Kadirić: Revenue drop of 40 percent, USK cannot last long alone, FBiH Government and Parliament must act faster

(Patria) - Nijaz Kadirić, Minister of Economy in the Government of USK, comes from Sanski Most, is a businessman, and represents the Independent Bloc, whose president he is for the USK Cantonal Organization.

We spoke with Minister Kadirić about measures to support the economy and future activities in this area, given that the ministry he heads has been a leader in timely proposals for measures and principles to help the economy and workers during this time.

Patria: What specific measures has the ministry you head and the USK Government adopted to support entrepreneurs during this coronavirus pandemic?

Kadirić: The USK Government, at the proposal of the Ministry of Economy, adopted a Decision on subsidizing part of the salaries for March and April for most business entities and trades that are banned from operating due to the coronavirus pandemic. The total amount urgently allocated by the Government for these purposes is 2.5 million KM. These are intervention funds provided by the Ministry of Economy.

Patria: Who do the measures apply to, and what are the priorities for support?

Kadirić: First and foremost, the measures apply to companies that have not laid off their employees. We considered this to be a fair principle and approach, and we see that it has been supported by the public and the majority of employers. The largest number of workers affected by the ban are in the hospitality sector, but also trades such as hairdressers, dental practices, etc. We have excluded certain activities - such as gambling, casinos, but also some others, due to lack of funds. However, we are doing our best and I expect we will finance minimum personal incomes for about 3,000 workers in our canton.

Patria: USK is the first and so far the only canton that has adopted a broader framework and policies for supporting the economy and workers - you have decided to adopt a Fund for Economic Support of 10 million KM. Can you explain this idea in more detail?

Kadirić: I want to thank my colleagues in the Government, because they responsibly and promptly accepted the proposal I submitted on behalf of the Ministry of Economy, which is the formation of a Fund for Economic Support in USK amounting to 10 million KM. We also expect part of these funds through the distribution of IMF funds intended for cantons. According to the Government's conclusion, the Ministry of Finance, together with the Ministry of Economy, will propose, through the budget rebalancing, the provision of funds and the formation of a Fund for Economic Support of 10 million KM. The rebalancing needs to be adopted by the Assembly, and I believe it will be supported. The speed of operationalizing the Fund also depends on the payment of IMF funds to our canton, but we are doing everything on our part to get it started as soon as possible.

Patria: What has been the support from the FBiH Government and institutions so far, and what do you expect from them specifically?

Kadirić: When it comes to the economy, our canton has not received any support from the FBiH Government. I sincerely hope that the FBiH Government will become more seriously involved in supporting the economy and workers throughout the FBiH, because cantons cannot cope with the problems the economy is facing on their own. The drop in our canton's budget revenue in April is 40%. With such a sharp drop in revenue, our canton will not be able to support our entrepreneurs alone in the long run, which is why we call on the FBiH Government and Parliament to act faster, more seriously, and in proportion to the crisis we are all facing.

Patria: What are the next steps for the USK Government, and what results do you expect?

Kadirić: After the Fund is established, we will launch several programs to support the economy. We plan to support all those who were not covered by the minimum personal income measures, tradesmen who pay a lump sum, and some others from the Fund for Economic Support, as well as through a program for re-employment of laid-off workers. Likewise, we plan to support all companies that are willing to invest in expanding production with the aim of increasing employment. We are actively working on these ideas in cooperation with our entrepreneurs. All the programs we are creating and implementing are long-term, because we will have to repair the damage caused to the economy continuously and over a longer period.