“It was a great pleasure to welcome and stand shoulder to shoulder with the delegation from Tatarstan. It is a large delegation, and we aim to deepen our cooperation through various projects, all based on the protocol signed earlier,” said the President of Republika Srpska, Milorad Dodik, following his meeting with the delegation from Tatarstan at the Palace of the Republic.
Dodik stated that Republika Srpska and the Republic of Tatarstan see an opportunity to make agreements that will enhance cooperation in areas important to both societies.
The President of Srpska noted that this cooperation extends beyond the economy and includes education, sports, culture, and other sectors.
“Srpska will work on projects—both commercial and state-level. Over the next year, we will find the best formula for action. Tomorrow, a meeting will be held at the university level. We know that many Nobel Prize winners studied in Tatarstan, which shows the strength and recognition of their universities. Once again, great thanks to Russian President Vladimir Putin for enabling this cooperation at the level of republics,” Dodik said.
He emphasized the significance of the cooperation.
“We also have the support of President Vladimir Putin. That is why we want to approach these talks seriously,” Dodik said at the press conference.
Dodik highlighted that Kazan University alone has over 60,000 students, which speaks to how developed Tatarstan is.
“It was the right decision to pursue a policy of not joining the sanctions against the Russian Federation. Even if BiH had imposed sanctions, it wouldn’t have harmed Russia. This visit comes at a delicate time, yet our economy has grown over the past six months, and our economic indicators are improving, even though we operate under nearly impossible conditions and pressure,” Dodik stated.
He pointed out that the public debt of Republika Srpska is 29%, which is very low by European standards.
“Procedures that involve doing business through Bosnia and Herzegovina are progressing slowly, which is why we want to accelerate our growth through meetings and agreements like these. We greatly appreciate your visit to Srpska and the demonstration of our strong friendship,” said Dodik.
He emphasized that the goal is for Srpska to reach a GDP of 15 billion dollars by 2030.
“It won’t be easy, but we aim to achieve it. Twenty years ago, our import coverage was 34%, and today it stands at 76%. At the same time, the Federation of BiH has 54%,” Dodik added.
He stated that cooperation with Tatarstan opens up numerous opportunities.
“We believe that, going forward, there won’t be a single forum or fair without the presence of companies from Republika Srpska. We have created an operational plan based on the protocol, and it is very comprehensive. We are finalizing it today, and we will know exactly who is personally responsible for specific projects,” Dodik concluded.
Source: RTRS
