The system against citizens. In Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), this is old news that we confirm from time to time. Like the current one, when the countries of the region are preparing for possible price increases and shortages of goods if a conflict arises. In our country, they are not thinking about it yet, and the whole story has brought back all the shortcomings we have when it comes to the commodity reserves.
”There is general chaos in BiH. The decision-making process as it is in BiH has led to the fact that we have a completely uncertain situation when it comes to commodity reserves and future supply chains, which certainly concern BiH as well,”Ahmet Egrlic said, President of Foreign Trade Chamber (FTC) of BiH.
”With the existing stocks of wheat, the Federation has enough flour to be produced in four months, which means until the next wheat harvest. The flour will not disappear and no one should scare the citizens with price increases,” Tonco Bavrka pointed out, director of the Federal Directorate of Commodity Reserves.
New blows apart from the existing ones are also possible. Every earthquake in the world will shake the BiH market. Neighbors, therefore procure additional quantities of goods in the event of an escalation of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. We have reached the initial plansonly.
”They will ensure that all citizens, both from Republika Srpska (RS) and Federation of BiH (FBiH), in case of any possible disturbances are adequately treated, to provide all the necessary quantities – whether it is fuel or food,”said the Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of BiH, Stasa Kosarac-Alliance of Independent Social Democrats (SNSD).
There are several options on the table that the authorities could already use if they wanted to – reduce margins, excises, and other levies, and possibly abolish VAT. None is certain for now.
To summarize: the global market on the one hand – a small country and the economy on the other. Political turbulence in both cases. Consequences: the possible shortage of goods and additional price increases. We don’t even have money for domestic, let alone state reserves. Well, all the same. Politicians are waiting for the last minute, and for BiH citizens, life with reserves is certainly a usual thing every day.
E.Dz.
