Canton Sarajevo PM and UK delegation discuss creating a more favourable environment for citizens and businesses

(Patria) - Prime Minister of Canton Sarajevo Nihad Uk received the Ambassador of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to Bosnia and Herzegovina H.E. Julian Reilly today, a Member of the UK Parliament and Trade Envoy for the Western Balkans Martin Vickers, and representatives of the British body for supporting democratic institutions abroad Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD) Nermina Voloder and Damir Nezir.   

Given their fields of work, they discussed the importance of creating a positive narrative, i.e., a political environment that will be favourable for investment and trade. In this context, the interlocutors expressed their readiness to cooperate in the future to achieve positive progress for citizens and businesses.  

At the interest of the WFD representatives, Prime Minister Uk listed some of the priorities of the Government he heads, emphasizing infrastructure works. Among other projects, he listed investments in public transport, which include the construction of tram lines to Hrasnica and Dobrinja, as well as the procurement of new vehicles, the construction of the Ars Aevi Museum of Contemporary Art and the National Library, and the urban planning project for the University of Sarajevo Campus... 

The guests stated that there are many investment opportunities and that some projects could be realised through public-private partnerships. Prime Minister Uk informed those present that a law regulating this area should soon be on the parliamentary agenda, and upon its adoption, it was noted, concrete projects that could be realised under this model could be considered.  

They also discussed energy transition projects, listing numerous advantages of the green economy, both for citizens and for the economy. In this context, it was concluded that Canton Sarajevo could be an example for other parts of the country in this area, as it is in the fight against corruption.  

Among the barriers to creating a more favourable environment, the guests highlighted the poor air connectivity of Sarajevo with European cities. Explaining that Sarajevo Airport falls under the jurisdiction of the federal level of government, Prime Minister Uk said that he would make efforts to change that, and mentioned that the KS Government would allocate one million KM annually to subsidize the opening of new air routes.  

The interlocutors expressed their commitment to meeting more frequently in the coming period to discuss specific projects.