Minister Košarac Talked with The Director of The EBRD for BiH

The Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of BiH Staša Košarac talked with the Director of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) in BiH, Manuela Nesl, about repairing the consequences of the corona virus on the economy in BiH.

 

The emphasis of today's videoconference was on the EBRD's support to the tourism sector, as well as entrepreneurship, digitalization and assistance to small and medium enterprises.

 

Minister Košarac said that, in order to recover the economy, he would significantly advocate for the promotion and purchase of local products, and that he would support initiatives in that direction. He asked the EBRD to provide additional instruments of support to small and medium enterprises in BiH, which operate in the field of trade, agriculture, and especially food production, in order to be digitalized as soon as possible, and become more competitive and able to sell their products through online platforms. Minister Košarac supported the EBRD's cooperation with the entities’ governments.

 

The interlocutors also exchanged opinions on the tourist infrastructure. Minister Košarac was informed that the EBRD, along with the EU, is preparing additional funds which in cooperation with commercial banks in BiH wants to make available to both the private and public sectors, for improving the tourist infrastructure and repairing the consequences of the coronavirus epidemic.

 

Minister Košarac emphasized that the EBRD should consider the possibility of introducing an additional component within its infrastructural projects, planned in BiH, by clearly mapping the leading tourist potentials on the main roads through BiH so that domestic guests and foreign tourists could get acquainted at any moment with the potentials that BiH offers.

 

Minister Košarac pointed out that he had discussed with the competent entities’ ministers the possibility of helping local guests to realize as many overnight stays as possible in domestic tourist destinations through the voucher program.

 

Minister Košarac expressed his readiness to organize a video conference in the coming period, which will be attended by Delegations of the EBRD, UNDP, USAID and other international financial institutions, as well as the competent entities’ ministers and representatives of tourism organizations in BiH in order to achieve certain measures and steps in assisting the tourism.