"You will have full support, from the association process and the negotiations to other technical details. Bosnia and Herzegovina deserves to become a member of the European Union and we support that," Maras said at the opening of the Mostar 2012 International Economy Fair as an envoy of Croatian Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic.
Croatia is the partner country at the event in the southern Bosnian city.
Maras said he expected Croatia's accession to the EU in mid-2013 to have a positive impact on Bosnia and the countries in the region. "I am confident that economic relations between the two states will be even more successful and that everyone will benefit from Croatia's accession to the European Union."
Maras said Bosnia was one of Croatia's most important trading partners. "Fairs are a good place to deepen Croatian-Bosnian relations and I expect our ties to intensify in many areas, including energy, infrastructure and telecommunications."
The Mostar fair features more than 800 companies from 35 countries. It was opened by Bosnian Presidency Chairman Vjekoslav Bevanda, who said Croatia's EU accession would be a big encouragement for Bosnia and that fairs were a place to encourage stronger cooperation.
The five-day event includes a conference on the development of small and medium enterprises after Croatia's EU accession, organised by the Croatian Entrepreneurship and Crafts Ministry.