MORE THAN BAM 26 MILLION EARMARKED FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS

PALE, JUNE 4 /SRNA/ – The Republika Srpska Government today, at a session held in Pale, adopted a set of information documents on the financing of capital projects in 11 local communities and three projects of the Republika Srpska Civil Protection Administration, for which BAM 26,353,325 has been earmarked.

Republika Srpska Minister of Finance Zora Vidović stated that BAM 4 million will be allocated to Derventa, BAM 3.394 million to Srebrenica, BAM 3.375 million to Ugljevik, BAM 2.5 million to Kotor Varoš, BAM 2.365 million to Pale, BAM 2 million to Srbac, BAM 1.2 million to Istočno Sarajevo, BAM 1.213 million to Trnovo, BAM 808,000 to Bijeljina, BAM 400,000 to Petrovac, and BAM 310,000 to Donji Žabar.

The Republika Srpska Civil Protection Administration will receive BAM 150,000 for the purchase and equipping of a building in Bratunac, BAM 1.745 million for a building in Sokolac, and BAM 892,700 for the Protection and Rescue Communications System Development Programme.

During the session, Republika Srpska Prime Minister Savo Minić emphasized that the decisions concern a series of public investments in local communities, public institutions, and agencies.

"I am particularly pleased that the Municipality of Pale is among the beneficiaries of these decisions," Minić said, adding that it was agreed in talks held with Istočno Sarajevo Mayor Ljubiša Ćosić that new decisions would follow at Istočno Sarajevo's proposals.

The session also adopted information on the project "Digital Payments for Sustainable Development in the Western Balkans – Better Way 2.0", which according to Vidović, the German Agency for International Cooperation /GIZ/ has earmarked BAM 3.5 million for.

Vidović said the project's objective is to combat the grey economy in the field of digitalization, promote cashless payments, and improve financial inclusion.

At the proposal of the Ministry of Transport and Communications, amendments to the regulation on fees for the installation and maintenance of structures, equipment, and installations located within road bodies, road corridors, and road protection zones were adopted.

Minister of Transport and Communications Zoran Stevanović said that the fees will be collected by the Republika Srpska Roads Company, while revenues from facilities located within motorway corridors will be collected by the Republika Srpska Motorways Company.

"Until now, the fee was charged as a one-time payment - road excavation cost BAM 500. From now on, it will be calculated per linear meter and will range from BAM 250 to BAM 300, depending on the road category," Stevanović said, explaining that the company Republika Srpska Roads will be obligated to restore the road to its original condition after excavation.