Minister Šabani and Pozder visited the Municipality of Olovo: Committed to tourism development and environmental protection

(pATRIA) - Minister for Spatial Planning, Transport and Communications and Environmental Protection of the Zenica-Doboj Canton Adnan Šabani and Federal Minister of Environment and Tourism Nasiha Pozder visited today the Municipality
Olovo on an official visit.

During the visit, they discussed the development potential and challenges facing this local community with the host, Mayor Đemal Memagić, and his associates.

Mayor Memagić spoke about the Municipality's commitment and projects in tourism, among which the project for the arrangement of the "Zeleni vir" picnic area, which includes the construction of bungalows and rest areas, holds a special place.

He also emphasized that the Municipality is open to cooperation with investors, but
exclusively in compliance with the law and environmental protection principles.

-Investors must be socially responsible and invest in local communities,
so that problems are solved in a sustainable way. Our primary concern is to protect the Bioštica River, as well as to improve the operation of the "Gradina" landfill, which is currently being remediated, and therefore, in addition to very good cooperation with the cantonal authorities, we also need partners at the federal level - said Memagić.

Minister Pozder emphasized that Olovo, like all other Municipalities and Cities in FBiH, has a partner in the Ministry and the Government of FBiH. Pozder presented the progress made in the development of the Federal Waste Management Plan and provided guidelines regarding the budget and potential projects for the next year in the environmental sector, especially for the remediation of illegal landfills, as well as tourism.

She particularly emphasized the importance of using interest-free loans from the Development Bank for tourism projects, where the Federal Ministry assumes the repayment of interest.

-For sustainable tourism development, which is in balance with environmental protection, it is important for municipalities like Olovo to have quality and ready projects. The protection of natural areas is something we can do together – at the beginning of the year, amendments and additions to the Law on Nature Protection came into force, which enables local communities to protect nature in their territory in a simpler way, so Olovo can utilize this opportunity for its potentials and we will provide support in that - emphasized Minister Pozder.

Furthermore, Pozder informed the Mayor that the Government of FBiH recently adopted a comprehensive report regarding the operator "Geomet", and that one of the conclusions is that the Federal Institute for Agropedology provides support in determining the condition of the land.

Minister Adnan Šabani assessed that the Municipality of Olovo has significant potential for tourism development, and that the Government of the Zenica-Doboj Canton will continue to support infrastructure projects, regional roads passing through the Municipality, as well as those leading to destinations such as the "Zeleni vir" picnic area and the "Ajdinovići" Sports and Recreation Center.

-Infrastructure development will be one of the priorities, and at the same time, we are working on
establishing waste management centers, as well as institutions for protected natural areas in the canton, which will give us momentum for development but also for the protection of the natural beauties that abound in our canton", said Adnan Šabani, Minister for Spatial Planning, Transport and Communications and Environmental Protection of ZDK.

Ministers Šabani and Pozder, accompanied by Mayor Memagić, visited the "Zeleni vir" picnic area, where the relevant cantonal ministry recently financed the remediation of the local road. The common stance is that tourism development, nature conservation, and responsible investor behavior must be interconnected in order for Olovo and the entire region to realize their full potential in a sustainable and long-term manner.