The general elections, which took place on October 2, 2022, in Bosnia and Herzegovina, a friendly and brotherly country with which we are firmly connected by religious, historical and cultural ties, caused radical changes in the country's politics.
Turkey-friendly politician Samir Šibonjić, who served as the Minister of Economy in the new government of Zenica Doboy, one of the 10 different cantons of the country that is governed as a federation, made special statements to the Milli Gazete.
Bosnian politician Samir Šibonjić, who was educated in Turkey and speaks fluent Turkish, gives unconditional support to the development of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Turkey in unity and solidarity.
We had a comprehensive interview on the economy and politics of Bosnia and Herzegovina with Samir Šibonjić, who gave many interviews and comments to Milli Gazete in previous years.
"LOVE AND GREETINGS FROM BOSNIA TO THE READERS OF MİLLİ GAZETE"
Dear Samir Šibonjić, first of all, we would like to congratulate you on behalf of our Milli Gazete readers for your election to the Ministry of Economy of the Canton of Zenica Doboy. We know you as a Turkey-friendly politician who was educated in Turkey. Could you introduce yourself in more detail?
I am Samir Šibonjić, I was born in 1978 in Zavidovići, Bosnia and Herzegovina. After the Bosnia and Herzegovina War, I came to Turkey to receive education. I studied Turkish at Ankara University and after graduating from there, I graduated from Istanbul University Faculty of Medicine, Medical Sciences. Then I graduated from the Department of Business Administration in Bosnia and Herzegovina and became an Economics Specialist. I actively speak Turkish, English, Russian and the languages of the Balkan countries. After returning to Bosnia, I founded a company and started to operate in the private sector. Our company works in several sectors, our main business is international trade. Our good and active commercial cooperation continues, especially between Turkey and the Balkan countries. Our party took part in the coalition government formed after the last election in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and I was elected to the Ministry of Economy of the Canton of Zenica Doboy and started my new job on 23 December 2022. Thank you very much for giving us the opportunity to explain the political situation and our economy in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and especially for constantly following our work. Greetings from Bosnia and love to you and all the readers of the Milli Gazete in Turkey.
ZENICA DOBOY STANDING OUT WITH ITS DEVELOPING INDUSTRY
What is the place and importance of Zenica Doboy, one of the 10 cantons of Bosnia and Herzegovina?
Zenica Doboy Canton is one of the most important cantons for Bosnia and Herzegovina and especially for Bosnians. The industry of our canton, located in the middle of Bosnia and Herzegovina, is constantly developing and its exports are always increasing. We have people here who love to work. In particular, we have metal, food, furniture, textile, machinery, auto parts, mining, electricity generation industries. We are in a very strategic place in terms of location, we are right in the middle of Bosnia and Herzegovina at the crossing of the Bosnian River. We have mines here, we have a large thermal power plant, our electricity distribution network is very good, we have 22 large and small industrial zones in our region. We have an export-oriented industry and we see Bosnia and Herzegovina and our region as an opportunity, especially for companies exporting from Turkey to Europe. Transportation is possible both by road and rail. We have one port, Ploče Port on the Adriatic Sea. We have a very good rail network and we are 70 kilometers away from two international airports on average.
"LET'S CONQUER THE EUROPEAN MARKET TOGETHER"
We know that Zenica Doboy has a very valuable place in terms of the overall economy of Bosnia and Herzegovina. What economic advantages does Zenica Doboy, your field of duty, have?
The best advantage for people who will invest in our country and canton; We have people who know the job, are well educated and love to work. Since the Bosnians are a good and hospitable people, no foreign investors and tourists will have trouble here. In addition, our ease of transportation and our proximity to the European market are also a great advantage. Profit tax, electricity and labor costs are lower in Bosnia and Herzegovina compared to all European countries. We have a growing economy every year and our goal is to open more factories and prevent young people from migrating abroad. Currently, especially Germany and European countries offer very good salaries to attract young people in Bosnia and Herzegovina, this may be a very serious problem for us in the future and we invite investors in Turkey, especially those who export to Europe. Do not send aid to Bosnia and Herzegovina If you want to help Bosnia and Herzegovina, let's do business together here, use Bosnia and Herzegovina as a base, open factories here, open your warehouses for your goods and let's conquer the European market together.
“OUR DOORS ARE OPEN FOR YOU 24 HOURS”
Everyone should know that Bosnia and Herzegovina is the only country in the middle of Europe where Muslims are the majority, and it needs new investments and we all work together in order for Muslims to exist and be strong in this geography. We all know that there is strength in unity and togetherness, and we invite our friends in Turkey to unity and solidarity. Since I, as a minister, know both Turkey and Bosnia very well, I can say that under my administration, the door of the Ministry of Economy is open 24 hours a day for investors from Turkey. In short, I say this, let's work together. To sum it all up, there is a perfect opportunity to invest in Bosnia and Herzegovina right now.
“WE WILL ESTABLISH BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA-TURKEY ORGANIZED INDUSTRIAL ZONE”
What are your plans, which economic projects are you planning to put into action during your ministry?
Our first goal is to expand the economy here, to open new production sites, to stop the migration of young people to European Union countries and to bring back those who left. Our biggest goal is to offer more opportunities to our businessmen who invest here, to facilitate the work to be done, to speed up the paperwork and bureaucracy processes, to support and help those who set up and open new businesses. In addition, we have very good projects and supports for those who invest in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Worker salary and insurance support, support for those who build production buildings, support for purchasing machinery and machine park renewal, support for new technologies and systems, support for SME companies, support for obtaining quality certificates, financial support for bank loan holders to cover interest debts, industrial zones We have special support for And in the upcoming period, we would very much like to establish the Bosnia and Herzegovina-Turkey Organized Industrial Zone.
“BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA, TURKEY ARE FRIENDLY AND BROTHER COUNTRIES”
Mr. Minister, what messages would you like to give to foreign investors in general, especially in Turkey?
We send many greetings from Bosnia to all our friends and brothers in Turkey. Our business people who invest and will make know that our door is always open here. Now is the time to invest in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Since Bosnia and Herzegovina has gained the status of a new member state to the European Union, it has become a very attractive country for both rapid growth and new investments, especially in the next few years. This is a great opportunity for investors from Turkey. Especially those who will come here will not feel foreign because our culture and customs are very similar to each other. Bosnia and Herzegovina and Turkey are friendly and brotherly countries. We have very good agreements between our countries. Now it's our turn, businessmen and investors should put this cooperation into practice in the field. If we want Bosnia and Herzegovina and Turkey to be strong, we need to cooperate accordingly. The foundations of strong countries are laid with a strong economy. As a ministry, we are always ready to help investors no matter what. Greetings, respect and love to all of you from Bosnia and Herzegovina. We love you all very much and welcome you to Bosnia. Here you always have a home and friends waiting for you. May God be with you.
Dear Samir Šibonjić, thank you for the valuable information you shared with us and we wish you success in your work.