DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY TO FOCUS ON BILEĆA'S POTENTIAL BY LATE SEPTEMBER

BILEĆA, July 10 /SRNA/ – Experts are expected to complete a development strategy for Bileća by the end of September, after which the document will be submitted to the Municipal Assembly for adoption, followed by joint implementation of the action plans it contains, Staša Košarac, Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations in the Council of Ministers has stressed today in Bileća.

Speaking to reporters after a meeting held to prepare the strategy, Košarac said Bileća Mayor Miodrag Parežanin has a clear vision and fully understands the need to invest effort and energy into providing the municipality with a strategic development document.

Košarac emphasized that, at the municipality's request, the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations secured international funding for the preparation of the strategy, adding that the approved funds are immediately available.

Košarac said experts with recognized qualifications and extensive experience in preparing development strategies for other local communities in Republika Srpska and the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina had come to Bileća to assess the current situation.

According to Košarac, once the strategy is completed, special attention should be given to the important road connection through Deleuša, which could strengthen Bileća's economic potential, as well as to Bilećko Lake.

He said he had instructed his associates to prepare an analysis of the legal regulations governing the status of Bilećko Lake.

"Lake Bilećko is a major asset with significant potential for agriculture, aquaculture, fisheries and tourism, and there are ways to make better use of it in the future," Košarac said.

He added that Bileća could further develop its tourism potential and complement capacities that neighboring Trebinje lacks, helping to create an integrated tourism product for Herzegovina.

Košarac also reminded that Bileća is well known for its stone industry and said the meeting discussed ways to promote it at trade fairs.

Parežanin said the meeting had agreed on the main guidelines for the strategy and announced that it would be completed by September 20 before being submitted to the Municipal Assembly.

"I would like to thank Minister Košarac for selecting Bileća and providing financial support for the preparation of this strategy," Parežanin said.