The French Ambassador to BiH, HE Claire Bodonyi visited the Foreign Investment Promotion Agency of BiH (FIPA) and talked with the Director Gordan Milinić about the possibilities for improving economic cooperation between the two countries.
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At the meeting, it was stated that some French
investments were realized in BiH, out of which the most significant is Lactalis,
that some local companies are working for the French fashion brand Pierre
Cardin and Mephisto, and that the level of French investment is still very low.
The Ambassador Bodonyi pointed out that
unfortunately French investors are not interested in investing in BiH because
they find that the BH market is challenging market, that the business
environment is complicated, that the legal system is not reassuring, that there
is corruption and that the BiH market is small. She also stated that she had a
number of meetings with the relevant institutions of BiH aiming at improving
economic cooperation and that these meetings did not give any results because
of the lack of interest of BiH interlocutors to improve certain things in the
country.
The Director Milinić informed Ambassador about
the activities of the Agency related to the foreign investors support and to establishing
contacts with potential investors, as well as about established cooperation
with foreign embassies and business associations in BiH. Through the "Aftercare"
activities, FIPA undertakes activities in order to improve business environment
and proposes appropriate measures to the competent ministries.
It was agreed that the French Embassy and FIPA jointly
organize activities in order to increase French investments in BiH. In
collaboration with the French Agency for Investment 'Business France' and trade
associations will be organized meetings with potential investors for realisation
of projects in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and it will be visited upcoming fairs
and business forums. The Embassy will include in cooperation some French regions
whose economy is complementary to the BiH ones.