The Second Investment Conference Invest Srpska 2022, organized by the Investment Development Bank in cooperation with the Government, will continue in Prijedor today.

Economists and officials pointed out that the Republic of Srpska had the most favorable investment environment in the region.

It offers investors numerous benefits – the lowest rate of tax burden in the region, the lowest electricity prices, and a quality and qualified workforce. The importance of joining the Open Balkan initiative was also noted.

The IDB also set as an imperative a more active use of resources from various funds, such as the EU pre-accession funds.

The Republic of Srpska is a favorable environment for investments and its economic indicators are the best in the region after Serbia, said the Prime Minister of Srpska, Radovan Višković, at the opening of the Investment Conference Invest Srpska 2022.

Višković noted that export coverage exceeding 80 percent was very important.

– We cannot influence global problems, but we can create our business environment, which is what we are doing. The Government partnered with the Chamber of Commerce and employers in order to improve the business environment – said Višković.

Višković emphasized that Srpska had the highest number of the employed and insured persons ever measured.

– The total debt level of Srpska is 43 percent of the gross domestic product, and its public debt is 36 percent, which means that it is not over-indebted – stated Višković.

He said that Srpska was the only one in the region that had adopted the Law on Incentives providing for the state to refund a portion of the paid taxes and contributions to all employers who increased the salaries of their employees, for which BAM 33 million had been allocated so far.

Višković assessed that business zones offering investors all the conditions for operation were also an advantage.

– The Republic of Srpska has been meeting all the stipulated obligations and there are no problems. We are among the few who allocate money for one-time assistance to veteran categories, youth and new mothers. We did not provide the money for this from loans – said Višković and stated that this year Srpska’s debt was planned at BAM 650 million, but less than 200 million had been taken.

Source and photo: RTRS