VIDOVIĆ: FINANCIAL MARKET - DRIVER OF ECONOMY, QUALITY WORK MUST CONTINUE

BANJA LUKA, MAY 28 /SRNA/ – Minister of Finance of Republika Srpska Zora Vidović said today that marking the 25th anniversary of the Banja Luka Stock Exchange is a significant milestone, and that through dedicated work a highly successful, organised, transparent market has been created that serves as a driver of the economy.

"Every financial market reflects the economic situation of the country in question. We can say that our financial market is a driver of the economy and that it speaks of the level of economic development," Vidović told the press at the International Conference of the Banja Luka Stock Exchange marking 25 years of capital market development in Republika Srpska.

She expressed hope that such quality work will continue.

"I am proud that we can say that, in line with the scale of the economy in Republika Srpska, the population size, and economic activity, we have a very developed financial market, even compared to other countries in the region with much stronger economies," she said.

She added that there were significant difficulties in the early stages that had to be overcome.

"I thank all the people who worked at the beginning, who founded the Stock Exchange and built our financial market," Vidović said.

She added that major challenges lie ahead, particularly digitalization in all financial market operations.

"I have no doubt that the financial market will adapt to that as well," she added.

The conference is being held at the Banski Dvor Cultural Centre in Banja Luka, marking 25 years of existence and successful operation of the Banja Luka Stock Exchange, which has become a key segment of Republika Srpska’s financial market over the past two and a half decades.

The event gathered around 250 participants, including leading representatives of the regional financial and economic sectors.

In addition to Minister Vidović and Banja Luka Stock Exchange Director Boris Srdić, the conference was attended by Ognjen Mihajlović, Director of the Republika Srpska Securities Commission, as well as directors of stock exchanges from Belgrade, Zagreb, Ljubljana, and North Macedonia.