Prime Minister of the Republic of Srpska, Radovan Višković chaired today a thematic session of the Government of the Republic of Srpska which was devoted to political, economic and security situation in the Republic of Srpska.

At the beginning of the session Prime Minister Višković presented macroeconomic indicators and current developments in public finances emphasizing that economic indicators since 2018 to date show growth in all areas.

"At the end of 2018, the GDP of the Republic of Srpska was BAM 10.7 billion while at the end of 2024 it was close to 18 billion, which is an increase of more than 60%", Prime Minister said and added that GDP growth had always been positive, except during the time of the pandemic of coronavirus and rose more than any other in the apart from Serbia.

Prime Minister Višković stated that GDP per capita increased from BAM 9,304 in 2018 to BAM 14,429 in 2023, or nominally by 55.0%.

"Expenditures for personal income of employees increased from BAM 763.2 million in 2019 to 1.197 billion, or by 434.2 million by 57%", while transfers for pension insurance payments increased from BAM 1.102 billion in 2019 to 1.946 billion in 2025 which is 844 million or 77% more.

"Total allocations for veteran groups went up from BAM 222.5 million in 2019 to 459.8 million in 2025, that is 237.3 million more or 107%,", Prime Minister of Republic of Srpska said.

He pointed out that allocations for the health sector which include the Budget of the Health Insurance Fund and total budget spending for the health care from the RS Budget, amounted to 783.2 million in 2019 while in 2025, it was 1.355 billion and thus increased for 572.1 million or 73%.

"The budget of the Health Insurance Fund of Republic of Srpska increased from 744.5 million in 2019 to 1.205 billion in 2025, i.e. for 460.4 million or 62%", Prime Minister Višković said.

He stated that total spending in the healthcare system from the Budget increased from BAM 38.7 million in 2019 to 150.3 million in 2025, or by 111.6 million or 289%.

The stated amounts of spending from the Republic Budget for healthcare include expenditures for capital investments, subsidies and grants to public healthcare institutions.

Prime Minister Višković emphasized that subsidies for incentives to increase workers' salaries in 2025 amount to 10 million while in 2019, were not even planned.

"The current grant - Support for the improvement of economic activities and business operations of companies has been increased from 1.4 million in 2019 to two million in 2025, or by 42.9%",   Prime Minister Višković said and added that the current grant - Support for the improvement of technological development has been increased from 1.4 million in 2019 to 25.5 million in 2025, which is an increase of 24.1 million.

"The transfer to the Employment Agency - the program to support the economy through the refund of paid taxes and contributions for newly employed workers was not planned in 2019, and in 2025 it is five million”, Prime Minister Višković emphasized.

Also, the Prime Minister stated, the transfer on the account of employment and self-employment of vulnerable groups and improvement of the labor market was not planned in 2019, and in 2025 it is five million.

Prime Minister Višković emphasized that subsidies for development of agriculture and rural areas have been increased from 71 million in 2019 to 180 million in 2025, or by 153.5%.

"Interest rate subsidies for housing loans for young people and young married couples have increased from 1.7 million in 2019 to 2.7 million in 2025, or by 58.8%”, Prime Minister said.

According to him, current transfers for the improvement and development of family life amounted to 25,000 in 2019, and in the budget for 2025 they are 70 million.

“The transfer to the Child Welfare Fund has been increased from 29 million in 2019 to 45 million in 2025, while transfers to local self-government units for social protection have been increased from 25 million in 2019 to 47 million in 2025, what is 22 million or 88% more.

"Transfers to local self-government units for personal disability benefits from the field of social protection have increased from 4 million in 2019 to 18.5 million in 2025, or 362.5%", Prime Minister Višković said.

He added that transfers to local self-government units have increased from 1.33 million in 2019 to 10.01 million in 2025, or for 8.68 million or 652.6%.

"During the same period, GDP increased from BAM 11.251 billion to 17.118 billion, or by 52%, which clearly shows that budget expenditures increased more than the nominal increase in GDP", Prime Minister of Republic of Srpska Radovan Višković stated.

Co-organizers of today's thematic session of the Government are the President of Republic of Srpska Milorad Dodik, the Serbian Member of BiH Presidency BiH Željka Cvijanović and Speaker of the National Assembly, Nenad Stevandić.