DODIK: SRPSKA HAS RECORDED GDP GROWTH FOR 16 CONSECUTIVE QUARTERS

BANJA LUKA, JUNE 17 /SRNA/ – SNSD President Milorad Dodik has stated in Banja Luka today that Republika Srpska has fulfilled a program objective set by the party to shorten the duration of internship requirements for university and secondary school graduates, a measure requested by the Youth Council only a few months ago and now nearly completed.

"This will enable faster employment and greater labor mobility", Dodik said at a press conference in Banja Luka. He noted that Republika Srpska has recorded continuous GDP growth over the past 16 quarters, ranging between 2.7 and 3 percent, which he described as a major achievement. "We have maintained our investment momentum. There is hardly a place in Republika Srpska where something is not being built. Last year we began reconstruction of the Klašnice-Banja Luka road, and now procedures have been completed for work in Ravna Romanija, where we will finish a project that has been waiting for 40 years", Dodik said. He stressed that Republika Srpska remains economically and socially stable and that conditions have been created for increases in wages, pensions and veterans’ benefits, the latter having been resolved through a systemic approach. "As for the stories about debt, borrowing is a logical financial operation and there is no country that does not base its development programs on credit arrangements. Even under such conditions, Republika Srpska will remain minimally indebted and among the least indebted jurisdictions in the region", Dodik said. He added that Republika Srpska remains less indebted than Croatia, Slovenia, Serbia, Germany, France and many other countries. Dodik emphasized that Republika Srpska is stable and faces no visible threats to its security or functioning. SRNA is broadcasting the press conference live on its YouTube channel.