The Prime Minister of Republika Srpska, Radovan Višković, stated that Srpska currently has the best business environment in the region, a claim supported by credible sources rather than his personal opinion.
Višković pointed out that this is evident in the fact that Srpska today has the lowest aggregate tax rates and electricity prices, as well as significant involvement of local communities in creating a favorable business environment.
During a panel discussion at the “Jahorina Economic Forum,” the Prime Minister emphasized that Republika Srpska has a law that equates domestic and foreign investors.
Speaking about the “Open Balkan” initiative, Višković said that it does not hinder other initiatives and highlighted the often overlooked transportation and service costs, which can make some products more expensive in the region than elsewhere.
“If we want to survive challenging times, we need to be faster,” added Višković.
He stressed that time is money, and it is necessary to ensure 24-hour access across these regions, stopping the practice of duplicating certain certifications.
“If Republika Srpska has issued a certificate for a product, I don’t see why it shouldn’t be recognized at least in the countries of the region, given that there are no language barriers,” Višković noted.
According to him, it is not normal that there are still customs or other barriers, such as taking 12 hours to travel from Zvornik to Mali Zvornik instead of completing everything in one hour.
“We are trapped in the clutches of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and it’s not our fault. It is the plan of the great powers to keep us in captivity,” said Višković.
He mentioned that Republika Srpska today has the highest number of employed people since its establishment and that the government invests in the real sector.
“I am proud of all our people who work here. The government invests about 400 million KM in the real sector. That is why it creates jobs, and in these globally complex times, Srpska, as a small economy, survives,” added Višković.
He emphasized that the strategy is to create all measures together with the real sector, which may not be long-term but can help resolve a situation at a given moment.
“The war in Ukraine is costing us significantly, and the question is how much it will cost us. A year ago, we had an inflation rate of 16 percent, and today it is 2.7 percent. The International Monetary Fund criticized us for increasing income for various categories, such as veterans,” said the Prime Minister of Srpska.
He added that the goal is to preserve jobs, believing that while life in these regions is not bad, it can always be better.
Source: RTRS
