Business News
Prijedor hosted the First B&H Diaspora Investment Forum
08/13/2013
It was concluded that the B&H diaspora is a great potential which has not been sufficiently exploited, not only in terms of investments, but in the transfer of modern technology and experience in contemporary economy and business that are extremely necessary for B&H in its further development.
The Governor of the Central Bank of Bosnia and Herzegovina (CBBH) Kemal Kozaric said that resources which annually come from the diaspora cover 42 percent of the country's trade deficit.
He called on the authorities, from local to state level, to recognize diaspora as an important factor in future development of the country and treat it as a partner.
"We need a complete change in philosophy and approach to the diaspora and it must be considered as a resource," said president of the Foreign Trade Chamber of Bosnia and Herzegovina Ahmet Egrlic.
He said that in order for the state to become far more attractive to attract Diaspora, as well as other potential investors, it must become politically stable and run faster to changes in legislation and the correction of the current levy.
According to him, cheap domestic labor force, proximity to the market of the European Union, CEFTA countries and Turkish market in which B&H products have duty-free import, are all benefits that can attract investors to invest in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
"The diaspora is willing to invest in Bosnia and Herzegovina, but before they decide to do this they want to know what is specifically offered and under what conditions," said president of the World Federation of B&H Diaspora Anes Ceric, adding that he hopes this gathering will yield concrete results.
Prijedor, nongovernmental organization "Our Perspective" and Group "BHdia For" are the organizers of the First Diaspora Investment Forum.
Partners were Foreign Trade Chamber of B&H and the B&H World Diaspora Association, and it was supported by the Kingdom of Norway and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation.