MARINKOVIĆ: BOOST EXPORTS IN METAL-PROCESSING AND WOOD INDUSTRIES

SARAJEVO, SEPTEMBER 14 /SRNA/ - BiH has the potential to increase exports to Malaysia, particularly in the metal-processing and wood industries, as well as in the pharmaceutical and IT sectors, President of the Foreign Trade Chamber of BiH Zdravko Marinković said in Sarajevo today.

"We cannot boast of any major foreign trade exchange in the previous period - it has been very small and symbolic. On the other hand, we have an opportunity to improve cooperation in order to increase trade," Marinković said at the conference entitled Sarajevo Business Dialogue: BiH - Malaysia.

He said that Malaysian businesspeople would be presented with BiH's position in relation to the EU, the opportunities offered by the Stabilization and Association Agreement, the opportunities provided by the CEFTA and EFTA agreements, as well as the agreement with Turkey.

According to him, there are also opportunities for joint investments by the two countries through free zones, as well as other forms of partnership, such as joint presence on the EU market.

"We hope that we will be convincing enough to persuade some Malaysian companies to work and cooperate with us in the future," Marinković said, adding that B2B meetings between 25 Malaysian companies and local firms are scheduled for tomorrow.

President of the Malaysia-BiH Business Council Tan Sri Mohamed Al Amin said that the figures show strong momentum in Malaysian exports to BiH, adding that exports increased by 60.2 percent in the first six months compared to 2025, while imports of products from BiH decreased by 15 percent.

He said that Malaysia exported tires, processed food and chemical products, while the main imported products were vegetable oil, optical and transport equipment, and machinery products.

"We use BiH as a platform for launching our products in the Balkan region and beyond," Amin stressed.

The conference was organized as part of the visit by a Malaysian business delegation to BiH, which will last until Saturday, September 19.