The EBRD Conference: 3,000 Guests, 40 Events, New Projects and Investments

"The Annual Meeting of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), which this year was held from 7 to 9 May in Sarajevo, brought numerous benefits and showed that investors are interested in this country as well as in the region,"Foreign Trade and Economic Relations Minister Mirko Sarovic said at the closing press conference.

"We really wanted to send a different picture of BiH, and by this event to help create a new perception of our country, in the eyes of those people who will come here to invest. I think we have made the first important steps on that way," the Minister said.

The focus of the conference was "Connecting Economies for Stronger Growth", and in more than 40 events held, key topics related to all countries in the region were discussed.

 

In this context, the leaders of the Western Balkans countries, Montenegrin President, Milo Djukanovic, Prime Minister of Albania, Edi Rama, Prime Minister of Serbia, Ana Brnabic, Prime Minister of North Macedonia Zoran Zaev, and Denis Zvizdic, Chairman of the Council of Ministers, met at the event. Discussing a number of topics of economic and political nature, they agreed that the key to the development of the region is a joint cooperation on all issues, including the most complex ones.

In the role of the EBRD Governor for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Minister Sarovic talked about current and potential projects and the best opportunities for further development:
"Our expectations are that the total annual investments of 200 million euros in the last few years will increase up to the record 300 million in 2019, which will affect the growth of BiH economy," he stressed.

 

At the conference, the Loan Agreement worth 210 million euros for the Project of Corridor Vc - Doboj Bypass has been signed.

During the three-day session, Minister Sarovic participated in the several important panels, including a panel on small and medium-sized enterprises, and held several meetings with delegations and businessmen from BiH and abroad.