SARAJEVO, Bosnia (October 7,2008) - A workshop taking place at the Bosnian National Park "Sutjeska" from October 6 to 8 will introduce a project for the protection of Bosnian forests and mountain areas, worth 6 million USD.
The project aims at boosting the institutional capacity for sustainable management of seven protected areas throughout Bosnia in the next four years.
The workshop is organized by the Bosnian Ministry for Environmental Protection. Representatives of the Bosnian state and regional governments and protected areas are the participants.
The project for the protection of forest and mountain areas in Bosnia is supported by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the World Bank with USD 3.4 million, while Bosnia will provide USD 2.5 million
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Showing posts with label world bank. Show all posts
Showing posts with label world bank. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
REAL ESTATE PRICES TO GO DOWN IN BOSNIA DUE TO GLOBAL FINANCIAL CRISIS
SARAJEVO, Bosnia (October 7,2008) - According to the Director of the World Bank’s Office in Bosnia Marco Mantovanelli, the Bosnian economy is in quite a good shape. The inflation rate is around eight percent, and it is not expected to go over ten percent by the end of 2008, and GDP growth rate is at a stable six per cent, so there is no reason for major concerns,he said.
However, the financial crisis that first hit the United States and than started pouring over to Europe will certainly be felt in Bosnia, as well,he said.
Mantovanelli is uncertain about the extent of its impact, but says that banks in Bosnia are already more restrictive in lending, interest rates are slightly up, while remittances are stagnant (last year the expatriates sent around 4 billion Bosnian Marks to their relatives in Bosnia).
As a result, Mantovanelli expects the real estate prices to go down. He hopes the state would find ways to help the business sector.
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However, the financial crisis that first hit the United States and than started pouring over to Europe will certainly be felt in Bosnia, as well,he said.
Mantovanelli is uncertain about the extent of its impact, but says that banks in Bosnia are already more restrictive in lending, interest rates are slightly up, while remittances are stagnant (last year the expatriates sent around 4 billion Bosnian Marks to their relatives in Bosnia).
As a result, Mantovanelli expects the real estate prices to go down. He hopes the state would find ways to help the business sector.
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Friday, July 18, 2008
WORLD BANK ACCOUNTS FOR ABOUT 50% OF BOSNIAN FOREIGN DEBT
SARAJEVO, Bosnia (July 18,2008) - The Bosnian Finance Minister Dragan Vrankic talked with a delegation of the World Bank in the Bosnian capital Sarajevo yesterday which was helmed by Shigeo Katsu.
Vrankic said after the meeting that they were discussing the current political and economic issues in the country, the bank’s portfolio in Bosnia, and problems in its implementation. Possible future projects were also discussed, mainly in the areas of environmental protection, local communities and infrastructure, and worth 250 million Bosnian Marks.
Vrankic said that almost half of the country’s foreign debt (which totals 4 billion Bosnian Marks) is to the World Bank, and that its financial backing is a considerable contribution to restructuring processes.
“A general agreement is that Bosnia can keep the pace, but needs to make a step towards economic prosperity through the inflow of foreign capital, through investments. These, however, require a certain environment. If we provide that, then we have a chance of solving Bosnia’s biggest problem – unemployment”, Vrankic said.
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Vrankic said after the meeting that they were discussing the current political and economic issues in the country, the bank’s portfolio in Bosnia, and problems in its implementation. Possible future projects were also discussed, mainly in the areas of environmental protection, local communities and infrastructure, and worth 250 million Bosnian Marks.
Vrankic said that almost half of the country’s foreign debt (which totals 4 billion Bosnian Marks) is to the World Bank, and that its financial backing is a considerable contribution to restructuring processes.
“A general agreement is that Bosnia can keep the pace, but needs to make a step towards economic prosperity through the inflow of foreign capital, through investments. These, however, require a certain environment. If we provide that, then we have a chance of solving Bosnia’s biggest problem – unemployment”, Vrankic said.
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Wednesday, July 16, 2008
WORLD BANK RATES MACEDONIAN CITY OF BITOLA THE BEST CITY TO DO BUSINESS IN SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE
SARAJEVO, Bosnia (16 July,2008) - The Macedonian town of Bitola is the best, while Bosnia’s Mostar the worst environment for starting a new business in the Southeastern Europe, a new regional World Bank report suggests.
The new Doing Business in South East Europe 2008 report analyses and compares key business-friendly criteria – starting a business, obtaining licenses, registering property, and enforcing contracts – in 22 cities in Albania, Bosnia, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro and the genocidal Serbia.
“South East Europe is reforming rapidly to improve the ease of doing business,” a World Bank press release quoted Jane Armitage, World Bank Country Director and regional coordinator for Southeastern Europe, as saying.
The business environment “varies greatly” across the region, says the report and underlines that this is crucial for attracting new investments and creating jobs.
“Some economies achieved remarkable progress,” says the press release, commanding Croatia and Macedonia which have been among the top 10 reformers globally in 2007.
Overall, doing business is easiest in the Macedonian town of Bitola, which tops the list of 22 cities covered by the report. Doing business in the southeastern europe is most difficult in three Bosnian cities, Banja Luka, Sarajevo,Banja Luka and Mostar, which are at the very end of the list.
According to the report, an entrepreneur starting a business in the Albanian town of Vlora needs only 7 days to register a business, the same as in Paris in France or Lisbon in Portugal. However, in Bosnian town of Mostar it would take almost 9 times longer, comparable to the town of Mbabane in Swaziland.
In Bitola, you have to wait 94 days to get a building permit, but in Mostar it will take no less than 535 days, which makes this city administration among the worst on a global scale.
While the Albanian town of Vlora is best for starting a business; Osijek in Croatia tops the list for ease of obtaining construction licenses, Pljevlje and Montenegro in registering property.
“If a city were to adopt all the best practices already in place in South East Europe, it would rank ninth among the 178 economies measured by Doing Business, comparable to the rankings for Ireland and Canada,” said the report and underlined the need for regional cooperation.
“Cities can learn about reform solutions from other cities in their own country or elsewhere in the region.”
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The new Doing Business in South East Europe 2008 report analyses and compares key business-friendly criteria – starting a business, obtaining licenses, registering property, and enforcing contracts – in 22 cities in Albania, Bosnia, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro and the genocidal Serbia.
“South East Europe is reforming rapidly to improve the ease of doing business,” a World Bank press release quoted Jane Armitage, World Bank Country Director and regional coordinator for Southeastern Europe, as saying.
The business environment “varies greatly” across the region, says the report and underlines that this is crucial for attracting new investments and creating jobs.
“Some economies achieved remarkable progress,” says the press release, commanding Croatia and Macedonia which have been among the top 10 reformers globally in 2007.
Overall, doing business is easiest in the Macedonian town of Bitola, which tops the list of 22 cities covered by the report. Doing business in the southeastern europe is most difficult in three Bosnian cities, Banja Luka, Sarajevo,Banja Luka and Mostar, which are at the very end of the list.
According to the report, an entrepreneur starting a business in the Albanian town of Vlora needs only 7 days to register a business, the same as in Paris in France or Lisbon in Portugal. However, in Bosnian town of Mostar it would take almost 9 times longer, comparable to the town of Mbabane in Swaziland.
In Bitola, you have to wait 94 days to get a building permit, but in Mostar it will take no less than 535 days, which makes this city administration among the worst on a global scale.
While the Albanian town of Vlora is best for starting a business; Osijek in Croatia tops the list for ease of obtaining construction licenses, Pljevlje and Montenegro in registering property.
“If a city were to adopt all the best practices already in place in South East Europe, it would rank ninth among the 178 economies measured by Doing Business, comparable to the rankings for Ireland and Canada,” said the report and underlined the need for regional cooperation.
“Cities can learn about reform solutions from other cities in their own country or elsewhere in the region.”
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Friday, February 29, 2008
TWO DAY REGIONAL CONFERENCE ON SOCIAL SECURITY OPENED IN SARAJEVO
SARAJEVO, Bosnia (February 29,2008) – The Bosnian capital Sarajevo is hosting a two day conference on healthcare financing, pensions and unemployment benefits in the southeastern Europe.
At the conference organized by the World Bank in cooperation with the Direction for Economic Planning in Bosnia,the high government officials from Bosnia, Montenegro, Serbia, Albania and Macedonia gathered in Sarajevo along with experts from the World Bank and other international organizations.
The goal of the conference is to reach consensus on necessary reforms of health financing, pensions and unemployment benefits, especially in the context of citizen’s aging. Participants shall exchange experience from their own countries on social security and financing in this area.
Head of the World Bank office in Bosnia Marco Mantovanelli stated that issues of financing healthcare, pensions insurance and unemployment insurance are extremely important for all countries of the southeastern Europe which are facing new challenges related to the sustainability of existing models of social security.
In these countries these rights are realized through incomes from formal employment and considering that the base of formal employment is very narrow, authorities must rely on the narrow tax base for collection of income tax. Consequence of this are high tax rates which is does not motivate employment in formal sector.
"High taxes on work power harden employment of larger number of people and on the other hand, with fewer employees there is less assets for financing all social rights”, added Mantovanelli.
Population in these countries is getting older and the only exception is Albania, so there is fewer work competent people who could pay income tax which leads to situation in which these countries would have to decrease rights and find new ways for their financing.
"I hope we will exchange information during this conference on how individual countries think about solving these problems and that we will reach a consensus on how to move on”, added Mantovanelli.
Bosnia is currently developing a new strategy for mid-term development. Head of Direction for Economic Planning Ljerka Maric stated that this conference is a chance to reconsider situation in the social sector from 2004 to 2007.
"Economically we are progressing but social expenditure is highly endangered”, stated Maric and underlined the priority of implementation of structural reforms in these three sectors.
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At the conference organized by the World Bank in cooperation with the Direction for Economic Planning in Bosnia,the high government officials from Bosnia, Montenegro, Serbia, Albania and Macedonia gathered in Sarajevo along with experts from the World Bank and other international organizations.
The goal of the conference is to reach consensus on necessary reforms of health financing, pensions and unemployment benefits, especially in the context of citizen’s aging. Participants shall exchange experience from their own countries on social security and financing in this area.
Head of the World Bank office in Bosnia Marco Mantovanelli stated that issues of financing healthcare, pensions insurance and unemployment insurance are extremely important for all countries of the southeastern Europe which are facing new challenges related to the sustainability of existing models of social security.
In these countries these rights are realized through incomes from formal employment and considering that the base of formal employment is very narrow, authorities must rely on the narrow tax base for collection of income tax. Consequence of this are high tax rates which is does not motivate employment in formal sector.
"High taxes on work power harden employment of larger number of people and on the other hand, with fewer employees there is less assets for financing all social rights”, added Mantovanelli.
Population in these countries is getting older and the only exception is Albania, so there is fewer work competent people who could pay income tax which leads to situation in which these countries would have to decrease rights and find new ways for their financing.
"I hope we will exchange information during this conference on how individual countries think about solving these problems and that we will reach a consensus on how to move on”, added Mantovanelli.
Bosnia is currently developing a new strategy for mid-term development. Head of Direction for Economic Planning Ljerka Maric stated that this conference is a chance to reconsider situation in the social sector from 2004 to 2007.
"Economically we are progressing but social expenditure is highly endangered”, stated Maric and underlined the priority of implementation of structural reforms in these three sectors.
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Wednesday, February 20, 2008
BUSINESS REGISTRATION TIME IN BOSNIA REDUCED TO AVERAGE 8,5 DAYS
SARAJEVO, Bosnia (February 20,2008) - The World Bank’s office in Bosnia has reported that it considers the implementation of a business reform programme through its credit line a success.
Its second tranche, worth USD 32 million, has been paid to the country’s implementation offices.The World Bank is especially happy with the e-business registration progress.
Head of the World Bank Office in Bosnia Marco Mantovanelli said that Bosnia is making progress towards a new strategy of the partnership. The business registration time at the country’s five busiest courts has been reduced to average 8,5 days. It now takes average 29 days to start a business in Bosnia, whereas in 2002 it took 80 days.
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Its second tranche, worth USD 32 million, has been paid to the country’s implementation offices.The World Bank is especially happy with the e-business registration progress.
Head of the World Bank Office in Bosnia Marco Mantovanelli said that Bosnia is making progress towards a new strategy of the partnership. The business registration time at the country’s five busiest courts has been reduced to average 8,5 days. It now takes average 29 days to start a business in Bosnia, whereas in 2002 it took 80 days.
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Friday, January 25, 2008
WORLD BANK TO SUSPEND 10 MILLION USD FROM BOSNIAN EDUCATIONAL SECTOR
SARAJEVO, Bosnia (January 25,2008) – Bosnia's Prime Minister Nikola Spiric met in the Bosnian capital Sarajevo with Head of the World Bank Office in Bosnia Marco Mantovanelli and his associates. Spiric proposed that the World Bank should help the regional project aimed to fight fire and flood disasters. The project is directed from Bosnia.
World Bank representatives stated that the idea is very interesting and announced that they will consider it carefully.
Spiric stated that the World Bank could help support public purchase related to fight against crime and corruption and development of statistics in the sense of equipping and educating the statistic agencies’ personnel for the census which will take place once the political decision is passed.
The officials also talked about the problems related to implementation of education restructuring project.
Mantovanelli stated that the project will be suspended but also expressed willingness of the World Bank to change the arrangement of its implementation and added that it would be a shame to “lose 10 million USD”.
Spiric also informed Mantovaneli that he will sign a memorandum of understanding for formation of Conference of Ministers of Education in Bosnia.He emphasized that the Conference will look for answers related to implementation of education restructuring project.
They also talked about servicing of Bosnia’s debt to the World Bank and on formation of the Bosnian Fiscal Council and about possibilities of increasing efficiency in the process of monitoring the realization of loans.
Mantovanelli informed Spiric that World Bank representatives visited the Brcko District for the purpose of including the District into the Sava River-related projects, in accordance with the last year’s calls to make Brcko District a part of the partnership strategy, the Bosnian Council of Ministers announced.
World Bank representatives stated that the idea is very interesting and announced that they will consider it carefully.
Spiric stated that the World Bank could help support public purchase related to fight against crime and corruption and development of statistics in the sense of equipping and educating the statistic agencies’ personnel for the census which will take place once the political decision is passed.
The officials also talked about the problems related to implementation of education restructuring project.
Mantovanelli stated that the project will be suspended but also expressed willingness of the World Bank to change the arrangement of its implementation and added that it would be a shame to “lose 10 million USD”.
Spiric also informed Mantovaneli that he will sign a memorandum of understanding for formation of Conference of Ministers of Education in Bosnia.He emphasized that the Conference will look for answers related to implementation of education restructuring project.
They also talked about servicing of Bosnia’s debt to the World Bank and on formation of the Bosnian Fiscal Council and about possibilities of increasing efficiency in the process of monitoring the realization of loans.
Mantovanelli informed Spiric that World Bank representatives visited the Brcko District for the purpose of including the District into the Sava River-related projects, in accordance with the last year’s calls to make Brcko District a part of the partnership strategy, the Bosnian Council of Ministers announced.
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