VIŠKOVIĆ: GOVERNMENT MEASURES PRESERVED JOBS, CREATED NEW ONES, AND RAISED WAGES

JAHORINA, MAY 21 /SRNA/ – The Prime Minister of Republika Srpska Radovan Višković stated today on Jahorina that the government’s measures since 2018 have preserved jobs, created new employment opportunities, raised workers' wages, and ensured there is no risk of unforeseen economic shocks.

Višković recalled the key issues facing Republika Srpska and its economy when he took office in 2018.

"The first point in my inaugural address was an insufficiently competitive economy, an overly expensive and financially unsustainable healthcare sector, an inefficient public sector, and a mismatch between the education system and labor market needs," Višković said.

He noted that this was soon followed by two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, and later the Russia-Ukraine conflict, both of which triggered a series of economic challenges.

According to Višković, the government also adopted measures aimed at supporting families, pro-natalist policies, and assistance for purchasing a first home.

"Approximately BAM 400 million is allocated annually from the budget through various measures aimed at supporting the real sector," Višković stated during the panel "Conversation with the Prime Minister," which also featured the Vice President of the Vojvodina Chamber of Commerce Boško Vučurević and the President of the Republika Srpska Chamber of Commerce Pero Ćorić.

Višković added that the export-to-import ratio is currently at 68 percent, with exports increasing by more than six percent and imports by over nine percent.