SARAJEVO, Oct 15 (Hina) - Trade between Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina is developing well, but there has been no progress yet towards the enhancement of higher levels of cooperation such as joint investment or joint ventures on third
markets, the head of Croatia's Chamber of Commerce (HGK) branch in Sarajevo, said on Monday. "The successful implementation of the bilateral free trade agreement is not sufficient for us to become satisfied with the overall quality of economic ties," Miroslav Franjkovic said at a news conference. Trade between Zagreb and Sarajevo came to 438 million U.S. dollars during the first eight months of the implementation of the new trade agreement, which began at the start of this year. Croatia's export to Bosnia was $356 million, whereas Bosnia's export to Croatia totalled $81 million. The current ratio in the exchange of commodities shows new trends. For instance, the ratio of trade in
SARAJEVO, Oct 15 (Hina) - Trade between Croatia and Bosnia-
Herzegovina is developing well, but there has been no progress yet
towards the enhancement of higher levels of cooperation such as
joint investment or joint ventures on third markets, the head of
Croatia's Chamber of Commerce (HGK) branch in Sarajevo, said on
Monday.
"The successful implementation of the bilateral free trade
agreement is not sufficient for us to become satisfied with the
overall quality of economic ties," Miroslav Franjkovic said at a
news conference.
Trade between Zagreb and Sarajevo came to 438 million U.S. dollars
during the first eight months of the implementation of the new trade
agreement, which began at the start of this year.
Croatia's export to Bosnia was $356 million, whereas Bosnia's
export to Croatia totalled $81 million.
The current ratio in the exchange of commodities shows new trends.
For instance, the ratio of trade in 1994 was 1 to 85 in favour of
Croatia, compared to 1 to 4.4 this year.
Franjkovic maintains it is unequivocally a positive trend as the
balanced exchange of commodities is of great importance for both
countries.
The issue which has particularly burdened trade cooperation is a
ban on the import of meat and meat products from Bosnia.
Croatia cannot allow the import from a country which has no reliable
mechanisms to test the quality of meat and meat products,
Franjkovic explained the reasons for the ban, and called on
Sarajevo to introduce such control that would make it possible for
Bosnia to export meat not only to Croatia but also to more demanding
markets in the European Union or the United States.
HGK representatives in Sarajevo expect the solution of the property
and legal issues through a bilateral treaty in the near future. The
deal on the restitution and return of property of companies from the
two countries encounters the biggest obstacle in the Bosnian Serb
entity - the Republic of Srpska - whose authorities do not want to
give back estate to its pre-war owners - companies from Croatia.
Besides, Bosnia's state officials have not shown a clear stand on
the matter either.
(hina) sb ms