Erdogan: The formula for economic growth is production and employment

The President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, was welcomed in a packed hall of the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH building, where, among other things, agreements were signed with businessmen secured by Turkey through Turkish Ziraat Bank, reports the Patria News Agency.

Erdogan addressed the attendees with great ovations, saying that Sarajevo is the city of our dreams. He was especially happy to be in the BiH PA building, which he called Gazija, because it survived all that happened in the past.

- We discussed what kind of business and investments can be made and business ties strengthened with about 100 businessmen and business people who participated in today's meetings. Turkey wants direct investments in BiH. In this way, we can also encourage local investors to invest in BiH. We want to strengthen the economy of BiH, increase employment opportunities, and increase exports from BiH to Turkey – Erdogan said.

He specified that in the last 12 years, Turkey has achieved significant economic growth using the formula of "production and employment".

- Economic growth requires stability, and you have stability if you have state security and a government that guarantees that security. Today's signed agreements will stimulate employment, return, and economic growth – says Erdogan.

The value of today's signed projects is 9 million euros out of a total of 50 million euros, and it includes 2,000 legal and natural persons.

- We do not differentiate between the peoples in BiH. We have allocated these loans to everyone in BiH; we want to help anyone who has a chance for success. We want to realize these loans over a period of 10 years – Erdogan noted.

The Turkish President emphasized that BiH will continue to receive assistance from Turkey in every area and that he will support it on its path to the EU.

- I see dialogue and solidarity among the members of the BiH Presidency, as well as in the formed governments, and we see positive steps – Erdogan added, emphasizing that the Turkish Ziraat Bank building will open in BiH, showing the importance BiH has for Turkey.

Mladen Ivanić, the Chairman of the BiH Presidency, expressed great gratitude to Turkey for its assistance.

- The bank treated all clients from all over BiH equally, which is very good. I hope we will know how to use Turkey's support. I invite Turkey to continue supporting BiH businessmen, but also not to forget donor funds. I also invite TIKA to continue to remain in BiH and help citizens – Ivanić stated.

Ali Riza Akbas, director of Ziraat Bank in BiH, noted that he hopes Turkish Ziraat Bank will be one of the top three in BiH, as they plan to expand to Herzegovina next year.

- Turkish Ziraat Bank will continue to support the development of BiH and we want to participate in the prosperity of the country – Akbas stated.