BOSNIA, CROATIA RISE TRADE AFTER SIGNED FREE TRADE AGREEMENT

ZAGREB, Sept 18 (Hina) - Trade between Croatia and Bosnia- Herzegovina has grown significantly, especially after the application of the Free Trade Agreement at the beginning of the year. Trade has increased by 18 percent, Bosnian deputy minister for foreign trade and economic relations Jadranko Prlic told today's news conference at the Zagreb Fair. Bosnia-Herzegovina is this year's Croatia's partner-country at the Fair, exhibiting 104 companies. By appearing at the International Autumn Zagreb Fair, Bosnia is expecting its products to consolidate on the Croatian market, and the issue of placing goods on the Croatian market which could not be sold there for administrative or other reasons, to be solved. Regarding the latter, Prlic said he was not satisfied with reactions from Croatia hitherto, and Bosnia-Herzegovina was thinking of undertaking similar measures for Croatian products. Obstacles in increasing trade between Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia, among others, are regulations on quality control. Croatia does not recognise some certificates from Bosnia, Bosnia- Herzegovina Ambassador to Croatia, Hasan Muratovic, said, stressing such certificates were usually recognised. He reiterated that Croatian business people are currently not active in Bosnia-Herzegovina in the privatisation field, and called on Croatian companies to become involved in the privatisation process. (hina) lml