In order to promote the First International Investment Conference ‘Sarajevo Business Forum 2010’ (SBF) that is being organized by the Business Clubs of the Islamic Development Bank in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia & Bosna Bank International in Sarajevo, Former Prime Minister of Malaysia and the Chairman of Global Alliance for Partnership in International Development (GAPID), Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamed, in cooperation with the Embassy of Bosnia and Herzegovina hosted a special Business Dinner in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday 17. February 2010.

The Business Dinner was organized under the auspices of GAPID, the initiative founded and presided by Dr. Mahathir himself. Around thirty major business proprietors and executives of the leading Malaysian corporations  as well as several businessmen from Australia, Albania and Russia.

Tun Dr. Mahathir called upon Malaysian business leaders to invest their capital in Bosnia and Herzegovina, pointing out numerous advantages that offer themselves to the businessmen such as friendly environment, extraordinary human and natural resources and great business opportunities. Dr. Mahathir spoke about the opportunities to invest in reconstruction of the Olympic sporting venues and other facilities on the mountains around Bosnia’s capital Sarajevo, which in 1984 was the host of 14th Winter Olympic games, that had been damaged during the conflict back in 1990s. Former Malaysian Prime Minister and leading statesman of high prestige pointed out specifically the opportunities in tourism, agriculture, infrastructure with the specific focus on roads and the highway on the C5 Corridor in particular, which according to the former Malaysian Prime Minister is the golden key which can unlock the economic development of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Dr. Mahathir invited the guests of Business Dinner to seriously and actively get involved in the forthcoming Sarajevo Business Forum 2010 along with their business partners.

Mr. Rafee Yusoff, representative of the Islamic Development Bank and member of GAPID presented the fundamental data on the GAPID initiative and activities conducted by this organization in Bosnia and Herzegovina in the past informing the guests of the results of GAPID work. He also spoke positively and enthusiastically about the opportunities and advantages of investing in Bosnia.

H.E. Mr. Ensar Eminovic, Ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Malaysia also spoke at the Dinner. Ambassador Eminovic shed some light on the positive outcomes of the Malaysia-Bosnia Business Forum 2009, held in November last year. The Malaysia-Bosnia Business Forum, served as an excellent introduction to Sarajevo Business Forum, scheduled to be held in Sarajevo on 6. And 7. April. He also invited the participants of the past forum to undertake concrete steps in order to finalize the business agreements previously initiated between Malaysian and Bosnian companies. Bosnian Ambassador also spoke about the Euro-Atlantic destiny of Bosnia and Herzegovina and perspectives that offer themselves to farsighted businessmen to invest in Bosnia and Herzegovina, keeping in mind a long-term economic perspective.

This is even more promising, according to Ambassador Eminovic, in light of the fact that Bosnia and Herzegovina has already joined the CEFTA Association (multilateral organization of states aspiring to join the EU in the near future). There appears to be enough valid reasons for optimism in terms of Bosnian economic perspectives as Bosnia has already signed an agreement on stabilization and joining the EU, as one of the major prerequisites to a full EU membership in due course.

The Office of Dr. Mahathir Mohammad and Bosnian Embassy in Malaysia will hold joint Press Conference to ensure the Sarajevo Business Forum 2010, due to be held on 6. And 7. April, 2010, receives enough publicity and attention it deserves, in the business circles all over Malaysia.