On 12 November 2002, at the initiative of the High Representative, Paddy Ashdown, a group of BiH businesspeople, together with representatives of the main international financial organizations, launched the Bulldozer Committee. The object was to build a working partnership between BiH politicians and businesspeople and identify specific clauses in legislation that prevent companies from expanding their businesses and creating more jobs. The Committee set itself the task of having “50 reforms enacted within 150 days”.

Drawing up its first round of reforms, the Committee received input from more than 500 firms. Issues raised included compulsory fees for professional associations, double taxation, cumbersome administrative procedures, and job-destroying labour practices. Within the Bulldozer Committee, each proposal was studied in detail by a qualified group of lawyers and economists, who developed legal solutions and assessed the likely consequences for the economic environment. More than 20 local associations, such as regional business associations, the Employers’ Confederation, the Women’s Business Network, the Central Bank, the Foreign Investment Promotion Agency and the Micro-Credit Network, worked with the Bulldozer Committee to evaluate the reform proposals. During three Plenary Sessions, the Committee voted on the best 50 proposals for eliminating economic roadblocks to present to the governing bodies…