The Cantonal Agency for Attracting Investments and Privatization (KAIP) has established cooperation with the Office of the Government of Catalonia and the Catalan Agency for Business Competitiveness and Internationalisation – ACCIÓ, with the aim of strengthening investment promotion activities and improving the business environment in Canton Sarajevo.
On this occasion, a meeting was held in Zagreb between KAIP Director Adnan Jašarević and Amra Hašimbegović, Assistant Director for Investments, with Alexandre Fernandez Llopart, Representative of the Office of the Government of Catalonia for Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Jorge Salgado, Representative of ACCIÓ. During the meeting, opportunities for institutional cooperation were aligned and concrete steps were defined towards attracting investors from Catalonia to Canton Sarajevo.
During the meeting, joint areas of action were agreed, including the exchange of information, promotion of investment projects, direct networking between business entities, as well as the organisation of future business meetings and visits by potential investors from Catalonia.
Special emphasis was placed on the economic strength of Catalonia, which represents the most developed and economically strongest region of Spain, accounting for more than 20% of Spain’s total GDP, with a strong export-oriented economy, developed industry, technology and innovation, and Barcelona as one of the leading business and investment hubs of Southern Europe.
As part of the meeting, a presentation was delivered on the investment potential and specific projects in Canton Sarajevo, highlighting the comparative advantages of investing in Sarajevo, including its favourable geostrategic position, available and skilled workforce, low tax rates, support for investments and employment, competitive operating costs, and fast-growing sectors such as IT, tourism, energy, industry and services.
Representatives of the Catalan institutions expressed strong readiness and clear interest in investment and cooperation, emphasising that they recognise significant opportunities for investment and development across numerous sectors in Canton Sarajevo, as well as the potential for long-term partnership.
During the discussions, particular emphasis was also placed on the traditionally strong ties between Sarajevo and Catalonia, dating back to the period of aggression against Bosnia and Herzegovina, when Catalonia and the City of Barcelona provided substantial humanitarian, institutional and social support to Sarajevo and Bosnia and Herzegovina, continuing this support in the post-war period.
The established cooperation represents an important step towards strengthening the international visibility of Canton Sarajevo as an attractive investment destination and confirms KAIP’s commitment to strategic partnerships with Europe’s most developed regions.
