BERJAN: GROWING INTEREST FROM CHINESE COMPANIES IN INVESTING IN SRPSKA AND BiH

SARAJEVO, MAY 26 /SRNA/ - The Ambassador of BiH to China, Siniša Berjan, stated that at the 4th China–Central and Eastern European Countries Expo in Ningbo, Republika Srpska and BiH presented their potential through the participation of renowned domestic companies involved in the wine production, natural cosmetics, and traditional crafts, and that there is a noticeable increase in interest from Chinese companies in investing in Srpska and BiH.

“Among the exhibitors, the wineries ‘Tvrdoš’ from Trebinje, ‘Čitluk,’ and ‘Nuić’ stood out, along with the companies ‘Elmar’ from Trebinje and ‘Eco-aromatic’ from Čapljina. The expo was an opportunity for our products, already recognized for their quality on the international market, to be further promoted to the Chinese public,” Berjan said in an interview with SRNA.

Berjan emphasized that, thanks to the initiative of the Embassy of BiH in China and the strong support of the Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations in the Council of Ministers, Staša Košarac, companies from Republika Srpska and the Federation of BiH that participated in the Expo were granted six months of free product promotion in the exhibition space of the city of Wuhan and participation in trade fairs across China.

He says that this type of support represents a significant step toward expanding the presence of domestic products in the large and promising Chinese market.

“Although there is still room to improve cooperation and reduce the trade deficit that BiH has with China, just like most countries in the world, it is encouraging that economic and trade relations are continuously developing. This is largely supported by participation in previous expos, bilateral business forums, and joint projects under the Belt and Road Initiative,” Berjan said.

He recalled that over the past year and a half, eight twinning agreements have been signed between cities and municipalities of Republika Srpska and Chinese partners through the mediation of the BiH Embassy in China, and that three more are expected to be concluded in the coming days.

When asked whether he is satisfied with the results achieved so far in cooperation with China and how he sees the future of those relations, especially in the field of economics, Berjan said that the cooperation between the two countries has significantly improved in recent years, particularly in the areas of trade, investment, and cultural exchange.

Berjan also pointed out the noticeable increase in interest from Chinese companies in investing in infrastructure, energy, tourism, and agriculture in Republika Srpska and BiH.

Although there are challenges such as administrative barriers, differing regulatory standards, and geographical distance, Berjan is confident that, with joint efforts and institutional support, it is possible to further strengthen economic relations and create new opportunities for economic growth.

"The future of our relations is bright. Continued cooperation within the Belt and Road Initiative, investment in innovation, the digital economy, and green transition, as well as strengthening the presence of our companies on the Chinese market, represent the foundation for sustainable and mutually beneficial development," Ambassador Berjan emphasized.