VIŠKOVIĆ: INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT DRIVES ECONOMIC GROWTH

JAHORINA, MAY 12 /SRNA/ - Acting Director of "Autoputevi Republike Srpske" Radovan Višković said that developing infrastructure means developing the economy, stressing that infrastructure is not a cost but an investment that creates conditions for economic growth, better connectivity and a higher quality of life for citizens.

"That is why the state must stand behind key infrastructure projects, plan their development and ensure continuity in implementation. Modernization is only possible if there is a developed system that can be further improved", Višković said at the Jahorina Economic Forum during the panel "Infrastructure Development – Building the Future". According to him, just as telecommunications technology is rapidly changing and advancing, road infrastructure must also continuously follow modern trends and new technologies. In this regard, Višković said that "Autoputevi Republike Srpske" are introducing a number of digital and technological innovations. "By the end of May, interoperability of electronic toll collection with Serbia will be completed, meaning that tags from Republika Srpska will function in Serbia and vice versa", he explained, adding that drivers will be able to use highways in the region without stopping or additional procedures. He also said that a documentation tracking system is being introduced, particularly in expropriation processes, in order to avoid delays and speed up communication between institutions. Infrastructure development, Višković added, is not only about road construction but also about introducing modern technologies, more efficient management and creating a system that responds to the needs of citizens and the economy. Assistant Executive Director for Technical Affairs at "M:tel" Miodrag Vojinović stressed that a modern network requires a larger number of base stations, while cost reduction is essential for improving efficiency. Assistant Director for Supervision at the Republika Srpska Administration for Geodetic and Property Affairs /RUGIPP/ Dejan Đukanović said that capital projects are important for social development and that resolving property-legal relations is the most important aspect of capital construction. He added that Republika Srpska, thanks to the Government and the National Assembly, has laws that facilitate the resolution of property-legal relations. The panel concluded that infrastructure modernization depends on investment in education and expertise and that regional connectivity is of great importance. The panel "Infrastructure Development - Building the Future" marked the end of the first day of the Jahorina Economic Forum, which continues tomorrow.