Selling to the Government
Government expenditures in BiH are significant and amounted to around 50 percent of GDP in 2021. The scope of government procurements is wide as it includes many government-owned enterprises such as public utilities and service providers for telecommunications, electricity and gas utilities, transportation services, and water supply. Procurement award decisions are often opaque: Transparency International’s 2021 Corruption Perception Index ranked Bosnia and Herzegovina at number 110 out of 180 countries.
The BiH Public Procurement Agency and Procurement Review Body provides information pertaining to public procurement legislation, including procurement notices.
U.S. companies interested in selling to the government are advised to contact U.S. Embassy Sarajevo for additional information about specific procurement opportunities. The Embassy assists U.S. companies exporting to BiH by identifying local opportunities for the sale of U.S. products or services, providing counseling on the market, and meeting the advocacy needs of U.S. firms. U.S. companies bidding on Government tenders may also qualify for U.S. Government advocacy. A unit of the U.S. Commerce Department’s International Trade Administration, the Advocacy Center coordinates U.S. Government interagency advocacy efforts on behalf of U.S. exporters bidding on public sector contracts with international governments and government agencies. The Advocacy Center works closely with our network of the U.S. Commercial Service worldwide and inter-agency partners to ensure that exporters of U.S. products and services have the best possible chance of winning government contracts. Advocacy assistance can take many forms but often involves the U.S. Embassy or other U.S. Government agencies expressing support for the U.S. bidders directly to the foreign government. Consult Advocacy for Foreign Government Contracts for additional information.
Many governments finance public works projects through borrowing from Multilateral Development Banks. Please refer to the “Project Financing” section in “Trade and Project Financing” for more information.
Financing of Projects
International financial institutions including the World Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), and the European Investment Bank (EIB) are the most important sources of project financing for which procurement is open to U.S. bidders.
Multilateral Development Banks and Financing Government Sales. price, payment terms, and financing can be a significant factor in winning a government contract. Many governments finance public works projects through borrowing from the Multilateral Development Banks (MDB). A helpful guide for working with the MDBs is the Guide to Doing Business with the Multilateral Development Banks. The U.S. Department of Commerce’s (USDOC) International Trade Administration (ITA) has a Foreign Commercial Service Officer stationed at each of the five different Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs): the African Development Bank; the Asian Development Bank; the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development; the Inter-American Development Bank; and the World Bank.
Learn more by contacting the:
Commercial Liaison Office to the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
Commercial Liaison Office to the World Bank
World Bank
The World Bank has committed $1.3 billion since 1996 to BiH through 62 projects involving rehabilitation of industries, infrastructure, housing, education, health care, and landmine clearance. These funds have been used to purchase goods and equipment, build infrastructure, and obtain the consulting services needed to implement these projects. World Bank borrowers are required to submit timely notification of bidding opportunities and to advertise these opportunities and expressions of interest.
The Development Gateway Market (dgMarket) is a global online marketplace providing information on donor and government-funded tenders. Currently, dgMarket publishes tender notices for projects funded by the African Development Bank, the Asian Development Bank, Europe Aid, EBRD, European Investment Bank, EU member states, Phare/Tacis, and the World Bank. For more information, contact: info@dgmarket.com
The United Nations publishes UN Development Business, a website which provides information on business opportunities generated through the World Bank, regional development banks, and other development agencies. Development Business is available in either print format or by online subscription. For more information contact the Development Business Liaison Office at Phone: (202) 458-2397; Fax: (202) 522-3316 or E-mail: dbusiness@worldbank.org
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)
With EUR 2.9 billion ($3.12 billion) since 1996 committed to various projects in the financial, telecommunications, road, railways, and civil aviation sectors, the EBRD is one of the largest lenders in BiH.
Contact Information
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)
Fra Andjela Zvizdovica 1 B-15
71000 Sarajevo BiH
Phone: (+387) (33) 667-945
European Investment Bank (EIB)
The European Investment Bank (EIB) has been active in BiH since 2000 and has funded numerous projects in the industry, railways, and road sectors in the amount of EUR 1.1 billion (approximately $1.4 billion). The EIB provides additional information on its projects and procurement rules online.
U.S. Export Import Bank (Ex-Im Bank)
The Export-Import Bank of the United States is the official export credit agency of the United States. Ex-Im Bank’s mission is to assist in financing the export of U.S. goods and services to international markets. Ex-Im Bank provides working capital guarantees (pre-export financing); export credit insurance (post-export financing); and loan guarantees and direct loans (buyer financing). On average, 85 percent of Ex-Im Bank’s transactions directly benefit U.S. small businesses. Since October 2002, Ex-Im Bank has been open for private sector transactions in BiH and will consider business for short- and medium-term transactions in the private sector.
Contact Information
Export-Import Bank of the United States
811 Vermont Avenue NW
Washington, D.C. 20571
Phone: (202)-565-3477
U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA)
USTDA is an independent U.S. government agency that promotes American private sector participation in developing and middle-income countries, with special emphasis on economic sectors that represent significant U.S. export potential. USTDA helps U.S. businesses compete for infrastructure projects in emerging markets by funding feasibility studies, orientation visits, specialized training grants, and various forms of technical assistance. In the past, USTDA program funds have supported numerous projects in Bosnia in the energy, telecommunications, transportation, and environmental technology sectors.
Contact Information
U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA): Middle East, North Africa and Europe Region
1000 Wilson Blvd., Suite 1600
Arlington, VA 22209 USA
Phone: (703) 875-4357
Email: mena_europe@ustda.gov
U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC)
The United States International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) is the development finance institution of the United States federal government, primarily responsible for providing and facilitating the financing of private development projects in lower- and middle-income countries. First authorized on October 5, 2018, the independent agency was formed December 20, 2019, by merging the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) with the Development Credit Authority of the United States Agency for International Development, as well as with several smaller offices and funds. The DFC was also granted greatly expanded lending authority; its overall lending capacity of $60 billion is more than double that of its predecessor institutions. The DFC’s lending capacity is used to provide loans, loan guarantees, and insurance for development projects in lower-income countries undertaken by US businesses.
Contact Information
U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC)
1100 New York Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20527, USA
Phone: (202) 336-8400
Email: info@dfc.gov
U.S. Commercial Service Liaison Offices at the Multilateral Development Banks
The Commercial Service maintains Commercial Liaison Offices in each of the main Multilateral Development Banks, including the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the World Bank. These institutions lend billions of dollars in developing countries on projects aimed at accelerating economic growth and social development by reducing poverty and inequality, improving health and education, and advancing infrastructure development. The Commercial Liaison Offices help American businesses learn how to get involved in bank-funded projects, and advocate on behalf of American bidders. Learn more by contacting the Commercial Liaison Offices to the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the World Bank.