Bosnia on Thursday adopted an ambitious four-year development strategy that aims to eliminate dependency on foreign aid, help it get closer to the European Union and reduce widespread poverty and unemployment.
The central government adopted the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) after 18 months of preparations, including consultations with Western governments and agencies that have bankrolled Bosnia's recovery after the devastating 1992-5 war.
The 900-point PRSP outlines reform steps to be taken in the fields such as macro-economy, fiscal policy, energy, telecommunications, public spending, foreign trade, development of private sector, public administration, education and health.
"Bosnia and Herzegovina has finally got its Development Strategy which offers a recipe for exiting the economic crisis," Deputy Justice Minister Niko Grubesic told reporters after a government session.
International aid for the Balkan country of 3.7 million people has seen a steep decline in the last several years - following a multi-billion reconstruction package after the war - but still keeps it alive.
The programme targets an average rate of economic growth of about 4.5-5 percent in the next four years, up from about three percent now, PRSP co-ordinator Zlatko Hurtic said.
"Our first goal is the creation of conditions for an economy that would be self-sustainable by 2007 so we do not have to depend on World Bank and International Monetary Fund credits anymore and can borrow on world capital markets," Hurtic said.
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