministry of Economy and Entrepreneurship and the Association of Municipalities and Cities of Republic of Srpska.

NALED Executive Director Violeta Jovanović, as a member of the Regional Council, participated in a panel where she talked with representatives of certified cities and ministries about the results of the BFC SEE program, examples of good practices and investment potentials that can contribute to greater competitiveness of local governments in the region.

The conference was attended by representatives of the Government of Republic of Srpska, Prime Minister Mr. Radovan Višković, Minister of Administration and Local Government, Ms. Senka Jujić, Assistant Minister of Economy and Entrepreneurship, Ms. Slobodanka Dubravac, President of the Association of Cities and Municipalities, Mr. Ljubiša Ćosić, mayors of certified cities and municipalities in the certification process, as well as numerous representatives of the international community, businesses and diplomatic corps.

The Prime Minister of the Republic of Srpska, Mr. Višković pointed out that this gathering on Jahorina is a good opportunity to encourage everyone who is in a dilemma whether to go this way, and stressed that the BFC SEE certificate is not decisive, but it is certainly a necessary condition to go further in the process of improvement of the local business environment. Mr. Višković called on all local communities to tackle and engage in the BFC SEE Certification Program.

BFC SEE certification is another opportunity for us to work together to improve business conditions and increase investments - said the Chamber of Commerce of Republic of Srpska.

The BFC SEE Program is currently being implemented in Serbia, Croatia, Northern Macedonia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and plans to include additional economies in Southeast Europe. Within the last third edition of the standard, 60 cities and municipalities from the region of South-Eastern Europe passed through the program.

So far, 12 cities and municipalities have been certified in the Republic of Srpska, and this time the following cities and municipalities were among the winners of this prestigious award: Prijedor, Doboj, Kotor Varoš, Zvornik, Teslić, Gradiška and Laktaši. Earlier, Banja Luka, Bijeljina, Novi Grad, Brod and Prnjavor acquired this certificate, while Trebinje, Modriča, Srbac and Stanari are currently in the process.