Governor Selimović in London: Inclusive policies key to sustainable economic development

At the invitation of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the Governor of the Central Bank of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Jasmina Selimović, Ph.D. participated in a ceremonial event dedicated to the results and further development of the EBRD Women in Business (WiB) program in London on September 30, 2025.

The invitation was sent to Governor Selimović as the only representative from Bosnia and Herzegovina who is actively implementing the WE Finance Code (WeFi) - a global initiative to improve women's access to finance. This recognized the role of the Central Bank of Bosnia and Herzegovina in accelerating inclusive policies and strengthening women's economic empowerment, which ultimately contributes to greater economic growth and the development of an inclusive society.

The Governor emphasized that “Inclusive economic policies create conditions in which all members of society have equal opportunities to contribute and realize their potential. By providing women with equal access to finance, new jobs are created, innovations are encouraged and the competitiveness of the economy is strengthened. This not only improves economic stability, but also builds a society based on equality and sustainable growth, which is fully in line with the European integration processes of Bosnia and Herzegovina.”

This year, the Central Bank of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in cooperation with the EBRD, organized a conference dedicated to the implementation of the WE Finance Code initiative. The conference presented new findings from the analysis of the state of financing for women entrepreneurs, and adopted clear goals, obligations and action plans for the coordinated implementation of the WeFi code in the coming period.

Also, this year, the Central Bank of Bosnia and Herzegovina actively participated in international events within the WE-Fi / Women Entrepreneurs initiative, as well as platforms for exchanging experiences and strengthening institutional capacities.

“The fact that the Central Bank of Bosnia and Herzegovina, through the implementation of the WeFi initiative, has been recognized at this level and invited to share its experiences is a confirmation that our work in the field of inclusion and empowerment of women is appreciated beyond the borders of our country. This is also a strong incentive to continue building a system in which women will have equal access to financial resources and the opportunity to develop their potential,” added Governor Selimović.

At the ceremonial event, which brings together ambassadors, donors, policymakers, financial institutions, successful women entrepreneurs and global partners, Governor Selimović participated in the fireside chat “Creating Policy Ripple Effects”, where she spoke about how inclusive policies can bring about big changes and the role of central banks in supporting these changes.

This event marked the investment of more than one billion euros in support for over 250,000 women entrepreneurs in 23 countries. The celebration program included the premiere of the documentary film “The Ripple Effect: Breaking Barriers, Building Futures”, as well as a panel discussion on the next phase of the development of the WiB initiative.