TRADE BETWEEN CROATIA, BOSNIA ON RISE

SARAJEVO, Jan 30 (Hina) - Trade between Croatia and Bosnia- Herzegovina in 2001 totalled almost one billion euros, which points to a steady improvement of economic ties between the two countries, the head of the Croatian Chamber of Commerce (HGK) office in Sarajevo, Miroslav Franjkovic, said in Sarajevo on Wednesday. Presenting business results in 2001, Franjkovic said available data indicted that Croatia's exports to Bosnia in 2001 were 13 percent higher as against 2000. Bosnia's exports to Croatia in the same period increased by 60%, reducing the countries' trade imbalance. Franjkovic recalled that the export-import ratio in 1994 was 84:1 in Croatia's favour, while today it was 4.4:1. Croatia is still Bosnia's most important foreign trade partner. Oil and oil products make up the largest part of exports with a share of slightly more than 22%. Oil is followed by tobacco, with 7.18%, cement, construction material, and medicines. Crude aluminium accounts for almost 40% of Bosnia's exports to Croatia. It is followed by wood material, electricity and iron products. The two countries' economic cooperation is still dominated by trade, there are still no joint investments or presence on third markets. Franjkovic expressed hope the current "oil dispute" between Croatia and Bosnia would be solved soon, adding it was a pity business people had not been consulted with regard to the problem as they could have provided useful advice to the two governments. (hina) rml