In the Administrative Center of the Government of the Republic of Srpska, representatives of line ministries and mayors of Banja Luka and Gradiška were presented with adapted software and announced the beginning of the test phase of the Integrated System for Licensing in Construction in the Republic of Srpska. Through the LIFE Project, custom software has been installed in the line ministry and construction departments of the cities of Banja Luka and Gradiška, and training of employees has been carried out, thus creating all the prerequisites for verifying the effectiveness of the software solution in real conditions.
The establishment of the Integrated System is part of the joint efforts of the Ministry of Physical Planning, Construction and Ecology of the Republic of Srpska, the competent authorities and cities of Banja Luka and Gradiška, which are implemented with the technical assistance of the Business Enhancement and Investment Attraction Project at the Local Level (LIFE). The project is being implemented by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, and funded by the UK Government through UK-aid.
The cities of Banja Luka and Gradiška are the local communities that will be the first to join the Integrated System since they have previously implemented regulatory reforms and established a one-way business within the LIFE Project and are ready to support the implementation of project tasks.
“If we continue with the activities as planned, we will receive the first applications for building permits electronically in April this year in Banja Luka and Gradiška. With this, we will fully implement the complex reform and regulate the construction process in Republika Srpska in a way that is similar to the 21st century. However, I must emphasize that full implementation throughout the Republic of Srpska will depend solely on the willingness of local communities to carry out reforms and create the necessary preconditions for joining the Integrated System, “said relevant minister Srebrenka Golić.
“Local communities that implemented the LIFE Project recommendations made savings of KM 5,9 million a year for their businesses and citizens, by reducing fees and fees, and by reducing the processing time for applications. On the other hand, in the 3,5 years that the LIFE Project is implemented, it is in these areas that KM 57 million of new investments and 329 new jobs have been confirmed, and the total revenues of these municipalities and cities, regardless of the reduction of fees and compensation, however, were on the rise. With the introduction of this Integrated System, the permitting process will be further streamlined and will certainly increase the attractiveness of Banja Luka and Gradiška for investment. We hope that other municipalities and cities will soon follow suit, ”said a representative from the British Embassy.
Source: Government of RS
