Novi Grad Municipality has the most employed persons in FBiH, 22.5 million planned for capital projects

The Mayor of Novi Grad Municipality, Semir Efendić, said today that with the latest data from the Tax Administration of FBiH, which keeps records of the number of employed persons by municipality and city in FBiH, by place of residence and employer's seat, as of December 12, 2021, the Municipality of Novi Grad has exceeded 41,000 employed persons by place of residence, which is by far the highest of all municipalities and cities in FBiH. The next is the city of Tuzla with 32,000 employed. When this figure is compared to the data from 2012, the annual growth of employed persons in the municipality of Novi Grad is 1,000 people.

Regarding the turnover of fiscal devices in FBiH, the mayor said that Novi Grad Municipality is also a record holder in this area with 3,544,000,000 KM in the period January-November 2021, followed by Ilidža with 3,142,000,000, while Tuzla, Centar Sarajevo, Tešanj, etc. are below three billion.

“The number of employed persons by residence, the total turnover of all fiscal devices, although part of the turnover occurs outside of fiscal devices, because a number of economic entities are exempt from cash registers, are data that indicate significant activity taking place in the municipality of Novi Grad,” said Mayor Efendić.

When it comes to the development index monitored by the Federal Development Planning Institute over a ten-year period, Novi Grad Municipality was the 27th municipality in FBiH by the overall development index in 2010, and in 2020 it was in fifth place, which is significant growth.

“These are truly significant trends, and they are the result of our work in all areas. Yesterday, the Municipal Budget for 2022 was adopted, receiving unanimous support from the council, and what has characterized it for many years is the allocation of budget funds, where about 50% of the total budget, i.e., more than 22.5 million convertible marks, is planned for capital investments in the coming year. About 25% are current transfers related to support programs for the economy, social programs, as well as support programs for sports, culture, and education. Thus, about 75% of the budget is directed towards citizens, and 25% towards administrative costs and material expenses. This is an administration that serves the largest number of citizens of a municipality in the Federation of BiH. For comparison, Sarajevo Canton, according to the Draft Budget for the coming year, plans a total of 17% of budget funds for capital investments, of which a portion is loan funds. Only 3% from its own funds are directed to capital investments. When loans are added, it is 17%. Imagine what Bosnia and Herzegovina would look like if other levels of government and other municipalities directed 50% of their budgets towards development. Unfortunately, this is often not the case, but Novi Grad Municipality is proof that development is possible in all areas and without loan funds,” he said.   

Efendić stated that in the last five years, significant investments have been made in business infrastructure and communal infrastructure, which in turn attract private, foreign, and domestic investments. He emphasized that hundreds of millions of investments are being made in Novi Grad Municipality, and regarding foreign investments, a particular growth has been achieved in the automotive industry, where major projects are underway in the Rajlovac area.

“Whether it concerns domestic, larger or smaller investments, Novi Grad has become a favorable area and it results in a large number of job openings. Everything that is done in our municipality is generated primarily through our budget, our openness, and support for the economy, so we have truly measurable results, and I must say that this is proof that much can be achieved in the conditions that Bosnia and Herzegovina faces,” concluded Mayor Efendić.

He believes that Novi Grad Municipality is proof that communities in Bosnia and Herzegovina can develop rapidly.

“I am convinced that the whole of Bosnia and Herzegovina could look like Novi Grad Municipality, but for that, one needs a plan. We had a Development Strategy for the period 2016-2020, which was realized by more than 90 percent. The development of a new medium-term Municipal Development Strategy for the period 2021-2027 is underway, and it is still possible for all interested parties to participate in the creation of the Strategy. I believe that this is proof and an example that significant development and encouraging trends can be achieved in Bosnia and Herzegovina, even in such a difficult political and economic situation, encouraging people to return, to live here, to plan their families and their lives here.”