Foreign investors invested 210.8 million KM in the first three months in BiH

In the first quarter of 2017, Bosnia and Herzegovina recorded a 28.7 per cent growth in foreign investment compared to the same period last year, which is a encouraging fact considering the situation in the past few years when the decline in foreign investments was mainly recorded.

According to the preliminary data of the Central Bank of BiH, foreign investors invested 210.8 million KM in the first three months, the Agency for the Advancement of Foreign Investments in BiH (FIPA) announced.

The FIPA states that they are making huge efforts to promote BiH as an attractive investment destination and finding new potential investors from abroad, but that their work is greatly aggravated by the occasional political turbulence that are scaring investors and deterring them from investing in BiH.

The obstacles are also significant financial incentives given to foreign investors by neighboring countries (from three to seven thousand euros per new job created), for which BiH has no funds allocated.

"However, despite all the difficulties, however, some of the regular meetings and discussions FIPA has with potential foreign investors, assuring that the money invested is secure in BiH, and highlighting examples of foreign investors that successfully operate in BiH and even reinvest," FIPA.

The increase in investments, the FIPA emphasizes, additionally obliges all competent authorities in BiH and entities to continue to work on improving the conditions for business, for domestic and foreign investors, on consolidating the political situation in the country, the reform path towards the EU, but also on coordinated presence of competent institutions in attracting foreign investments, led by FIPA as a coordinator of activities.

They claim that BiH needs foreign investments due to the lack of domestic funds to launch a significant investment cycle, for the purpose of employing, transferring new technologies, knowledge, skills, and achieving significant economic growth.

It is hoped that the trend of investment growth will continue until the end of the year, as well as the interest of foreign investment companies in BiH, given the current activities carried out by the relevant institutions in presenting and promoting the country and its investment opportunities, the FIPA said.

• 8 Sep, 2017
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