Model Agreed to Help Businesses in Sarajevo Canton

(Patria) - Prime Minister of Sarajevo Canton Mario Nenadić today signed an Agreement on the implementation of activities for financing part of the minimum monthly net salary (in FBiH) for June and July 2020 with the President of the Chamber of Commerce of KS Muamer Mahmutović. The signing was attended by the Minister of Labour, Social Policy, Displaced Persons and Refugees and acting Minister of Health Jasna Agić, and the acting Minister of Economy and Minister of Finance of KS Jasmin Halebić.

On this occasion, Minister Halebić stated that the Chamber of Commerce of KS is a partner to the Ministry of Economy, all with the aim of helping entrepreneurs who are facing a decline in revenue due to the pandemic caused by the coronavirus. By cooperating with the Ministry of Economy and in order to implement activities aimed at supporting entrepreneurs in KS, the Chamber of Commerce best fulfills its mission – emphasized Minister Halebić.

He announced that entrepreneurs will have the opportunity, in accordance with the Law on Mitigating Negative Economic Consequences, to apply to the Public Call that the relevant ministry will publish this week.

According to him, more than 8 million KM have been planned for these purposes.

“Several meetings were held with representatives and members of the Coordination Body for the Protection and Recovery of the Economy of KS, and after discussing their problems, we jointly agreed on a model that suits and is needed by entrepreneurs,” said Minister Halebić.

He added that the conditions under which the Chamber of Commerce, in cooperation with the Ministry of Economy, will implement this support have been agreed upon, and the amounts of financial resources and the names of the business entities that receive assistance will be publicly announced in the report and submitted to the KS Government.

Prime Minister Nenadić emphasized that the president of the Employers' Association, Safudin Čengić, assessed all activities undertaken by this Government so far as positive, noting the fact that Sarajevo Canton has helped the economy much more than other cantons.

“During the past seven months, we have invested 70 million KM in supporting the economy, and now we have decided to do so with the remaining eight and a half million KM, which will be implemented by the Chamber of Commerce,” said the Prime Minister.

He reminded that the KS Government was obliged to change the original Law on Mitigating Negative Economic Consequences caused by the coronavirus (Covid -19), because it planned funds for the first two months of the corona crisis.

Unfortunately, the pandemic has not stopped, and there is money left, which is why amendments and additions to this law have been made.

Minister Agić said that through the Employment Service, 15 million KM have been invested in supporting the economy this year, through active employment policy measures. Entrepreneurs could apply and co-finance the employment of workers.

According to her, the response from employers was significant, but unlike previous years, due to the pandemic, they also helped healthcare institutions in employing medical staff from the bureau, which cost two million KM.

“This agreement will help entrepreneurs in KS to soon receive funds for salary compensation, which they received for their employees. This is also the primary role of the Association of Entrepreneurs, as is the role of the Chamber of Commerce of KS, to help business entities in improving the economic environment,” stated Mahmutović.

As he emphasized, in this case, it is about “saving the economy,” which they have willingly entered into. He also stressed that he is particularly pleased that the KS Government recognized the importance and role of the Chamber of Commerce in this entire process.