High Representative to Hold Talks on
Coordinating Economic Strategy and Improving BiH Business
Environment

The High Representative, Christian
Schwarz-Schilling, will hold talks in

Sarajevo

this morning with country
directors of the international financial institutions, focusing on how best to
coordinate the activities of the IFIs in BiH.

This afternoon, the High Representative will meet ITA Director Kemal
Causevic, who will brief the High Representative on the status of VAT
implementation and on the overall fiscal situation in BiH. As you will know, the
introduction of VAT is likely to give a significant boost to the Small and
Medium Sized Enterprise sector, where the greatest number of new jobs are
expected to be created as BiH moves forward with its economic transition. The
High Representative has made it clear that he sees the promotion of a better
business environment in BiH – one that will allow SMEs to get create desperately
needed new jobs – as one of his key priorities.

High Representative to Meet Council of Ministers

Tomorrow, the High Representative will meet BiH Council of Ministers Chairman
Adnan Terzic and the other members of the CoM. This will be the High
Representative’s first formal meeting with the Council of Ministers
since taking up his mandate. 

The High Representative will, among other things, reiterate his publicly
stated position that the future of Bosnia and
Herzegovina must be decided by the citizens of
this country and their elected leaders. The forthcoming elections must be about
issues rather than personalities – because the elections, not the High
Representative, will determine the well being of BiH and its
people.

More details for media will follow later today.