The conference of "Bosnia and Herzegovina: Economic opportunities for Italian companies," organized by the Italian National Institute for Foreign Trade (ICE) and FIPA, was held in Rome on 15th November 2011. The conference gathered more then 150 participants, out of which around 100 Italian businessmen, representatives of the State institution and banking sector.
On this occasion, the FIPA Director Jelica Grujic and the representative Adrijana Maric presented the business climate and possibilities for investing in B&H to Italian investors.
As competitive advantages of Bosnia and Herzegovina were mentioned: stable financial sector, free trade agreements and preferential export regimes, liberal legal framework related to treatment of foreign investors, attractive tax regime and import duties, including also quality, educated and professional work force.
Abundance of natural resources which B&H has, including very favourable total operating costs (work force, raw material, utilities) offer a wide range of possibilities for investing through privatization process, through allocating concession, Greenfield investments, joint-venture, etc.
As particularly interesting sectors for foreign investors, were presented the investments’ projects in the field of agriculture, and food industry, tourism, wood and textile industries.
After presentation, bilateral meetings were held wit all interested businesspeople in which they have been given concrete information on all questions related to investing in B&H ant it was agreed continuation of cooperation with FIPA. The Agency will help investors to collect all necessary information in order to make them easier taking decision on investing.
Besides, the Agency representatives distributed to the attendees promotion material on possibilities for investing in the country, and also brochure “Frequently Asked Questions” in Italian.
Attendees were addressed by the Ambassador of Italy in B6H, Raimondo De Cordona, the Ambassador of B&H in Italy, Branko Kesic, the BiH Deputy Foreign Minister, Ana Trisic-Babic, the Director of the Office of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) in B&H, Giulio Moreno, the Director of ICE, Massimo Di Giandomenico, and political adviser to the EU Delegation in BiH, Orlando Fusco and the representative of the Municipality of Kozarska Dubica, Dragan Mataruga, who presented the investment opportunities of the business zone of "Lipova Greda."
Speaking of the Italian investments in B&H, Italy is ranked on 10th position of the B&H top foreign investors list. It should be mentioned that B&H and Italy signed agreement on promotion and protection of the investments and agreement on avoidance of double taxation.