The Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of BiH Mirko Šarović said to reporters at a press conference that the BiH Presidency of CEFTA, which it takes over from Albania, is an opportunity for the promotion of the state and represents a challenge for the country.
‘’This is a chance for BiH to be the center of the region, at least when it comes to trade. This also represents a challenge for us in relation to the activities that will occur and preparations for joint strategies until 2020. Mid-year, Croatia will leave CEFTA, which is very important for all its members’’, said Minister Šarović.
He said that the export-import ratio in 2008, when BiH joined the CEFTA agreement, was 50 percent.
‘’At the end of 2012 this coverage was 65 percent, which indicates that BiH is closer to its strategic goal, and that is to be an equal partner with member countries of CEFTA. The coverage of imports by exports in 2011 was 70 percent’’, he said.
The Minister said that in 2012 agricultural imports increased by more than 13 percent, and that at the same time there was a reduction of agricultural products to seven percent, which increased the coverage of imports and exports.
In 2013, there will be a series of meetings at different levels in CEFTA countries, so that BiH, respectively Sarajevo, will be the center of the region. Funds are provided for the presidency, and this is a chance for us to thank the European Commission that, through various projects and programs, helped BiH this year’’, he said.
