Novalić: FBiH accounts for 70 percent of BiH's economy and represents the locomotive pulling everything forward

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - Federal Prime Minister Fadil Novalić says that pensions in FBiH are paid regularly, unlike the period before his mandate, and that they have increased five times in the last year.

- They have increased by a total of 16.25 percent this year. And they will be applied retroactively from January 1st of this year. This means that the difference of 5.15 percent for the period from January to April will be paid along with the increased April pensions, which are due to be paid on May 5th - Novalić stated in an interview for Fena agency.

He announced an extraordinary pension adjustment for June, and reminded that the lowest pension at the end of 2021 was 382 KM, and now it is 517.3 KM, which is an increase of 135.3 KM or 35.42 percent.

According to him, official indicators show that the economy of the Federation is constantly growing - public revenues, GDP, exports, employment, pensions, social and veteran benefits are increasing.

- Thanks to our economic policy management, we have achieved such a result that the Federation today accounts for 70 percent of the economy of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Despite the crises caused first by the pandemic, and then by inflation that affected the whole world and made everything more expensive, during the mandate of the current Government of the Federation, we managed to achieve a GDP growth of as much as 11.85 billion KM.

We have more than doubled our exports, from 5.68 billion marks in 2015, we reached 12.14 billion, as of January this year. All of this confirms that, since its appointment, this Government of the Federation has spoken through actions, not words - states Novalić.

He also points out that at the end of last year, the per capita debt of the Federation was 2,986 KM, and of Republika Srpska, it was 5,633 KM.

- Currently, the situation is such that the Federation is the main axis of development of the state of BiH and the locomotive that pulls everything forward - says Novalić.

The Prime Minister states that 60 kilometers of highway with a total value of more than two billion marks are currently under construction. In addition to roads, as he said, the government has continued with major investments in air and rail transport this year.

- I am saddened that my initiative to establish a ministry for youth has not materialized. However, that did not prevent us from channeling money for youth from several ministries and sources such as those for sports, culture, and education - added Novalić.

He also sent a message to the veteran population, on the occasion of the Day of the Army of RBiH.

- I wish a happy Day of the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which I myself belonged to with the greatest pride, defending this country together with my comrades.

- This year, we are allocating 350 million marks for the implementation of veteran laws. We have ensured that almost one million marks are allocated daily from the Budget of the Federation for more than 105,000 members of veteran categories - concluded Novalić.