Patria with the owner of "Howell Machine": We are staying in BiH, because it needs a hand to lift it up!

"Howell Machine, Inc.", headquartered in Lewiston, Idaho, is an American company engaged in the production, development and trade of weapons, military equipment and other defense technology items.

On the market of Bosnia and Herzegovina, it is recognized as the largest single buyer of items from the production programs of the defense industry of the Federation of BiH. It is a company that in 2013 concluded contracts worth around 65 million euros with the companies "Igman" Konjic and "Unis Ginex" Gorazde, and made a decision to invest in expanding the production capacity of initiating devices at "Unis Ginex" d.d. Gorazde.

On the market of Bosnia and Herzegovina, „Howell Machine“ is recognized as the largest single buyer of items from the production programs of the defense industry of the Federation of BiH, and David C. Howell, owner and president of „Howell Machine“, revealed in an exclusive interview for the Patria news agency that this company remains on the BiH market.

This was particularly highlighted after this morning's meeting in the Government of the FBiH, which was attended, among others, by Nermin Džindić, Minister of Energy, Mining and Industry, who expressed readiness for further cooperation with „Howell Machine“.

- There is no change, only evolution, it is not easy to work in the Balkans. Our goal is to have a long-term, strong relationship with the Government. Nothing has changed. Things have slowed down due to the change of Government and ministers – Howell pointed out at the beginning.

In public, it began to be said that the former Minister of Energy and Mining, Erdal Trhulj, had given up on the story with Howell Machine even earlier.

- We don't know anything about that, there was no communication on that topic. It is not important either. What is important is that the basic relationship remains unchanged, concerning the construction and expansion of the local economy and our work with the Ministry of Defense – Howell emphasizes.

Given the different perception in the public, we were interested in what the problem was, why we have negative articles about „Howell Machine“ and the story that this is harmful for BiH?

- I have no idea, it probably comes from people whose interests are opposed to this. I don't want to talk about them. Let's be positive and talk about positive things. If you want to interview me, that's what I want to talk about – says Howell.

This successful American businessman explains that when he started working in BiH two and a half years ago, everything was frustrating.

- But we tried hard and we will work here. The key to success is greater investment, more product purchases – that always improves things. That is what drives things, the lubricant of the wheels for the factories. When factories start working better, management starts working better too. And then, if you have some Western way of thinking, like with Ginex, where it went very well – money enters the company, product comes out and goes to America, and the factory flourishes. We want to continue that model with other companies and bring about the awakening of the entire industry – adds Howell.

Given the meeting held in the Government of the FBiH, Howell explains that as early as next month we can expect new contracts and the first results and effects of the meeting.

- We continuously have contracts, we have them currently as well. Ginex constantly has contracts, every month. We are trying to get other companies to follow Ginex as a positive model of how all these plans are applicable in practice. In some companies we have not had success due to their management, but Ginex was a success for us because we tripled the output in two years. A business of constant flow, that is what we want to see – Howell emphasizes, explaining that they agreed with the FBiH Government that the Government will work even more closely with them.

- That is what we want because we want the Government to be more involved in their business, because that is their job. It is their business with 51%, they should not allow someone to run it like a family business, set up control measures – Howell explains.

He further reveals that this morning's meeting was not the first contact with the new Government, because recently in Washington at Johns Hopkins University, a panel was held with representatives of the World Bank, the State Department, the OHR, etc., where they met with Prime Minister Fadil Novalić, Prime Minister Željka Cvijanović, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, with all relevant factors with whom they had discussions on this topic.

- Today we did not discuss the signed memorandum at all. The new minister is trying to continue cooperation with HMT. He offered and said that we should address him directly, so, wherever there is a delay, we should contact him directly. If that is the case, I congratulate him. And Prime Minister Novalić, at the gathering in Washington, said that whatever he can do, not only for HMT, but for any other American company, he is open for cooperation. Because representatives of other investment companies were also there. Most importantly, the American Government also supports this business and wants to invest in BiH – Howell emphasizes.

Minister Džindić himself admitted that there were many obstacles, but promised to remove them so that they could work more easily.

- What we want is strong cooperation with companies and equally strong cooperation with the government and transparency. That means, no secrets, there must be honesty and a clear channel of communication. Two years ago, things were in disarray, the only thing I could do was offer to manage the companies. Now things are getting better and I don't want to run their companies, I just want to work with them. Their management is better, opportunities are opening up for better things, better chances.

Representatives of this company, led by David Howell, emphasize that they do not have to be in BiH, but they want to be.

I am here because there is infrastructure, excellent workforce ready to work, factories that are sleeping. In the time of Yugoslavia, this was the best production in the world, excellent quality. Wherever American business enters, the economy flourishes, because they change the mental framework of people and the way of thinking, because people control the companies and their money themselves, not the government. When the government runs it, it never works – Howell adds further.

It is known that there are resistances in BiH because there are different „currents“ trying to take something for themselves. We tried to explain to Howell that BiH is not a typical democratic country because here a minister has a private company involved in business. However, Howell is determined, regardless of the resistances, he will continue to do business in BiH.

- If we haven't left by now, we won't leave at all. We have been here for three years, we will be here for another three, five, as long as needed. Bosnia needs a hand to help it get up. This is the main industry of BiH and it is already lifted. This needs to be used – adds Howell.