April 3 (SeeNews) - Bosnian prime minister Zoran Tegeltija has asked international financial institutions (IFIs) to provide jointly at least 600 million euro ($648 million) in support of the country's economy and healthcare system affected by the coronavirus crisis, the government said.
Tegeltija held a video conference with local representatives of the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the European Investment Bank and International Finance Corporation on April 2 and suggested that IFIs re-direct financing under existing arrangements with Bosnia towards an adequate crisis response in order to save jobs, the state-level government said in a press release on Thursday.
The Bosnian prime minister also suggested to request the executive board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to increase the proceeds from the Rapid Financing Instrument (RFI) for Bosnia, from 165 million euro to 330 million euro.
On Wednesday, the IMF said it is doing its best to provide some 165 million euro in emergency financing to Bosnia already in April in order to help the country cope with the coronavirus outbreak.
During the video call, the participants concluded that it is of utmost importance to form funds on the level of Bosnia's constituent entities which should be filled with proceeds from the IFIs and the European Union in order to back the recovery of the economy. To that end, coordination of all governing bodies in Bosnia must continue, with the mediation of the state-level government in order to implement agreed measures faster and with greater efficiency.
The Federation and the Serb Republic are the two autonomous entities that form Bosnia.
The number of confirmed cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Bosnia rose to 562 as at midday on Friday, including 18 fatalities, according to official tally.
($ = 0.925841 euro)