FOREIGN INVESTORS RECOGNIZE SRPSKA'S POTENTIAL

BANJA LUKA, NOVEMBER 12 /SRNA/ - The participation of representatives of 25 countries at the Invest Srpska Conference on Mount Jahorina speaks of the interest of foreign investors in investing in Republika Srpska, and proves that the opportunities and potential offered by Srpska are recognized, the Ministry of Economy and Entrepreneurship of Srpska told SRNA.

The Ministry emphasized that the presence of foreign investors will contribute to concrete connections with domestic businessmen, as well as to the creation of the first steps and assumptions for the realization of investments, because the conference, apart from domestic and foreign investors, gathers the most important representatives of the Government, representatives of local self-government units and the business community of Republika Srpska. The Ministry of Economy and Entrepreneurship reminded that, according to the Financial Times ranking, Republika Srpska was chosen in 2023 as one of the 10 small regions of the future for the foreign investment strategy. "Certain local self-government units in Republika Srpska are also recognized as very competitive places for investment /such as Gradiška, Laktaš and Trebinje/. The potential is particularly reflected in excellent geographical positioning, business costs, and access to the market," the Ministry of Economy said. The Ministry emphasized that it is important at this moment to promote investment potential, first of all, to attract investors who contribute to business efficiency /introduction of new technologies, better workplaces, and integration into international value chains/ considering the fact that on the global level, certain changes are taking place that can have positive effects on markets such as ours. The advantages of Republika Srpska, the Ministry emphasized, are also found in legal regulations concerning foreign investments, which ensure that foreign investors have the same rights and obligations as domestic investors. The tax policy is one of the most stimulating in the region /profit tax is 10 percent, income tax is eight percent, VAT is 17 percent/, and other business expenses are competitive. Also, investors who invest in Republika Srpska have access to growing markets with over 600 million people on the principle of free trade. "Republika Srpska has also introduced special incentive measures for those investors who have significant investments /taking into account even regional development/ and contribute to the introduction of new technologies, employment of a larger number of workers, and ensure wages higher than the average in Srpska", the Ministry of Economy and Entrepreneurship emphasized.